Fulton Brewing today announced it is acquiring Bemidji Brewing Company and launching True North Beverage, a new Minnesota-based collective built to give locally rooted craft beverage brands shared resources for growth. The acquisition, effective October 31, 2026, builds on a production partnership between Fulton and Bemidji Brewing that began roughly three years ago. Financial terms were not disclosed.
That partnership let Bemidji Brewing expand production beyond the capacity of its downtown Bemidji facility and grow distribution into Duluth, the North Shore and other Minnesota markets. Through the acquisition, Bemidji Brewing now joins Fulton Brewing, FINNEGANS and N*RC Sparkling THC Waters in the True North Beverage portfolio, which will provide shared production, sales, marketing, distribution, purchasing and administrative resources, allowing member brands to pursue growth without the capital investment that expansion would otherwise require.
“Our belief is simple: Minnesota has built some incredible beverage brands, and they deserve the opportunity to grow without losing what made them special in the first place,” said Ryan Petz, CEO of Fulton Brewing and True North Beverage. “Our work with Bemidji Brewing showed us what is possible when complementary businesses share resources and expertise. True North Beverage is designed to build on that model.”
Bemidji Brewing’s downtown taproom will remain open, continuing to offer the beers, experience and local engagement for which the brewery is known, and its founders will stay involved in the brand’s evolution through the taproom.
Founded in 2012, Bemidji Brewing has become one of northern Minnesota’s most respected craft breweries, known for its award-winning beers, community involvement and authentic connection to the region. As demand grew beyond what its downtown facility could support, the company explored ways to grow without the significant capital investment that new brewery construction and equipment would require. Its production partnership with Fulton provided that path: over the past three years, Fulton’s available capacity helped Bemidji Brewing increase volume and expand into Duluth and the North Shore, followed by growth toward the Twin Cities.
“When we started Bemidji Brewing, our goal wasn’t simply to make great beer. It was to build something our community could be proud of,” said Justin “Bud” Kaney, co-founder and president of Bemidji Brewing Company. “As we considered how to reach more of Minnesota, it became clear that expanding our own facility would require a level of investment that was difficult to justify in today’s market. Our partnership with Fulton gave us another way forward- they have the facility, experience, and team to bring Bemidji Brewing into markets that have remained beyond our production capacity, while we keep our connection to Bemidji through the taproom.”
Under True North Beverage, Bemidji Brewing will receive expanded production, sales, marketing and distribution support, creating opportunities for broader availability across Minnesota, including a stronger presence in the Twin Cities.
True North Beverage builds on Fulton Brewing’s experience supporting distinct Minnesota beverage brands, including its partnership with FINNEGANS, and intends to preserve the voice, history and customer relationships of each brand while creating greater efficiency and scale behind the scenes.
“This isn’t about reinventing beloved brands,” Petz said. “It’s about pairing strong brands with the infrastructure they need to reach their potential. Bemidji Brewing had opportunities for growth that exceeded its available production capacity, and Fulton had the capacity and expertise to help meet that demand. It is an ideal fit for both organizations.”
True North Beverage also offers a potential model for other established beverage producers navigating rising production costs, changing consumer preferences, increased competition and regulatory uncertainty across emerging beverage categories. The company expects future partnerships to follow a similar approach, giving brands access to production capacity, sales expertise, marketing support, purchasing power and administrative resources while retaining the qualities that distinguish them in the marketplace.
“Our vision is to build a family of Minnesota beverage brands that can use existing resources more effectively, reach new customers and become stronger together,” Petz said.
