Marketing deal of the week: Summit Brewing named Official Craft Beer of the Minnesota Twins

Sports team and league sponsorships have long been the domain of Big Beer, but craft breweries have been slowly changing that. Baseball in particular seems to seek out more of that local, down-home connection with regional sponsorships, and this deal between two iconic Minnesota brands is an especially notable one. Starting this season, Summit Brewing Co. will now be an “Official Craft Beer” and the “Hometown Craft Beer” of the Minnesota Twins. Additionally, Summit has secured naming rights to the open-air bar adjacent to the leftfield foul pole.

The “Summit Brewing Pub” will open on the ballpark’s club level by the Skyline Deck and Town Ball Tavern at the Twins Home Opener on April 8. Summit Brewing Co. has also acquired rights to use the Twins trademarks across the team’s multi-state territory. 

“Summit Brewing Co. and the Minnesota Twins are two iconic teams that are deeply integrated in not only the Twin Cities community, but the state of Minnesota and surrounding areas. The Twins’ mission mirrors ours – having a strong team that lives, learns and engages with its community,” Summit Founder and President Mark Stutrud said. “We’re a strong and trusted brand and we recognize the Twins in the same light. It’s thrilling to be able to support them at a higher level and it really demonstrates a deep faith the Twins organization has in Summit Brewing. This is an amazing partnership, a very nice moment for me and our company, and one that opens us up to experiences we have yet to imagine.” 

“We’ve long admired the level of connection that the Minnesota Twins have within baseball fans and the community alike not only in the Twin Cities, but really the entire region. From a sales standpoint, being involved at this level with the Twins will allow us to activate the partnership beyond the ballpark, and explore new ways to drive Summit sales alongside our distributor and retail partners throughout our footprint,” Director of Sales Brandon Bland said.

“We are delighted to bring Summit Brewing into our Twins family, extending a proud tradition of Minnesota owned and run businesses enhancing the Target Field fan experience,” club President & CEO Dave St. Peter said. “The food and beverage options at our home ballpark help make Target Field a premier entertainment venue; Summit and their collection of craft beers is a terrific addition to our 2021 lineup.”

At the start of the season, the Summit Brewing Pub will serve 16-oz cans of Summit Extra Pale Ale, Summit Sága IPA, Summit Slugfest Juicy IPA and soon to be available Summit Cabin Crusher Kölsch-Style Ale with Lime. Additionally, 16oz cans of Extra Pale Ale and Sága IPA will be at all gameday concession locations throughout the ballpark.