Rapids Brewing

Business Details

Craft Brewery & Restaurant in Grand Rapids, MN

At Rapids Brewing, we are deeply rooted in the traditions of northern Minnesota, where our craft beers, scratch-made cuisine, and community-driven atmosphere reflect the spirit of the region. Our mission is to create a gathering place that celebrates local ingredients, sustainable practices, and the camaraderie fostered over shared meals and drinks. We prioritize quality in every aspect, from our custom wood-fired oven dishes to our rotating selection of house-brewed beers, many of which incorporate locally sourced components.

Our partnership with Itasca Waters underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring the preservation of the pristine water sources that make our beer exceptional. Led by a team with decades of combined experience in brewing, hospitality, and culinary arts, we blend innovation with tradition to deliver a unique experience that honors Minnesotas natural resources and cultural heritage.

Services

Craft Brewing Wood-Fired Cuisine Live Music Venue Private Events Bourbon Bar Seasonal Cocktails Local Sourcing Community Events Beer Tastings Outdoor Patio

Highlights and features

We partner with local farmers and producers to source ingredients within 100 miles of our brewery.
Our head brewer brings 30 years of industry experience from Alaskan Brewing Co.
We prioritize sustainable practices, including water conservation initiatives with Itasca Waters.
Our custom wood-fired oven creates distinctive flavors in our scratch-made dishes.
We host live music events featuring regional artists in a renovated historic theater space.

What people say

Exceptional beer selection Great live music Outstanding wood-fired pizzas Friendly staff Vibrant atmosphere

Website

Update Listing

Services

Craft Brewing

We create diverse craft beers using a 7-barrel system and experimental one-barrel setup. Our rotating taps feature IPAs, lagers, sours, and seasonal specialties made with local ingredients. With 16 house taps and guest selections, we combine traditional techniques with modern innovation to deliver consistent quality and unique flavor profiles.

Wood-Fired Cuisine

Our scratch-made menu showcases dishes prepared in a custom wood-fired oven, emphasizing northern Minnesota's culinary heritage. We use locally sourced ingredients within 100 miles to create pizzas, small plates, and entrees that highlight regional flavors. The kitchen team changes offerings seasonally to reflect available produce and traditional foodways.

Live Music Venue

The taproom hosts live performances from local and regional artists, featuring our annual Festival Rialto. Our stage accommodates various genres while the patio offers summer music experiences around fire pits. This programming supports northern Minnesota's arts community through regular showcases of musicians from the Grand Rapids and Itasca area.

Private Events

Our transformed Rialto Theater space accommodates weddings, holiday parties, and special gatherings. The venue combines historic charm with modern amenities, including AV capabilities and customizable food/beverage options. We offer full-service event coordination for groups up to capacity limits in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Bourbon Program

We feature over 20 premium bourbon varieties in collaboration with Brubaker Acres. The selection includes rare whiskeys, flights, and craft cocktails using barrel-aged cherries and house-made bitters. Our partnership ensures access to exclusive Minnesota-made maple syrup and other artisanal mixers for signature Old Fashioneds and seasonal drinks.

People

Bill Martinetto

General Manager

Bill transitioned from mining industry accounting to craft brewing, bringing financial expertise and lifelong beer passion. He oversees operations to ensure quality control and creative consistency in our brews while managing team development and business strategy.

Darin Jensen

Head Brewer

With 30 years in brewing, including 23 at Alaskan Brewing Co., Darin leads our beer production. He brings expertise in quality control and ingredient sourcing, having progressed from keg cleaning to master brewer roles before returning to his Grand Rapids roots.

Deb Baker

Chef

Deb transitioned from graphic design to professional cooking, rising from sous chef to kitchen leadership. She focuses on northern Minnesota food traditions, drawing on family culinary legacy and mentorship experience to maintain high culinary standards in our scratch-made menu.

