Imminent Brewing
Northfield, Minnesota

Seeking a home for its brewery and taproom in historic Northfield, Minn., Imminent asked Alm Design Studio to evaluate the potential of a few downtown buildings. The town’s decommissioned armory was an ideal fit: providing a convenient location with existing high-bay garage doors, a planned event space next door, and plenty of room for operations and community engagement.

 The brewery’s front of house includes the bar, cooler, seating, utilities and a sun-soaked patio, with the lion’s share of brewing equipment residing in back. The space between these zones is framed by the original garage door, creating an impromptu proscenium for musicians and performers. Glazed garage doors were added to the south exterior to open the patio space to the interior, creating a continuous space during the warmer months. 

 In this thoroughly collaborative effort, we created a durable design foundation that allowed the client to self-build many of the interior elements. Sustainably sourced beetle kill blue pine is used throughout — from the tabletops to the slab bar — giving the space its unique color and warmth. The finished environment feels bespoke and grounded in its location, reflecting the hands-on contributions of many family members and friends.

Photography by Tasha Hergott