Trouble Is Now Brewing for One of Minnesota’s Beloved Beer Icons

Craft beer throughout the country seems to consistently build its reputation on the little guy — the scrappy local brewer who took on the national giants with better ingredients and a whole lot of heart.

Few names in the Upper Midwest carry that story better than Summit Brewing Company, the St. Paul institution that first opened its doors in 1986. Founder Mark Stutrud started brewing in an old auto parts warehouse on University Avenue, and in doing so helped kick off Minnesota's entire craft beer movement.

If you've spent any time in a Minnesota or Wisconsin taproom over the past few decades, you know the lineup. There's the crowd-favorite Saga IPA, the rich Great Northern Porter that grabbed a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival back in 1987, and the beer that started it all — Summit Extra Pale Ale.

I'll admit my bias here: the Summit EPA has been my personal go-to for years. While I have to be in a certain mood to try other styles of craft beer, and I'm usually a one-or-two-and-done guy when it comes to them and need to mix it up, I never get tired of EPA.

Summit grew into a regional powerhouse, at one point ranking as the second-largest brewery in Minnesota and one of the 25 biggest craft brewers in the entire country. Its beers pour on tap from the Twin Cities and across five states, including Wisconsin.

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However, recently, headlines involving Summit haven't been focused on new beers on tap; it's been about financial trouble the company is fighting to get out of.

Trouble Is Brewing on University Avenue

Court documents show Summit is now facing foreclosure on its St. Paul brewery. Chicago-based BMO Bank is suing to collect more than $8.2 million in unpaid loans — a $1.25 million revolving line of credit plus a $6.875 million term loan issued in December 2024.

The timeline is a tough one. Summit missed a payment when its revolving note matured in January of this year, then couldn't meet a July 31 deadline under a forbearance agreement.

In August, the bank dissolved that agreement and demanded full repayment, and it's now asking a court to appoint a receiver to take control of the brewery's assets. No hearing has been scheduled yet.

However, it's very important to note that this is not a closing announcement. Summit is operating as usual while the case plays out — the taproom is open, the beer is flowing, and CEO Brandon Bland is making it clear the company intends to fight.

Bland says that leadership "made substantial efforts over many months to chart a different course," and pinned the struggle on the industry rather than the brand itself.

What It Means for Summit's Future

Bland's framing puts the spotlight on a bigger story. Craft beer nationwide is wrestling with a difficult capital environment — a crowded market, rising costs, and shifting drinking habits that have squeezed even established names.

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Summit says it will "continue evaluating every option available" as the process moves forward, which could mean anything from new investment to restructuring.

For now, the future is genuinely uncertain, but it isn't written, so a happy ending isn't out of the question.

If a 40-year-old brewery that helped launch an entire regional movement means something to you, the most useful thing you can do is simple: buy a round. Sometimes the best way to save a local legend is to keep ordering the EPA.