The eastern and western lines of Northern Pacific’s transcontinental railroad were joined together near Independence Creek in western Montana in 1883. To commemorate the occasion, the first spike driven at the start of railway construction near Carlton, Minnesota was used to connect the last section of rail. It was named the Golden Spike, and was driven home by NP President Henry Villard, former US President Ulysses S. Grant, and Henry C. Davis, who had driven that first spike. Our Golden Spike, commemorating the completion of construction at Roundhouse Brewery, is a golden colored Imperial IPA, loaded with premium brewers and dark crystal malts, generous doses of Mosaic and Cascade hops for aromas of citrus, spice, and blueberry, and Magnum hops for a clean bittering finish. 8.9% ABV, 87 IBU, 10 SRM.

Ms. Galena O’Neill was a businesswoman in Brainerd in the late 1800s. When her husband Jack (original owner of the Last Turn Saloon) passed away, Ms. Galena leased a building on the corner of 4th and Front Street and began running a locally famous house of ill repute. The fines that Ms. Galena and her “soiled doves” paid every month over the next few years helped finance many features of downtown Brainerd that are still there today. Ms. Galena is dedicated to the notion that life is not always sweet, but you can still get things done. Our Ms. Galena is a blonde ale, kettle-soured and then infused with apple and blueberry. 5.4% ABV, 26 IBU, 10 SRM.

Think of sooty dark cars loaded with anthracite, moving through the night, dancing to the music of the rails. A robust porter, dark as night and smooth as jazz. Flavors of roast malt, coffee and cocao, with a mild caramel sweetness for balance. 5.6% ABV, 40 IBU, 28 SRM.

Whistlestop Blonde is a light bodied gluten free beer* with an assertive hoppy bitterness, made for those of us who like beer, but find that barley beer doesn’t like us. Brewed with sorghum malt, Belgian candi sugar for color and lightness, and Denali hops for bittering and a floral aroma. This might be the station that you need to stop at. 5.6% ABV, 43 IBU, 5 SRM

*Made on equipment that also processes wheat and barley. We take every precaution to avoid cross contamination, but we cannot guarantee that this product is completely gluten free.

The east shore of Boom Lake was the site of the Brainerd Brewing Company, established in 1881. The Brainerd Brewing Company produced a lager using “ … a malt produced in Minnesota and the best domestic hops … obtained from the Pacific coast, [and] a considerable quantity of German hops….” (from Special Publication, 1910, p. 16, Brainerd Tribune, A. J. Halsted, Editor and Publisher). The brewery was forced to close down permanently in 1915. To honor the tradition established in those bygone days, we’ve developed our own premium lager, using pilsner malt produced in Minnesota, balanced by American Crystal and German Northern Brewer hops. Crisp, light bodied, with a mild malt flavor and aroma. We think our predecessors would be proud. We certainly are. 5.3% ABV, 22 IBU, 4 SRM.

The original Juice Train was a train of refrigerated tanker cars specially built for Tropicana Juice Company to haul fruit juice from Florida to it’s northern markets. Our Juice Train is a light colored, hazy IPA brewed with all Citra® hops to give it a refreshing citrus flavor and aroma. With a sessionable 4.2% ABV and low bitterness, you could ride this train all day. 4.2% ABV, 35 IBU, 4 SRM

Gandy dancers were the railroad workers who actually worked on the track, laying ties, lining rails, pulling and driving spikes, and otherwise making sure that the train could roll. It was hard physical labor, and their name comes from their rythmic motions while shifting rails using a “gandy pole”, a 20 pound iron pry bar. Our Gandy Dancer is an English style strong ale, full bodied, smooth, malt forward, with a sweet malty aroma. We’ll keep your stock rolling with Gandy Dancer. 9.2% ABV, 32 IBU, 20 SRM.

Detonators were frequently used in the building of railroads where explosives were necessary to level the bed for track to be laid.  Keeping with tradition that Doppelbock’s names end with -ator, we named this traditional styled Doppelbock the Detonator.   You will find this dark, full bodied lager has a big malty flavor paired with a strong sweet aroma and just a bit of roasted malt.  The Northern Brewer and Crystal hops add just the right bitterness for a smooth ride all the way down.   Just the way riding the rails should be. 8.7% ABV, 20 IBU and 21 SRM.

Your paddle slips into the still water, breaking the reflection of spruce trees and tamaracks, while off in the distance a loon calls into the quiet. You’ve crossed over into the north. Brewed with certified organic malts and hops, and wild-grown, traditionally harvested wild rice, 46 North is a tribute to the lakes and prairies of our beloved northlands. Crisp and clear, with an earthy finish, this is a beer that will take you to the lakes. 6.2% ABV, 14 IBU, 6 SRM.

Nothing says “good morning” quite like the whistling of a hot kettle on the stove. That same sound could spell danger to the engineer of a leaky steam engine, known as a teakettle, however. Bring your day full circle with this wheat ale infused with real Earl Grey tea for a full-bodied, bready but sweet beer with a refreshing hit of bergamot, and be sure to watch those rivets. Contains lactose. 4.3% ABV, 20 IBU, 4 SRM

Manley Cunningham, our brewer’s grandfather, was a railroader for all of his adult life, starting out as a crew caller for the Northern Pacific in the days of steam locomotives until retiring as an engineer for Burlington Northern in the days of diesel. Manley’s Wee Heavy is a Strong Scottish Ale, dedicated to the memory of all of the men and women who work the rails. Full bodied and malty, with hints of currants and caramel, and a rich dark color and malty aroma. 8.9% ABV, 26 IBU, 34 SRM.