Photo by Wanda Hanson
Operating a brewery is a brand new challenge for new owners Christa and Aaron Magnuson. The Magnusons took over Trout City Brewing in Preston, Minn., on September 18 and reopened it November 4. When the couple purchased the business, the former owners had already closed the brewery and were packing up to leave Preston.
Christa left her old job in insurance behind and took on the day-to-day operations at the brewery. Aaron works as a crane operator, building bridges during the week, and joins Christa at Trout City on the weekends.
The Magnusons, who live in Eyota, have two sons, Ethan age 23 and Jacob age 14. They plan on keeping their home in Eyota until Jacob graduates from high school.
Aaron originally saw the listing for Trout City Brewing online. He had Christa’s brother who lives in Preston meet him at the business to check out the offering with him. Aaron and Christa’s sister-in-law had worked for the previous owners and still works for the Magnusons today.
This is Aaron’s first time brewing and he is totally enjoying it; the previous owners included the recipes as well as all the equipment in the sale. At this time, the brewery offers Easy Rider, a blonde; Local Yokel, a session IPA; Egomaniac, a rye IPA; St. Anthony, a pale ale; Red Sky, a cranberry honey Belgian; and Stout It Out Loud. He also makes hard seltzers – wild berry and tropical blast.
The bar has added Busch Light and Michelob Golden on tap. Seagrams cider and Cider Boys hard cider are available as well. Margaritas and old fashioneds are available from the slushy machine.
A wide selection of food is offered at Trout City – appetizers, sandwiches, wings, and flatbread pizza are some of the choices. Their cheeseburger flatbread pizza has proven to be a big seller; as a flatbread, it’s thinner and not as doughy as a deep dish pizza.
Christa posts the daily, ever-changing specials on Facebook early in the day to help customers with their lunch choices. A different happy hour is offered daily as well. On Sundays, it’s happy hour all day long – Aaron encourages everyone to come down and watch football at the brewery.
Visitors will find new, bigger TVs at Trout City; the beer hall has been repurposed as a game room. A new, custom-made cribbage board awaits your enjoyment; Austin Baukol, owner of Baukol’s Barrels up the street in Preston, created the gorgeous cribbage board featuring the Trout City Brewing logo.
Trout City also offers assorted merchandise – t-shirts, sweatshirts, assorted hats, water bottles, glasses and keychains are some of their items.
Trout City Brewing will continue to offer meeting space and party venues. The large room has space for around 50 people; the Magnusons are equipped to set up buffet style food service. Trout City has a full food and liquor license and is ready to plan your party with you. The space can be reserved by emailing troutcitybrewing@gmail.com or by calling (507) 259-5335. Visit troutcitybrewing.com for their menu, specials and more about the business, which is located at 132 St. Anthony Street South.
The Preston community has been welcoming the Magnusons; Christa said her favorite part of this venture has been hearing from the customers, “Oh, we’re so glad you bought it and opened it back up again!” Christa, who had done a short stint as a bartender long ago, commented that she started to get to know her customers by their drink orders first, and now she’s learning their names and personalities.
Opening day brought a few minor first day hiccups with some of the machines, but the Magnusons just rolled with it. They are looking forward to what the summer season brings. Right now they are in the process of adapting to Preston; they ask that the people of Preston let them know what they want at Trout City Brewing.
Knowing it is important to be consistent, the Magnusons have set their hours Monday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Christa shared that they may extend the Sunday hours in the summer. Trout City is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
When asked for any advice to someone considering a similar venture into brewing and running a brewery, Christa replied with a chuckle, “I have absolutely none! I don’t have enough experience to give anybody advice! I’m still a newbie!”
While both Aaron and Christa are newbies to running a brewery, they obviously both enjoy their new challenge! In addition to learning to brew beer, Aaron says he just likes the old building with its warm woods and stained glass windows. Both Aaron and Christa invite you all to come down and enjoy their welcoming brewery!
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