Welcome to North Country. Portage Brewing is a destination brewery and taproom, nestled just inside Chippewa National Forest, off the banks of Leech Lake, in Walker, MN. Our story is long - one filled with tragedy, rebirth, curiosity, and collaborations.

In 2017, we opened our doors in Walker’s original hospital with a very limited startup budget, and a mission to bring a high quality craft brewery to the community of Walker. Stemming from our roots in homebrewing, we made anything that struck our curiosity. To date, we’ve brewed 240 different brands of beer, ranging from spontaneous sours, to wood aged lagers, to classic IPAs, to everything in between.

In 2019, we experienced a catastrophic fire that destroyed our entire brewery, taking us to the very edge of needing to quit. Just a day after the fire tore through our business, we were pulled from an impossible situation by fellow brewers, neighbors, community members, and customers - giving us the energy and resources needed to rebuild what you see today.

Next time you consider traveling for a beer, be sure to come see us in North Country.

On ahead,

Jeff Vondenkamp
Founder + Owner