OUR MISSION

GOOD BEER. GREAT PEOPLE. WELCOME TO THE MINNESOTA CRAFT BREWERY SCENE.

NORTHERN ETHOS

We’re a craft brewery in northern Minnesota and we celebrate the spirit of the north in our beers, our locally sourced menu, and our atmosphere. From our logo to our ‘mascot’, Barley Bill, you’ll find the elements that are essential to the lifestyle in our great region. The woods and the water, fire and arts, and most of all, community.

COMMUNITY POWERED

This community is the heart and soul of what we do and we’ve made it our mission is to provide a unique gathering place for locals and visitors alike. This is a place to come together over a beer, enjoy great food and live music, and gather for events big and small…or no reason at all.

PREMIUM BEER, SCRATCH FOOD

No compromises here. Made from scratch with local ingredients in our custom-made wood-fired oven. We offer rotating food and beer offerings throughout the seasons, from the tried-and-true brews to kitchen and brewhouse collaborations.

GOOD WATER = GOOD BEER

We can’t make good beer without good water. The Itasca area is the source of some of the best water in the state, and we encourage everyone to do their part in keeping our water clean.

OUR WATER, OUR FUTURE

We’ll say it again, we can’t make good beer without good water. We’ve teamed with Itasca Waters to help spread the word on how we can all do our part to keep our waters the cleanest in Minnesota.

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EASY WAYS TO PROTECT ITASCA WATERS

Safely dispose of toxic waste at County Facilities.

Bring gasoline, antifreeze, and paint thinner to the Itasca County Transfer Station. Bring old and unused medications to the County Sheriff’s Office or hospital.

KEEP LITTER, PET WASTES, LEAVES AND DEBRIS OUT OF STREET GUTTERS AND STORM DRAINS.

These outlets drain directly to lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands.

CONTROL SOIL EROSION WITH NATURAL FILTERS TO SLOW DOWN WATER THAT RUNS INTO OUR LAKES AND STREAMS.

Plant trees, create rain gardens, reduce lawns near lakes, and add plants with large root systems.

USE FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES ON LAWNS SPARINGLY (OR NOT AT ALL).

Use natural and organic methods to keep your lawn healthy.

Inspect and pump out your septic system regularly.

Inspect your system annually and pump out at least every three years.

CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY YOUR BOAT AFTER EACH LAKE YOU VISIT.

Clean, drain and dry your boat after each lake you visit to prevent aquatic invasive species from spreading into our lakes.

TALK WITH OTHERS ABOUT WAYS WE CAN HELP KEEP ITASCA WATERS CLEAN.

We’re in this together, help us share these solutions and more at www.itascawaters.org

PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Bill Martinetto

General Manager

Bill joined the RBC team as the general manager after working in the mining industry as an accounting manager. He is a life-long (okay, legal-life-long) lover of beer and has always been interested in the craft brew industry. He likes numbers and he’s good at numbers, but his heart belongs to beer. Before joining forces with the RBC crew, Bill imagined starting his own brewery years down the road. Lucky for us, we don’t need to wait any longer to share his vision for premium craft beer. Now he gets to put his stellar management skills toward making sure that you get consistent quality and creative brews every time you visit the taproom. Bill is a Grand Rapids native and lives with his wife, Tashanna, two little girls and three little boys, Keira, Kinsley, Briar, Bowen, and Kian, two dogs, Scout and Summit (yep… he’s named after the brewery), and fifteen chickens.

Anna Eastman

Operations Manager

Anna, her husband, Jeremy, & their three kids, moved to Grand Rapids in 2008. They built their dream home on the lake, and it feels like yesterday, but somehow three little kids are now successful adults! After homeschooling their kids for several years, plus more than 20 years of industry experience, Anna opened The Red Iron Griddle SmokeHouse & Bakery in Bovey. There, she catered weddings, events, parties in the speakeasy, her smoked brisket, soups & desserts quickly caught on. In 2020 she ventured into the woods & acquired a state of Minnesota Mushroom Identification Certificate. She furthered her knowledge in identifying medicinal plants & trees. Finally, in her many skills she also learned the art of sourdough, mastering it as she accepted the Operations Manager position here at RBC.

