We’re honored to feature Thesis Beer Project as the first in a series of breweries in the Rochester Brewery Group who are sponsoring our Rochester MN Summer Guide + Bucket List!
Thesis Beer Project has become a fixture in the booming local craft brewing industry and a hub of activity in Rochester’s social scene. Rochester Local met with owners Adam Fredericksen and Allyson Palmer to learn more about Thesis Beer Project, and how this great local establishment–and their delicious beers–came into being.
How it Started
Brewing beer started as a hobby for husband and wife team Adam Fredericksen and Allyson Palmer. They would talk about what they liked about different breweries and what they would do if they had one someday. Eventually, ‘someday’ got closer to reality. Fredericksen quit his job in IT to go to school for brewing beer. He joined Grand Rounds in Rochester as an assistant brewer, where he worked with the head brewer at the time, Steve Finnie. Finnie and his wife Dawn Finnie now own Little Thistle Brewing Company.
Meanwhile, Palmer was a medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine when she and Fredericksen began talking more seriously about starting their own brewery. After Palmer was appointed to the Internal Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic, the couple knew they would be staying in Rochester. That’s when they decided to go forward with their idea of opening a brewery and leased the space in Rochester. Thesis Beer Project opened in August 2019, with Fredericksen as the head brewer.
When asked about the brewery’s name, Palmer explains, “I was working on my Ph.D. when we decided on a name. ‘Thesis’ is a statement or idea. ‘Beer Project’ is to show it’s unique and not just a brewery. It is also evolving and always a project.” Opening a brewery from scratch was no small feat, but this project was a labor of love. “I enjoy being active and having varied projects. I like new challenges. Every beer is a unique challenge. This combines things I love – building things, being hands-on, and using artistic elements,” says Fredericksen.
A Unique Vibe
Thesis Beer Project has its own vibe. It is colorful and vibrant, with a packed live music calendar, and frequently hosts events. “We’ve created a great community here with musicians and music lovers in town. It’s great to see people have found a home here.” They host gigs and performances most Friday and Saturday evenings with a variety of musicians from the Rochester area and the Twin Cities. “Thesis allows us to create a house for live music,” notes Fredericksen.
Partnerships with food trucks, stationed in the parking lot behind the building, ensure that patrons have great local food to go with their great local beer. “We wanted to make a space we’d want to go to,” Palmer, now a physician in geriatric medicine at Mayo Clinic, explains. “I love coming here to take a breath, listen to live music, and have a beer.” A relaxing patio (dog friendly!) in front of the brewery and a large garage door that opens during nice weather to create a refreshing indoor-outdoor space for people, pups, and families.
During the week, Thesis creates a fun social space for people to gather. Tuesday evenings are Karaoke Night, welcoming anyone to the stage, or those who just come to listen. Thursday evenings are always a hit with Trivia Night, perfect for a team of friends or coworkers to put their collective brains to the test.
Good Beer and Other Drinks
Fredericksen says he’s proud of the beer quality they serve at Thesis. Each week, they make two or three batches of beer, each batch containing about 7 barrels (14 kegs) of beer in a batch two to three times a week. The beer selection on tap at Thesis changes regularly and can be found on their website. Favorite brews and drinks of customers include Thesis Pieces, a peanut butter blonde ale, and their fruited sours. Besides beer, Thesis also offers seltzer cocktails, seltzers, sour ales, and beer slushies. For those looking for something non-alcoholic, they offer a variety of options, including August Schell 1919 Root Beer, nonalcoholic beers, and kombucha.
Try a Taste
Not sure what to try? Try a sample! Or order a flight of four beers to try a variety. “Our goal is that anyone can come in and be helped in a welcoming, comfortable environment. We also want them to be comfortable to try a drink,” explains Palmer. Staff at Thesis are very knowledgeable and are ready to help find people their new favorite drink. “They do some education and get people to try different things.”
Love Thesis beer so much that you want to take some home? Thesis will soon have some of their beers for sale to-go in 16-ounce cans. Hopefully, they will soon be found at local bars and restaurants as well.
Bike, Drive, or Walk
Thesis Beer Project is conveniently located on 2nd Street SW in Rochester, within biking or walking distance of Cascade Lake and downtown. Take a short detour on your way home after work and stop for a drink after work downtown, or make a pitstop on your bike ride. You’ll be glad you did!
Find out more:
Thesis Beer Project
Address: 1929 2nd St. SW, Rochester, MN
Web: https://thesis.beer/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThesisBeer
Instagram: thesisbeer
