MN BEER DAY

In December 2021, the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild held our inaugural MN Pint Day.

With exclusive pints and events only available during this day, MN Pint Day was a way to celebrate breweries all across the state and to encourage Minnesotans and visitors to explore all the great craft beer the state offers. Plus, this setup allowed breweries to celebrate the industry in their own community, with their own customers!

Starting in 2024, we combined our “MN Pint Day” project with the newly declared state-recognized celebration of the industry – MN Beer Day. (Learn more about MN Beer Day below.) Now, MN Beer Day, and our pint project, occur on November 1 each year.

What is MN Beer Day?

Minnesota Beer Day celebrates the history, tradition, culture, and community of Beer in Minnesota. Since 1848, many Minnesotans have counted on beer for their livelihoods and sense of community, enjoyed beer’s economic benefits, and have enjoyed locally brewed beer in their community. Beer has been, and still is, an integral character in the story of Minnesota and the people who live here, and we celebrate that history and culture on November 1 each year. 

To celebrate, MN’s breweries and brewpubs are offering special events, tours, talks, and discounts. Some participants are selling our commemorative pint. Others are donating proceeds to local charities. Check out the map for all details and locations. 

>> Read More About MN Beer History

Is Minnesota Beer Day a State Holiday?

Minnesota Beer Day is not an “Official State Holiday.” However, the Governor signed a Proclamation declaring November 1 Minnesota Beer Day. Also, the resolution creating this day passed the legislature, and that language stated that November 1st is “henceforth” Minnesota Beer Day, meaning it will be an annual celebration. Learn more about its creation below in “MN Beer Day’s 2024 Passage.”

And remember: The most interesting history is the history you are currently creating. So engage with it and visit a brewery today. One day, they will be written about. 

Why November 1 for MN Beer Day?

November 1 was selected by the MN Craft Brewers Guild as an appropriate date to celebrate because November 1 offers a unique throughline between early beer history and today.

• November 1, 1850: John Orth founds John Orth Brewing Company, the 2nd brewery in the Minnesota territory, 8 years before MN Statehood.
  • Orth joins Heinrich Brewing Association, Frederick Norenburg Brewery, and Germania Brewing Association to form the Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company in 1859.
• November 1, 1895: This business, now the “Minneapolis Brewing Company,” places an ad in the Minneapolis Tribune announcing the winner of their “name-our-new-beer” contest winner. The winning name is “Grain Belt.”
  • The brewery rebrands to “Grain Belt Brewing” in 1967. By the end of the decade, Grain Belt Brewing is the 18th largest brewery in America.
  • 70s and 80s: Grain Belt is purchased by G. Heilieman Brewing from Wisconsin and the production is moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  • 1991: Grain Belt is purchased by Minnesota Brewing Company and the historic Jacob Schmidt Brewery re-opens in St. Paul to brew it.
  • 2002: The Grain Belt brand is purchased and continues to be brewed today by the 2nd oldest family-owned brewery in the country, Schell’s Brewery of New Ulm, MN.

Minnesota Beer Day is an initiative of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, with the support and assistance of other stakeholders, advocates, and citizens of the State. More than two years of discussion, research, advocacy and planning were done in the process of making “Minnesota Beer Day” State recognized and celebrated.

• Senate Resolution: March 21, 2024, passed by Sen. Jess Howe (13, R).
• House of Representatives Resolution: April 10, 2024, passed by Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega (65B, D).
• Governor’s Office: July 12th 2024, Governor Tim Walz signed the Proclamation.
• Official Proclamation: September 27, 2024, industry stakeholders gathered at St. Paul Brewing Company to celebrate the official proclamation act, carried out by Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, Lauren Bennett McGinty.