Stephanie Dixon

Content Specialist

Stephanie moved to the Grand Rapids area in August of 2021 and joined the RBC team in September of 2022 as our Marketing Coordinator. She graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2017 with a B.A. degree in Creative Writing and has a background in photography, content creation, and marketing. Since joining our crew, Steph has been the creative force behind all of our content and takes care of our social media presence, digital & print marketing, and our overall brand consistency. Steph holds a huge appreciation for craft beer, fine bourbon, good dogs, and the great outdoors. Whether it’s riding ATV trails, fishing, kayaking, camping, or hiking – you can usually find her somewhere near the woods and waters, usually with her two Labrador Retrievers, Cash & Grizzly.

Darin Jensen

Head Brewer

Darin grew up in Grand Rapids and moved to Alaska in 1993. He joined Alaskan Brewing Co. as a volunteer because he “thought it would be cool”. Turns out, it was. Miscellaneous work soon turned into a full-time gig and Darin moved from keg cleaning to tank cleaning, and finally, to brewing beer. Throughout his 23 years at Alaskan he went from brewing, to sales, to marketing, back to brewing, then finally to quality control. That position gave him a full education in all aspects of the process from ingredients to inspections, and everything in between. When he got the call from RBC he decided the time was right to move back home and he joined the team as head brewer. Darin brings 30 years of industry experience to the table and is passionate about beer and the craft beer movement. Darin has two grown daughters, Ariah and Taya. He enjoys traveling, road tripping in his vintage VW Vanwagon, paddle boarding, and snowboarding in his free time.

Russ Freels

Assistant Brewer

Russ’ second favorite beer is cold. First favorite is free, but he is a self described equal opportunity beer enthusiast (emphasis on hazy IPAs). He started his brewing journey in October 2022 and has been enjoying adventures on the brew deck and occasional bartending ever since. He started at RBC in 2021 after an 8 year career as a flight paramedic. Born and raised in Southern Minnesota, he lives with his wife Freja, their two dogs, and 4 cats (yes, it’s quite the zoo). He enjoys fishing, hiking, making his wife cocktails, and trashy reality tv. If you visit RBC, ask him about the brew process, or beer, he can talk about both for hours.

Deb Baker

Kitchen Operations Manager

Deb is a Grand Rapids native, with a genuine passion for food. Embarking on her professional cooking journey later in life, Deb’s culinary expertise flourished under the mentorship of former chef Kyle O’Brien. Starting in May 2021, she ascended from Sous Chef to her current role as Kitchen Manager, consistently delivering the high culinary standards synonymous with Rapids Brewing.

A Graphic Design graduate from Al Collins Graphic Design School, Deb spent three decades at the Grand Rapids Herald-Review before her career pivot in May 2020. Her culinary dedication echoes the legacy of her late mother, Linda, who managed the kitchen at the Sawmill Inn.

Beyond the kitchen, Deb cherishes time with her adult children, Kaya and Julia, and her loyal canine companion, Dexter. Whether enjoying quality time with family and friends, or savoring an IPA “shifty” post-work, Deb epitomizes the heart of Rapids Brewing.

Chris Proctor

Event Kitchen Manager

Chris joined our team in May of 2023 as a part time line-cook, and has since been elevated to our Event Kitchen Manager. He is a LeCordon Bleu culinary school graduate from the former St. Paul Campus. He grew up in Florida for 15 years before calling Minnesota his home for the last 23 years. Cooking and family dinners were always a big part of his life growing up. Cooking for others is a way to show and share that same experience. Chris is looking forward to this new adventure and what the year will bring. He is thankful to be a part of the RBC team.

Chris Harrison

Event coordinator

As a youngster, Chris fell in love with Grand Rapids on family fishing vacations. After many trips around the sun and a few beers, he moved north and joined the team at RBC in the Fall of 2023. Professionally, Chris has excelled in the retail world and even helped open a brewery in Owatonna, MN. When he’s not at the “pub” you can find him chasing muskies. Chris believes that RBC is a true “Community Hub” and a destination spot for vacationers and craft beer enthusiasts.