Brew Crew Team Announced!

A dream team with experience and passion for the craft will help
launch this new brewery in Grand Marais, MN

GRAND MARAIS, MN, OCT 5 – Owners of Voyageur Brewing Company in Grand Marais, MN, today announced its brewing team. The new production brewery and taproom plans to open in Grand Marais, MN, in early 2015. It will be the first of its kind in the area, and first-year production is expected to exceed 1,000 barrels of locally brewed craft beer using Lake Superior water and local ingredients.

The brewing team is critical to that vision and, thus, Voyageur owners – Mike Prom, Cara Sporn, and Bruce Walters – have spent the past several months in an exhaustive nationwide talent search yielding what they call “the dream team.”

Anders Johansen: Anders Johansen is a relentless innovator whose beer has been poured all over the United States, and he’ll assist Voyageur when the company launches its microbrewery in Grand Marais later this year.

Johansen hails from Deschutes Brewery in Oregon, a brewery most craft beer drinkers know by name. He is a superlative brewer and brewery designer who has developed beers at Deschutes, Pyramid and Ninkasi breweries, among others. From getting new breweries off the ground, designing brewery operations and working on small distillery legislation, Anders brings a tremendous amount of skill and expertise to the Voyageur Brewing team.

Jason Baumgarth: Jason Baumgarth gained his experience in the Duluth area, most recently at Carmody’s Pub. He is a passionate beer creator with an extraordinary palate and a true sense of pub culture. Baumgarth says, “I am really looking forward to crafting excellent beer in Grand Marais and becoming a part of such a great community.”

Craig Nicholls is a founder and owner of TurnKey Consulting Company in Portland, Oregon. Having worked with countless breweries and restaurants, Craig is an expert in organic and sustainable brewing and originator of many standards and practices in his home state. Craig has been a powerful guiding force in the origins of Voyageur Brewing early on. He has helped lay the groundwork for a successful, long-term operation, and will continue to support our growth.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the experience, expertise and passion of this – our dream team,” said Cara Sporn, co-owner of Voyageur Brewing. “We couldn’t be more excited to have everyone on board. Now we can start brewing some signature beer that we know will attract those with a real taste for adventure.”

Voyageur Brewing Company plans to fill eight year-round jobs in 2015. Three flagship beers will always be available, and the brewery plans to offer three seasonals in addition to that once they are at full production. Of course, the final slate of beers will be determined with the help of the recently hired brewing team. Sporn suggests that there will likely be an IPA, a Belgian wheat, and either a stout or porter on tap at all times.