Indeed Brewing Co. launched in Minneapolis just as craft breweries were growing in popularity. The company has expanded from a brewing capacity of 3,000 barrels per year at its founding in 2011 to 20,000 barrels per year in 2024. Ryan Bandy, chief business officer, said the brewery’s founding came at the right time. 

“I think we started early, but not too early,” he said. “We weren’t trying to grow a brand from the early ’90s, but we’re also not trying to grow starting in 2016 or 2017.”

Bandy said Indeed has remained successful by pushing boundaries while also producing a consistent product. 

“I think a lot of brands I see that aren’t doing as well found something that worked three or four years ago, and they hold onto it,” he said. “They don’t build in space for innovation into their brand.”

A key factor in Indeed’s innovation came in 2019 when it opened a taproom and pilot brewery in Milwaukee. Starting a new company in the heart of “Brew City” was hard, Bandy said. But taking that kind of risk is a crucial part of the company’s identity.

The pilot brewery can spin out new flavors with more flexibility than the flagship’s large production capacity. So, when production does begin in Minneapolis, the process and product have already been tested.

Indeed’s push towards innovation didn’t stop in Milwaukee. Indeed joined a wave of breweries that opened a new product category when Minnesota legalized hemp-derived THC edibles and drinks in 2022. Indeed’s THC lineup now includes a diverse lineup of flavors and doses for every consumer level.

Bandy said Indeed’s place in the cannabis industry differs from brands in other states that are hard to relate to.

“It’s shown if you create ideas and experiences from an authentic standpoint, people are going to be interested,” he said.

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More about Indeed Brewing Co.

Chief business officer: Ryan Bandy

Headquarters: Minneapolis

Minnesota employees: 52

Year founded: 2011

Business: Craft beer and THC drink manufacturer

Web: indeedbrewing.com