The story begins as many do, with a couple of homebrewers. Nathaniel and Austin both separately had become disillusioned with their professions, seeking an environment that gave them a bit more of a creative outlet. Nathaniel approached Austin, his brother in law, about starting a brewery. Simple in concept, but quite a few things had to be put in place first. As the Norns would weave it, Austin had come in contact with his favorite brewery, Haand Bryggeriet on a trip to Norway in the years prior and an opportunity for an apprenticeship had just opened up with them. He spent some months in Norway working under his mentor Andreas Riis at Haand. Upon his return to the United States, he moved from Kentucky to Minnesota, and the two immediately began executing the plans to open HammerHeart. The brewery’s name was chosen from the epic viking metal album “Hammerheart” by the classic Swedish metal band Bathory. Fitting as it involves two sources of endless inspiration for us… metal and Norse mythology. After nearly two years of planning and construction, the brewery opened in late Summer 2013, debuting at All Pints North in Duluth, MN followed by the taproom opening in Lino Lakes, MN. Present for the debut was Austin’s Norwegian brewing mentor, Andreas, and together they brewed three collaboration brews that summer. HammerHeart Brewing will continue to brew beers inspired by Norse and Celtic history, lore, old world tradition, beauty and wonder of dense forests, running water, towering mountains, and of course, all forms of heavy metal. We at HammerHeart are honored that you have taken the time to read about our craft and hope that you will join us for a beer some time, at our place or yours.