Canal Park Brewing Company could not be much closer to Lake Superior. Located on the Duluth Lakewalk, since opening in 2012, it has become one of the most decorated breweries in Minnesota. The space is industrial-chic with one of the best patios in town. The beer is brewed on site, and the menu is features locally sourced ingredients. From our Lakefront Bed and Breakfast, it’s about a 15-minute walk.
A Family Brewery With Deep Duluth Roots
Canal Park Brewing Company is a locally owned family business, and its brewing ties run back generations. In the 1940s and ’50s, a great-uncle of the family, Maxamillian Herrnberger I, worked at the old Fitger’s Brewery. He would bring handcrafted beer and soda to family gatherings. One of the brewery’s award-winning lagers, the Herrnberger Munich Dunkel, carries his name.
The family saved a strip of Canal Park land from becoming another parking lot, then cleaned up soil contamination left over from the area’s industrial past. The brewpub now stands on that remediated land. Canal Park Brewing takes sustainability seriously and is always looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly, including installing solar panels in 2018. The kitchen uses local, organic ingredients whenever it can.
What’s on Tap at CBP
The Canal Park Brewing Co. lineup covers classic styles, plus a few bolder pours. Here’s where to start:
- Nut Hatchet Brown Ale: the most popular beer on the menu, has toffee, caramel, and malt notes. It earned a silver medal at the World Beer Cup and took first place at the National Beer Cup for its sweet malt with bitterness. It’s named for a pair of fishing guides in Canada. At the 2019 Minnesota Brewers Cup, it took first place in the pale ale category and second for Best in Show.
- Ankle Deep Pilsner: an easy-drinking traditional lager, crisp and clean.
- Storm Born Black IPA: dark and dry, with dark cherry notes, a bready body, and a subtle roasted caramel finish.
- Superior Swell Kettle Sour: a tart pour that placed second at the 2026 Minnesota Brewers Cup.
Hop fans should also look for the Stoned Surf IPA and Lake Haze Juicy IPA. There’s a cocktail and wine list too, plus 750 ml crowlers and limited Belgian-style bottles to take home.
Canal Park Brewing Award Highlights
Canal Park Brewing’s recent run of medals is hard to beat. The barrel-aged Baltic porters lead the way:
2026 World Beer Cup
- Night Trekker Baltic Porter, Barrel Aged: Silver
2026 Minnesota Brewers Cup
- Night Trekker Baltic Porter: 1st
- Lone Trekker Belgian Single: 1st
- Superior Swell Kettle Sour: 2nd
- Hank & Dabs Pale Ale: 3rd
2025 Minnesota Brewers Cup
- Aquavit Barrel Aged Baltic Porter: 1st
2024 Minnesota Brewers Cup
- Nut Hatchet Brown Ale: 1st
- Aquavit Barrel Aged Baltic Porter: 2nd
Food at Canal Park Brewing
The menu is an elevated take on pub food, made with local and organic ingredients whenever possible. It’s also why this is one of the best breweries in Duluth for dinner.
For a small bite:
- Crispy Brussels sprouts with a sweet and spicy soy glaze
- The Brewmaster’s Poutine
- Cheese curds with chipotle cream
- Pretzel sticks with a mustard made from the Stoned Surf IPA
For something bigger: nachos topped with slow-roasted pork or birria beef under house queso.
For dessert: try the Swedish cream, a silky vanilla bean custard with lingonberry sauce and a nod to the region’s Scandinavian roots. Or keep it simple with a scoop of ice cream from Love Creamery, a Duluth favorite.
Online ordering for pickup is also available, which is handy if you’d rather eat by the water on the Lakewalk.
Great Views of Lake Superior
The patio is the main draw. It’s large and open in every season, and it fills up fast on summer afternoons, so arrive early to get a table. In warm weather, it has yard games and lake breezes. By fall, the fire pit takes over.
Keep an eye on the lake while you’re out there. Freighters pass on their way to the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Planning Your Visit
Address: 300 Canal Park Dr., Duluth, at the north end of Canal Park next to Canal Park Lodge.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.); 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday (kitchen closes at 10 p.m.). Confirm on the brewery’s site before you go.
Reservations: none. Arrive early on summer weekends and around sunset.
From Solglimt: about a 15-minute walk up Canal Park Drive, or a scenic loop along the Lakewalk.
Canal Park Brewing is the only brewery in Canal Park, making it the logical first stop on a brewery walk into downtown. Our guide to Duluth breweries covers the rest of the route.
Canal Park Brewing FAQ
Does Canal Park Brewing take reservations?
No. Canal Park Brewing seats on a first-come basis. The patio fills fastest on summer weekends and at sunset, so arrive early for the best chance at a lake-view table.
Is Canal Park Brewing solar-powered?
Yes. Canal Park Brewing runs on solar power and sits on remediated land in Canal Park. Its kitchen uses locally and organically sourced ingredients wherever possible.
What is Canal Park Brewing’s most popular beer?
The Nut Hatchet Brown Ale, a malty brown with toffee and caramel notes. It earned a silver medal at the World Beer Cup and took first place at the 2024 Minnesota Brewers Cup.
Walk Home to the Lake
End the night with a walk back past the Aerial Lift Bridge to Solglimt, Duluth’s only lakefront Bed and Breakfast. You’ll enjoy personalized hospitality, beautiful views, and a gourmet breakfast each morning of your stay. Reserve your room now.