Finnegans
| Company type | For-profit social enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | September 2000 |
| Founder | Jacquie Berglund |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
Area served | Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin |
Key people | Jacquie Berglund (Founder), Ryan Mihm (Head Brewer) |
| Products | Beer (Finnegans Irish Ale, Cluster Truck IPA, Tipped Cow Farmhouse Ale, East Town Pilsner, Clocked Out EOD Unfiltered Wheat, Tile Factory Mosaic IPA, Armory Laker Blonde, Brim Reaper Rye IPA, Dead Irish Poet Stout, Barrels of Life Series) |
Finnegans Brew Co. is a brewery located in Minnesota, established in September 2000 by Jacquie Berglund. The company is distinguished by its commitment to donating all of its profits back to the community. The funds generated are directed to the Finnegans Community Fund, which combats hunger by collaborating with local food banks and regional produce suppliers.
Beers
The range of beers offered by Finnegans includes:
- Finnegans Irish Ale (their signature brew)
- Cluster Truck IPA
- Tipped Cow Farmhouse Ale (a Belgian-style Saison)
- East Town Pilsner (inspired by Czech brewing traditions)
- Clocked Out EOD Unfiltered Wheat
- Tile Factory Mosaic IPA
- Armory Laker Blonde
- Brim Reaper Rye IPA
- Dead Irish Poet Stout (a Cork-style Extra Stout)
- Barrels of Life Series along with other limited release varieties
Their distribution network spans Minnesota, as well as the Dakotas, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
History
After relocating to Minnesota in 1997, Jacquie Berglund gained experience working with Kieran Folliard, who founded 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey and Kieran's Irish Pub. Motivated to create a beer brand with a philanthropic purpose, Berglund purchased Folliard’s stake in "Kieran's Irish Potato Ale" for a nominal fee of one dollar; this beer evolved into Finnegans' Irish Amber Ale.
Facing challenges related to nonprofit classification by the IRS, Finnegans was structured as a for-profit enterprise that channels all earnings toward charitable initiatives. Berglund remained the sole staff member until 2009.
Initially brewed at James Page Brewery in Minneapolis, production moved to Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul in 2003. By 2007, Finnegans had contributed over $100,000 to community efforts and broadened its market reach into Wisconsin and North Dakota. Its partnerships include collaborations with The Food Group, Great Plains Food Bank, Feeding South Dakota, Hunger Task Force, and various Midwestern farms.
Celebrating its tenth year in 2010, Finnegans deepened its dedication to alleviating hunger. The following year, it generated $45,000 to support new agricultural and food shelf programs and also formed a fundraising team for the MS150 bike event benefiting multiple sclerosis research.
In 2013, select beers such as Irish Amber and Blonde Ale were introduced in cans to facilitate expanded availability throughout Minnesota and neighboring states.
The brewery enhanced its craft brewing capabilities by appointing head brewer Ryan Mihm—previously associated with New Belgium and Allagash—in October 2017.
March 2018 marked the opening of Finnegans House in Minneapolis’ Elliot Park neighborhood: a 17,520-square-foot venue that houses a brewery, taproom, social enterprise incubator called Finnovation Lab, and an exclusive event area known as the Brewer's Den.
In October 2020, Finnegans earned recognition as one of the top twenty IPAs during the Alpha King Challenge at the Great American Beer Festival.