Lift Bridge Brewery - Craft Beer in Stillwater, Minnesota

📜 Short History:

Lift Bridge Brewery is a craft beer company located in Stillwater, Minnesota, United States. The brewery was founded in 2008 by Dan Schwarz, Trevor Cronk, Brad Glynn, and Jim Pierson, making it the first brewery in Stillwater since Prohibition.

The name "Lift Bridge" was inspired by the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge, a vertical lift bridge over the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota and Houlton, Wisconsin. The founders wanted to create a sense of community and connection to their local area, and the iconic bridge served as a perfect symbol.

The brewery started as a home brewing hobby among the founders, who initially brewed in a garage. Their first commercial beer was the Farm Girl Saison, which quickly gained popularity and remains one of their flagship beers.

In 2010, Lift Bridge Brewery moved to a larger facility in Stillwater to meet the growing demand for their beers. This allowed them to increase production and expand their distribution.

In 2011, they started the tradition of hosting an annual event called "Pickin' and Grinnin'" where volunteers help pick hops at a local farm that are then used to brew a fresh hop ale.

In 2019, Lift Bridge celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of successful brewing and community involvement. The brewery continues to produce a wide range of beers, including seasonal and limited release brews, and has become a significant part of Minnesota's craft beer industry.