Tag Archives: Drekker Brewing

After years of planning, test batches, searching for a location and finally construction, the Drekker Brewing Company has opened their taproom at 630 1st Ave N, Suite 6 in downtown Fargo.

The found their location in April, their stainless steel brewing system from Portland Kettle Works started showing up in June and they opened in early October.

Taproom hours are Wednesday-Friday: 4pM-10PM and Saturday: Noon-10PM.  Pints, samplers, 64oz growlers and 32oz howlers are available.

The Drekker taproom is quite large compared to the others in the area and features a curved cement bar, a section going back around their cooler so you can get a good look at their shiny stainless brewing system, and lots of tables in front that the Drekker crew made themselves.

Like other taprooms in the area, they don’t serve food but you can bring in food from other locations, and Wurst Bier Hall is just a few doors down on 1st Ave.

The Summer of 2014 is turning into ‘Brewery Construction Season’ with a new brewery building up, another brewing setting up a new location with a taproom, and the area’s first meadery their production area and tasting room.  For more pictures and updates, check out the Facebook pages for each of these businesses.

Junkyard Brewing – New Brewery with a taproom

Junkyard Brewing is moving from their current location in the back of the Country Cannery at 1320 1st Ave. N. in Moorhead a couple blocks east to a new location with more room to grow the brewery and space for a taproom.  Their new address will bee 1416 1st Ave. N.

Some of the work done so far includes a new water line installed, cutting up the cement floor for drains and the filling the trenches, framing the new brewing area and removing the old garage doors so they can be replaced with new insulated ones with windows.  Junkyard Brewing on Facebook

Prairie Rose Meadery – Building a production area with tasting room

Mead is fermented honey and water that may have some spices or fruit added.  There are not that many meaderies in the United States but we are getting one here in Fargo.  Prairie Rose Meadery is building their production area with a tasting room in the 3100 block of 39th Street South in Fargo.  It took a while to get the lease worked out but construction is finally in progress, again cutting of the floor for drains is needed.  They hope to be open by late summer or early fall.  Prairie Rose Meadery on Facebook

Drekker Brewing – Building the brewery and taproom

Drekker Brewing recently got in a big shipment of stainless steel tanks from their supplier, Portland Kettle Works.  They broke through the brick wall in the back of their location at 630 1st Ave N, Suite 6 in Fargo so they could add a garage door in order to handle large loads like these tanks and all the grain that they will need in the future.   Drekker Brewing on Facebook

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2014

Drekker Brewing Co. About to Set Sail

Local brewing company announces location of brewery, taproom in downtown Fargo

FARGO, ND — The newly announced Drekker Brewing Company has chosen a location for its brewery and taproom. The company will be setting up operations in the Cityscapes Plaza Building at 630 1st Avenue N in downtown Fargo, ND.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our location. We’re planning some really fun things for the brewery and taproom, all within the heart of downtown Fargo,” explains Mark Bjornstad, Co-founder and President of Drekker Brewing Co.

Customers will be able to enjoy flights and pints at the taproom, take a tour of the brewery, and bring home growlers of their favorite brews. Head brewer, Darin Montplaisir, explains taprooms are a growing trend in craft brewing and offer a unique customer experience.

“People will be able to hang out and enjoy the freshest beer possible, see how it’s made and talk to the people who crafted it while taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the brewery,” said Montplaisir.

Construction on the brewery will begin this spring, with a grand opening planned for the fall of 2014. Drekker will be brewing on a 10 barrel brewhouse custom made for the company by Bennett Forgeworks in Colorado. The beer will be fermented and conditioned in American-made tanks by Portland Kettle Works in Oregon.

The brewing company will have the initial ability to produce roughly 1,000 barrels of beer, or 2,000 kegs a year.

For updates about the progress and offerings from Drekker visit their website at: www.drekkerbrewing.com and follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

I met with the guys from Drekker Brewing a couple weeks ago when their social media first went live.  They have been working towards this for years and I am looking forward to their beer and taproom.  They sent out this press release this morning, 2/17/2014.

Drekker Brewing Company to open brewery, taproom in Fargo, N.D.

“Handcrafted for the Viking in all of us”

FARGO N.D., FEBRUARY 17, 2014 — Four local beer enthusiasts have announced the opening of Drekker Brewing Company, a craft brewery that will soon be coming to Fargo. The Drekker Brewing Company name pays tribute to the Scandinavian heritage prominent in the region and dear to the founders. The word DREKKERis a combination of the Old Norse words; drekka – to drink, drykkr – a draft drink, and drakkar – the feared viking dragon ship.

“Drekker Brewing Company will create handcrafted beers of extraordinary quality and a unique taproom experience in which to share them,” said Mark Bjornstad, president and co-founder of Drekker Brewing Company.

Along with Bjornstad, Drekker Brewing Company is founded by Darin Montplaisir, Jesse Feigum, and Mason Montplaisir. All four are from the Fargo-Moorhead area and are very excited to make a positive impact on the local community.

“Craft breweries have a reputation for catalyzing community involvement and supporting local charities. We have some fun ideas planned for Fargo-Moorhead,” adds Bjornstad.

The company is having their brewhouse built by Bennett Forgeworks, a custom brewery fabrication company in Rigdway, CO. Along with the brewhouse, Drekker Brewing will use fermentation and conditioning tanks made by Portland Kettle Works in Portland, OR.

“We are committed to supporting American manufacturers that share our passion for craft brewing and produce high-quality equipment” said Bjornstad.

Brewing operations will be run by Darin Montplaisir, head brewer and co-founder.

“We believe in a hand-crafted approach to brewing and this will be evident in every aspect of the brewery. I was trained to do everything by hand and we chose a brewing system that continues this philosophy. It requires rigid oversight and manual labor, but allows us to impart our passion and character into every Drekker beer,” explains Montplaisir.

The group hopes to be open by late 2014 and as that approaches, Drekker Brewing will release more details about its location, product lineup, and taproom opening date.

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Fast Facts

The Founders:

    + Mark Bjornstad:      President

    + Darin Montplaisir:     Head Brewer

    + Jesse Feigum:     Head of Nerdery

    + Mason Montplaisir:     Engineer

The Brewery

+ Brewing System: Bennett Forgeworks custom-made 10 BBL direct-fired brewing system made in Ridgway, CO.

+ Fermentation Vessels: 10 BBL conical fermenters made by Portland Kettle Works in Portland, OR.

+ Conditioning Tanks: 10 BBL brite beer tanks made by Portland Kettle Works in Portland, OR.

+ Brewing Capacity: Approximately 1,000 BBL/year

+ Availability: Pints, flights, and growlers available at the Drekker Brewing Taproom as well as on tap at area restaurants and bars.

For more information:

+Website: www.DrekkerBrewing.com

+ Facebook: www.facebook.com/DrekkerBrewing

+ Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DrekkerBrewing

+ Downloads: www.DrekkerBrewing.com/media (High resolution)