About us
In December 2010 the four brewery founders were at a charity event at a craft beer bar in Minneapolis
– based on a feeling, Laura said to Karen that “the guys should get together” and discuss their brewing futures. From there Bryon and Colin met over a few pints and discovered their shared dream of starting their own breweries. After many more discussions about vision, logistics, and brewing philosophy the partnership was born. From 2011 to early 2013 the team of four worked on the business plan, fundraising, site selection, and the build-out phase of Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® which launched publicly in May 2013. The partnership between the two couples has always felt like a natural fit as they seem to live parallel lives – marrying nine days apart in September 2008 and having their children – Liam Tonnis and Adella Mullen – born just three days apart in April 2012!
The mission of Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® is to brew craft beer with a concentration on sustainability for our business, employees, the environment and the greater community – all while “Bending the Traditions” that we encounter, for a more unique and interesting craft beer experience.
Bending Tradition® in Duluth, Minnesota since 2013
Our Founders
Co-Founder / CEO + Director of Brewing Operations
Co-Founder / President + VP of Systems & Brand Development
Co-Founder / VP of HR & Operations
Co-Founder / VP of Outreach & Marketing
Co-Founder / CEO + Director of Brewing Operations
Co-Founder / President + VP of Systems & Brand Development
Co-Founder / VP of HR & Operations
Co-Founder / VP of Outreach & Marketing
Bryon is originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Bryon attended UMD, where he met his wife and fellow co-founder Karen in 1996.
Bryon brewed professionally for 13 years prior to opening Bent Paddle. He started his brewing career in the Twin Ports area at Twin Ports Brewing Co. (now Thirsty Pagan). In 2004 he received his International Diploma in Brewing Technology from the Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy, a combination program out of Chicago, Illinois and Munich, Germany. In 2005 he entered the Head Brewers Apprenticeship Program at the Rock Bottom Brewery in Portland, Oregon for training to become a Head Brewer at Rock Bottom Brewery in Minneapolis. He held this position for 7 years, and won a GABF silver medal for his Bastogne Blond Ale in the French/Belgian Ale category.
Bryon manages all aspects of day to day brewing operations at Bent Paddle to ensure optimal efficiency, profitability and production management. He is in charge of raw material contracts and inventory, equipment acquisition and installation, production scheduling, recipe development, financial forecasting and sales strategy. Bryon has been actively involved in the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild since 2005 where he served on the board of directors as well as acted as festival committee chair. Bryon’s two greatest passions; paddling in the BWCAW and brewing, is how Bent Paddle got it’s name. Bryon also enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and anything in the fresh air of the great outdoors.
Brewer and co-founder Colin Mullen is originally from St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
He attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota where he graduated with a dual degree in Orchestral Music Performance and Psychology. Colin began homebrewing in college and got a job at Midwest Homebrewing Supply in St. Louis Park, Minnesota from 2002 to 2008 focusing on new product development and technology support. In 2004 Colin began brewing professionally part-time alongside brewmaster and mentor John Moore at Barley John’s Brew Pub in New Brighton, Minnesota which has a cult-like patron following for their scratch-made food and inventive and award-winning big beers. Colin transitioned into head brewer at Barley John’s until he left to focus on the start-up of Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® in early 2012.
Colin was also actively involved in the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild since 2005 where he served on the board of directors alongside Bryon, acted as marketing committee chairperson and worked closely on the Guild’s craft beer festivals – Autumn Brew Review, Winterfest and the inaugural year of Duluth’s All Pints North Summer Brew Fest alongside his wife and Bent Paddle co-founder Laura who produced the festivals for the Guild from 2007 through 2012. Colin is versed in artisan recipe development and barrel aging big beers. His passion is blending music with his love of beer.
Karen is responsible for the Administrative, Legal and Financial Operations Management for Bent Paddle.
She is also in charge of all things Human Resources; finding the right paddler for the right seat, to employee resources, benefits management, leadership organization and communication. She brings years of Human Resource, Operations and Logistics Management to the team from her experience working for nearly 14 years at Sysco Asian Foods prior to opening Bent Paddle. Karen is married to fellow co-founder and Director of Brewing, Bryon Tonnis. They met in 1996 at University of MN Duluth. They were happy to return to Duluth after nearly 12 years of living and working in various other cities to open Bent Paddle and raise their son Liam in a thriving community with endless miles of outdoor recreation. Karen is proud to be in a position to paddle it forward and truly make an impact by giving back to the community. She loves traveling and new adventures. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. The Tonnis family is incredibly active in all seasons enjoying biking, skiing, hiking, paddling and camping, especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Laura (Salyards-Fryberger) Mullen, is a born & raised Duluthian with deep family ties to the area.
She graduated high school from the Marshall School in Duluth and college at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2001 with a BA in Behavioral Science & Law. She focuses on the brewery’s marketing, media and community relations, Festiversary & other event coordination, sustainability initiatives, the Paddle It Forward charitable program, legal coordination, as well as general high-level administration alongside Karen. Laura is married to fellow Bent Paddle Brewing Co. co-founder/owner Colin Mullen and they have a daughter, Adella, born in 2012 plus many beloved pets.
Prior to opening the brewery in 2013 Laura started a career in event design in the events department of the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA. After moving to Minneapolis in 2004 to be closer to family and colder weather she started her first company, Laura Mullen Event Design at the age of 25, where she also acted as Guild Coordinator for her largest client, the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild. Laura has a long history of volunteerism and board leadership primarily in the areas of environmental stewardship, reproductive healthcare, the arts and local business organizations and she was the first female president of the Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild board of directors.
She enjoys Minnesota craft beer history as well as speculating about it’s future, the camaraderie of the local craft brewing industry, and especially adores the 14° Degree Amber. She is especially proud that she and Karen make Bent Paddle Brewing Co. 50% female owned!
Our Brewery
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® is a 30-barrel production craft brewery and taproom located in the beautiful northern Great Lakes port town of Duluth, Minnesota.
The brewers of Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® use the amazing water of Lake Superior to brew the freshest and most dependable craft beer and hemp derived cannabis beverages possible. Lake Superior is 10% of the worlds fresh surface water and 100% of our products are made with that water. It is incredibly soft and mimics the water of Pilsen, Czech Republic, the birthplace of Pilseners. Our flagship beers, as well as specialty seasonal offerings, are available in varied keg sizes as well as 12 & 16 oz. cans at bars, liquor stores, restaurants and event facilities throughout Minnesota and beyond, as well as by the glass, 25.4 oz. crowler or 64oz. growler to go in our taproom.
It is our goal at Bent Paddle Brewing Co.® to produce beers that “Bend the Tradition” of the classic style that they represent. We strive to make drinkable, balanced beers with an edge of inventiveness for all beer lovers to enjoy.
