our world:
brewing up community Deb Loch, Master Brewer and Jill Pavlak, Restaurateur
If Saint Paul’s breweries were united by one common ingredient, it wouldn’t be hops, though locally sourced ingredients are a mainstay. It’s not the water, though a deep ground aquifer helped put the city on the map in the 1800s as a brewing powerhouse. When you boil and ferment it all down, it's about love. Of community. Of place. Of craft.
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V I S I T S A I N T PA U L
Official Insider 's Guide
The motto at Urban Growler sums it up nicely: “We bring people together through beer.” Which makes sense, since in many ways, Minnesota’s first women-owned microbrewery got its start in a love story. A decade ago, Master Brewer Deb Loch and Restaurateur Jill Pavlak traded in their successful, steady careers in corporate America and sales to pursue a passion for brewing and great food. After scouring the Twin Cities for the perfect location, they found a spot that would ideally accommodate their dream of bringing people together. “They say you date Minneapolis, but you marry Saint Paul,” Jill says, noting that her partner in life and business, Deb, is very “Saint Paul.” Each of these entrepreneurs professes a love for the city where they’ve made a home for themselves and their business. Their neighborhood, called the Creative Enterprise Zone, has an extra special place in their hearts. It’s where so many people
embraced their startup business. And where they’ve poured extra attention into supporting local activities like maker’s markets, painting classes, book signings and pet celebrations. Organizations seek out the Urban Growler’s charming rental spaces, taproom and outdoor beer garden knowing there’s more than unique craft beer, but great food and nonalcoholic beverages in a welcoming atmosphere. “We’re beer for you, in every kind of way,” Deb says. And like the Urban Growler, with its dog-friendly, bike-friendly, people-friendly mantra, so too is the tight-knit brewing community of Saint Paul. Whether you’re exploring on your own, with friends, or on a brewery tour, odds are you’ll always find folks who are eager to welcome you into their world to share a pint and a conversation.