Anna Eastman

Operations Manager

Anna combines 20+ years industry experience with entrepreneurial success from her smokehouse venture. She manages daily operations, applying expertise in food preparation, sourdough baking, and mushroom identification to support kitchen and service teams.

Stephanie Dixon

Marketing Coordinator

Stephanie handles creative direction and brand consistency with her background in photography and digital marketing. She manages social media presence and promotional campaigns while representing our outdoor-oriented brand through personal interests in regional recreation.

Questions

What food options do you offer?

We serve scratch-made wood-fired pizzas, smash burgers, salads, and shareable plates using local ingredients. Our menu changes seasonally to reflect regional availability.

Do you have live music events?

Yes, we host regular live performances from local and regional artists in our taproom and on our patio stage throughout the year.

Can I book private events at your venue?

Our transformed Rialto Theater space accommodates weddings, holiday parties, and special gatherings with customizable food, beer, and space options.

What beer styles do you brew?

We produce IPAs, lagers, sours, pilsners, and seasonal specialties using a 7-barrel system, with 16 rotating house taps and guest selections.

Are dogs allowed at your establishment?

Yes, our outdoor patio welcomes well-behaved dogs in designated areas during operating hours.

Do you offer takeout or delivery?

We provide in-house dining and take-out options through our online ordering system for food and packaged beer products.

Reviews (7)

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Sarah B.

Dec 31, 2021 Report

Food and drinks were amazing !! The quality of the ingredients were top notch and the staff were attentive and knowledgeable ! Thank you for a beautiful evening out !

Robert H.

Nov 04, 2021 Report

Visiting area and felt like I wanted some pizza. On arrival we walked into a spacious building comfortable seating and friendly staff. All the pizza"s were not the normal. The chef placed his own twist on the ingredients and the one we chose was wonderful. The Italian Stalin very good flavor cooked on a wood fire brick oven. We had Jalapeo poppers wonderful and a IPA craft beer very tasty. All in all wonderful experience at a fair price and friendly staff.

Ted G.

Oct 17, 2021 Report

My wife and I spent the night in town while we were exploring the nearby state parks and these guys literally made our night. We found them on Google while looking up places to eat from our hotel room. We got their wild rice and mushroom pizza for food and all of their beer offerings were great (though the IPA mimosa could have had a bit more booze in it). By far the best part of my experience was the PHENOMENAL whiskey selection they had. This was the first place I ever tried Blanton's and it was everything I hoped it was. The patio atmosphere really helped make our night and the music act that

Isaac Meyer

Oct 16, 2021 Report

Excellent contemporary bar food, drinks, and beer that would be at home in any major metro area but with a meaningful Northern Minnesota take with local beer and ingredients. As a local who has been coming here for several years, I can say they've moved through a couple variations of their menu and drink list. They've improved each time and are certainly serving some of the best food and cocktails in the Northland. Their brewing is definitely a contender for consideration among the best Northern Minnesota. Their occasionally rotating selection of outside beverages and drinks from semi-local and

Mitchel K.

Aug 30, 2021 Report

Great spot with tons of character, food and craft beer- not to mention a assortment of rare whiskeys. A must stop in the Grand Rapids area

Hahn Chang

Aug 27, 2021 Report

I went here in August of 2021 and absolutely loved it! The beer selection is great and comparable to any great brewery down in the Twin Cities.
However, what really made this brewery stand out was their pizza. They have some typical types that any non-adventurous eater would feel at home with, but they also offer some real inventive pizzas that dazzle even the most well traveled taste buds. Two of my favorites were the Margie and the Northern Girl Pizzas! Also the space is super cool and the outdoor seating is plenty! Cant wait to come back soon when Im in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Kelvin O.

Aug 20, 2021 Report

Doing all the sensible things in the age of Covid, was easy as (pizza)-pie to keep plenty of distance, have a stellar Irish Red and half of an Italian Stallion 'za... the other half of which I'm already looking forward to for dinner.