One of the only places to stand in Ursa Minor Brewing was in line to get another beer.
Almost every seat at a table and stool at the bar was full on a Tuesday earlier this month. Despite the crisp fall temperatures, most of the patio was crowded as well. The air was filled with the hum of conversation between the guests, most of them visiting for the first time.
Ursa Minor had been open only since Sept. 26.
"We are brewing as fast as we can," said Ben Hugus, the brewery's CEO. "We went through a lot of beer, and you know, beer is one of those things that takes time."
It didn't take that much time for people to drink it all: They ran out of their IPA before they could cross seven days off their calendar.
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Ursa Minor Brewing is the latest addition to Lincoln Park's burgeoning craft district. The brainchild of two beer lovers, Ben and his brother Mark Hugus picked the neighborhood as the brewery's home because of the area's commitment to handmade creations, just like the beer and wood-fired pizzas that are made in the building. Combine those ingredients with the ambitions of general manager Andrew Scrignoli, and Ursa Minor Brewing is the final product.
"Everyone down here makes something with their hands, and we're no different," Ben Hugus said. "We make pizzas and we make beer all with our hands and our expertise. People enjoy coming down to a place where we all do stuff with our hands."
Much of interior of the brewery on 2415 W. Superior St. is the product of local skill and craftsmanship, too. The remodel was designed by Tiersa Wodash, out of DSGW Architects. A lot of the woodwork in the tables and the bar was designed by Devin Garrett from Lakewood Designs. The entire Duluth traverse was burned into some of that wood by Evan Unverdorben from Pyrographic Images. The Mug Club mugs were done by a local potter named Bob Husby.
Then there's the large metal sheet that was a collaborative project between all of the local artisans, and then some more. Dividing the restrooms from the rest of the brewery, it features the little dipper and several stars that were cut out by Troy Rogers, also known as "Robot Rickshaw." An idea thought up by Wodash, the frame was cut out and burned by Garrett and Unverdorben.
Many patrons at Ursa Minor Brewing spotted that craftsmanship as well, noting their appreciation for it.
"It's nice to see the area revamped down here," said Ross Jaeger. "It's cool to see (another) brewery in the craft district."
Jaeger was visiting with his fiance Kristina Radtke. Together, the two were trying to visit each of the area's breweries, which in Lincoln Park also includes Lake Superior Brewing and Bent Paddle.
Another patron found reason to appreciate the new business for its beer.
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Some of the other beers that Ursa Minor Brewing has on tap include Stubborn Duluth, which is a pale ale, Pineapple Express, a tropical fruit-scented IPA, Mom at Noon, a light fruity Belgian Wit and the Pink Lady Slipper, a fruited sour beer.
"All of our beers are named with some thought of the beer itself, but we try to keep it fun," Ben Hugus said.
The brewery currently offers about 10 beers, but the taps can dispense up to 28 different flavors. However, the brewers have decided to take their time in coming up with new concoctions. Much like the rest of their business model, Ben Hugus said they want to be patient introducing new beers, with the intention of only putting out good products.
"The last thing we wanted was to rush into a market that's extremely competitive," he said. "We wanted to keep up."
Hugus said the beer community has been very friendly to their new rival. When it came to fundraising, groups like Lincoln Park Business Group, Ecolibrium3, the Entrepreneur Fund and the Northland Foundation all pitched in to help out.
"Everyone has a general interest in building Lincoln Park as a craft district, and this has been a change in the last two, three, four years," he said. "We put this here for a place for people to walk to from their houses and come hang out with us. It's a tight community down here."
