Skip to Content
Podcast

RacketCast, Ep. 23: Wait, IS MN Beer In Trouble? Feat. David Berg of Schell’s

This bonus ep explores the dreaded 'craft beer bubble.'

Instagram: @schellsbeer|

Dave Berg of August Schell Brewing Co.

Last fall Racket surveyed 44 Minnesota brewing pros and found that 63.6% believe the industry is in a positive place—not bad!

Last month Racket highlighted Axios reporting that showed a 10.8% boost in Minnesota craft brewery production last year—nice!

But David Berg, the longtime brewmaster at August Schell Brewing Co., isn't convinced by those types of cheery reports, and he recently got all up in our Bluesky mentions to say as much.

"The brewing industry is pretty much in dire straits right now," Berg says. "I think it's a disservice to the industry to present it in any other fashion. It's as bleak as it's been in the 20 years I've been part of it."

Are Minnesota breweries in trouble? And, if so, how much? As the number of craft breweries throughout our state shoots past 200, is the long-murmured-about "craft beer bubble" finally ready to pop?

We got Berg on the horn to pick his considerable beer brain about the darker forces that might brewing on his industry's horizon.


Subscribe to RacketCast wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, etc. Wanna advertise on RacketCast? Email us at advertise@racketmn.com. Special thanks to local band Van Stee for supplying our podcast music!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Racket

UnitedHealth Finds a New Way to Care Less

Plus controlling the George Floyd narrative, a big win for prehistoric rodents, and the Fair renames two music stages in today's Flyover news roundup.

Flying V Is Where the Hardcore Bands Go to Rage

A substitute band teacher turned an old boxing gym into the heaviest new venue in Northeast.

After George Floyd’s Murder, MN Companies Pledged Millions. We Asked 14 How Much They’ve Given.

The corporate climate around racial equity these days? Profoundly different.

This Just In: Turning on Your Flashers Doesn’t Mean You Can Park Wherever the Hell You Want

Plus the end of 'climate-proof' Duluth, people are still quoting Dean Phillips, and bad train news in today's Flyover news roundup.

A Very Special Memorial Day Weekend Edition of Your Complete Concert Calendar: May 20-26

Pretty much all the music you can catch in the Twin Cities this week.

May 20, 2025
See all posts