The storefront of Imminent Brewing. Lucy Woods/The Olaf Messenger
Last week, I was downtown with some friends after getting dinner, and as we were walking to the bus stop near the Food Co-op, we heard faint ’50s swing music in the distance. It wasn’t a hallucination, it was Imminent Brewing. On Oct. 5, I went back to Imminent to talk with some of the staff for a conversation about their place in Northfield and relationships with the colleges. I sat with Stephen Neis, a beertender and staff member deeply involved in the business. Neis said that a continuous goal of Imminent is to be a “collaborative, community space.”
Neis also mentioned a that knitting club and a book club both meet at the brewery. “People do just come here and use the space,” Neis said in an interview with the Olaf Messenger. The walls have big bay doors, and the seating area inside and outside are combined in the summers, allowing for an indoors-outdoors feel that livens up the atmosphere and makes people sitting outside feel just as included in the environment of the bar. When I asked if students were invited, Neis said, “Yes, just because it’s a brewery, you don’t have to have a beer.” I noted that they don’t have any security or threatening staff, to which Neis said, “Security has never been a concern.”
I think that further speaks to the environment being created at Imminent. It’s a place to enjoy time with friends, play board games, listen to music, watch the Minnesota Vikings lose, and have a beer if you are over 21 and feel like one. Neis could neither confirm or deny if an Ole IPA is in the works.
Another great element of Imminent Brewing is that they are truly the most dog-friendly brewery I’ve ever been in. They have water and food bowls, dog beds, and a brew-dog-of-the-week section on their website. I went back to the brewery later that night to get Thai food from a food truck that they were hosting, and was greeted by a golden retriever and two wiener dogs. It’s a special place. Plus, it goes without saying that the brewery is an active advocate for LGBTQ rights, and BIPOC representation. Should you choose to visit, expect the comfort of Mellby lounges, the energy of your best friends, and all the dogs your heart could desire.
Imminent Brewing is open Wednesday through Sunday at 519 Division St. South, and additional information can be found at www.imminentbrewing.com.
