MINNESOTA · NAICS 3121
Minnesota brewery, distillery, and winery deals are projection-heavy, with production capacity, taproom revenue, and inventory cycles routinely requiring independent study. The Twin Cities carry one of the Upper Midwest's deepest craft scenes, and the named record documents the program financing it directly.
FEASIBILITY TRIGGER
Production capacity, taproom revenue, and inventory cycles make these projection-heavy deals where studies are routinely required.
Between FY2010 and FY2026, SBA lenders approved and disbursed 265 7(a) and 504 loans for brewery, distillery, and winery projects in Minnesota, totaling $112.3 million in approved financing at an average of $424,000 per loan. Minnesota ranks #4 of 38 states tracked for brewery, distillery, and winery SBA lending volume and accounts for 3.9% of national brewery, distillery, and winery SBA dollar volume. 83.4% of these loans were made under the 7(a) program, the remainder under 504. 26 loans have been approved since FY2024.
| Disbursed loans (FY2010–FY2026) | 265 |
| Approved volume | $112.3 million |
| Average loan size | $424,000 |
| 7(a) share | 83.4% |
| Approvals since FY2024 | 26 |
| State rank by loan count | #4 of 38 |
Among the 202 seasoned loans in this segment (approvals FY2010–FY2021), 6.9% reached adverse resolution — purchased, liquidated, or charged off. The national benchmark for brewery, distillery, and winery is 8.1%, against 7.3% across all industries. That performance runs below the national benchmark for this asset class, a credit-positive signal for lenders.
Source: SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level data, as of March 31, 2026. Disbursed loans only. See data methodology.
A 6.9% adverse-resolution rate below the national brewery, distillery, and winery benchmark of 8.1% supports the credit story for well-underwritten Minnesota projects in this class. Across 265 SBA loans averaging $424,000, that track record does not eliminate the need for a third-party feasibility study, but it means a rigorous study reinforces rather than defends the projections.
Every Minnesota breweries, distilleries and wineries project we underwrite follows the same lender ready process: independent market analysis, site and technical review, and financial projections tested against SBA SOP 50 10 8 standards. Our SBA feasibility study consultants guide explains scope, timing, deliverables, and what lenders and CDCs expect in the report.
Minnesota projects often pencil under SBA 504 because the 50/40/10 structure delivers up to 90 percent financing on owner-occupied real estate at a fixed debenture rate, and the state's calendar 2025 average rate ran 0.63 points below the national figure. SBA 7(a) covers acquisitions, working capital, and equipment, and from July 4, 2026 eligible borrowers can combine 7(a) and 504 for up to $10 million in total program credit.
The Twin Cities carry one of the Upper Midwest's deepest craft scenes, and the named record documents the program financing it directly.
For a national view of this asset class, see our brewery, distillery, and winery SBA feasibility overview, and read our related analysis in the brewery, distillery, and winery lending research on our blog.
Public SBA and CDC program records, cited as program evidence
$666,000 SBA 504 through Amplio within a $2,207,014 total project with Old National as third-party lender
11 new jobs, historic saloon restoration, 2020, program evidence
St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Fifteen-minute scoping call, written proposal inside one business day, firm fixed fee before you sign.
Book a Meeting