
Benjamin Gipson standing in the production facility at Warrior Brewing Company in Duluth โข Photo via Warrior Brewing Company
The building that once held one of Duluthโs first craft breweries is home to its newest. Warrior Brewing Company has moved into the space on Superior Street that was previously Lake Superior Brewing Company.
Owners of Warrior Brewing Company, Matt Caple and Benjamin Gipson, met in 2019 when their paths collided. Canal Park Brewing Company, where Gipson was head brewer at the time, held a collaboration brew day with the Lake Superior Warriorsโa disabled veterans hockey program in Duluth, which Caple cofounded.
โAfter that day, we wanted to do more than just one brew day a year together,โ says Gipson. โWe wanted to make the veteran collaboration a bigger thingโeven if we just started with a small operation.โ
Due to the pandemic, Gipson was furloughed from Canal Park Brewing in November 2020. Instead of waiting for the brewery to reopen, he decided to team up with Caple so they could open a brewery of their own. Gipson will be head brewer at Warrior Brewing Company.
โBoth Ben [Gipson] and I are veterans,โ says Caple. โAnd I also have a background in homebrewing. Veterans and beerโitโs a pretty popular mix!โ
With their shared veteran background and passion for craft beer, Caple and Gipson want to use their brewing operation to help involve veterans in the community.
โWe want to help showcase different veteran organizations in the area,โ explains Caple. โTons of these groups exist but for whatever reason, a lot of veterans donโt know about them. Weโre not trying to take over, weโre just trying to facilitate the bigger picture.โ
โYeah, our mission is to serve veteran-brewed beer to support veterans,โ adds Gipson.

Warrior Brewing Company founders Matt Caple (left) and Benjamin Gipson mashing in at their new Duluth brewery โข Photo via Warrior Brewing Company
They plan on hosting educational brew days for veterans. Those who sign up will have a hands-on brewing experience where they help brew, bottle, and everything in between.
When Caple and Gipson purchased the space that used to be Lake Superior Brewing Company, it included a 15-barrel brewing system. The brewery has been outfitted with 10-barrel fermentors. However, Warrior Brewing Company wonโt have a taproom right away and they only plan on distributing to local liquor stores.
โWeโre definitely micro,โ says Caple. โWeโll be strictly in the Twin Port area. We want to start smaller and then slowly grow.โ
Their decision to not include a taproom was largely based on COVID-19 constraints as well as the desire to open as soon as possible. Once business begins to grow, theyโll revisit opening a taproom.
โFor now, weโre going to self-distribute to liquor stores,โ clarifies Gipson. โWeโll mainly have 16-ounce cans in four-packs.โ
For beer, theyโll be distributing a golden honey ale, a double IPA brewed with lactose, and an imperial stout. The brewery will also reserve some imperial stout in its barrel-aged brewer’s reserve program. The barrel-aged versions will be brewed with different flavors, like raspberry chocolate, cold press coffee, and vanilla bean, for example, depending on the season.
โI want to brew beer that appeals to the masses,โ describes Gipson. โI also really want to brew beer that is high gravity, flavorful, unique, and seasonal.โ
Gipson and Caple are both looking forward to being able to give back to local veterans through their brewery. From giving proceeds to veteran nonprofits to hiring veterans in the future, they are determined to help veterans find a community and integrate back into everyday life.
โVeterans should follow our social media because weโll be offering sign-up opportunities for our brew days soon,โ says Caple. โWe plan to have our flagships in local stores by late Mayโso folks should keep an eye out for our beer in liquor stores around Duluth!โ

Keg from Warrior Brewing Company in Duluth โข Photo via Warrior Brewing Company
Head Brewer: Benjamin Gipson
Beer: Barbarian Imperial Stout, Valkyrie Golden Honey Ale, Patriot Lactose Double IPA
Address: 2711 W Superior St, Duluth, MN 55806
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