Forager starts spin-off business with plans to distribute beer around the country

The beer recipes that fans of Forager Brewery have come to love will soon be found at select liquor stores and restaurants across the nation.

On Wednesday, Forager co-owners Annie Henderson and Austin Jevne announced plans to begin beer production out of Wisconsin under the name Humble Forager Brewery.

The new brand will allow Forager to sidestep a Minnesota law that makes it challenging for brewpubs — breweries that also operate as full-service restaurants — to open a distribution company in the same state.

“It took a lot of time, research, and creativity to figure out how we could make this dream a reality,” said Jevne, who also serves as head brewer.

A key part of their plan involves partnering with Octopi Brewing Company out of Waunakee, Wis. Octopi runs what’s called a ‘contract’ facility, which allows smaller breweries like Forager to brew their custom craft brews in a state-of-the-art system sans all the upfront capital costs.

How it works, Jevne explained, is the Forager brewing team will travel to Wisconsin with their recipes and begin the brewing process. From there, Octopi will handle the rest, including the packaging and distribution.

“What we like is that they really care about being creative and doing exactly what the brewery wants,” Jevne said of Octopi. “They make sure the techniques and processes for each brewery work in their system.”

The plan is to start by brewing a series of ales, similar to the ones that have garnered Forager national recognition. There will be a rotating lineup of hazy double IPAs, fruited sour ales, and imperial stouts and porters.

The beers, which will be sold in four-packs of 16 oz. cans, are expected to hit the shelves at various liquor stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota in early 2020. From there, they plan to expand their reach. Already, Jevne has been in contact with businesses in states like Florida, Colorado and Washington.

“It has been a humbling experience to be such a small little thing in Minnesota and to have people ask to get your products,” said Jevne, underscoring how the new business got its name.

Since opening in 2015, Forager Brewery has solidified itself as a premier local destination for not only beer, but also food and live music.

None of that will change, according to Jevne. Forager will maintain its Rochester brewpub, while continuing to experiment with new brews. That includes expanding the brewery’s popular barrel-aged beer program.

“We were never planning on leaving,” he said of the business’s Rochester roots. “Forager will still be what Forager is, with the same brewing team.”

You can follow this link to learn more about Humble Forager Brewery.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.

Cover photo: Austin Jevne / Submitted