A familiar face is stepping back behind the tanks at St. Paul’s Midway taproom, this time calling the shots. S.A.W. Brewing, a gluten-free operation led by brewer Kasey Pate and co-owner Tammie Hertz, is moving into the former Burning Brothers space and aiming to bring back something Twin Cities drinkers do not see often: a dedicated gluten-free taproom.
S.A.W. Brewing Takes Over the Old Burning Brothers Space
According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Pate spent more than five years brewing at Burning Brothers before teaming up with Hertz to launch S.A.W. Brewing in the same Midway location. The Business Journal reports that S.A.W. plans to operate as a fully gluten-free brewery, producing beer without barley, wheat or rye. The outlet lists Pate and Hertz as co-owners and notes that their new venture will occupy the former Burning Brothers taproom.
Why the Space Opened Up
Burning Brothers, widely regarded as Minnesota’s pioneering gluten-free brewery, shut its doors on May 10, 2025, leaving the taproom empty, Bring Me The News reported. The company later filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition on July 29, 2025, according to federal court records cited by Inforuptcy.
A Gluten-Free Niche Revived in St. Paul
Burning Brothers helped put gluten-free beer on the Twin Cities map when it opened, as a profile in the Star Tribune noted. With S.A.W. moving in, St. Paul is poised to regain a dedicated gluten-free taproom tailored to people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities. The owners described S.A.W. as a gluten-free operation in comments to the Business Journal as they prepare the space for its next chapter.
Neighbors and gluten-free regulars now have one big question: when can they pull up a barstool again? Pate and Hertz say they will share more details on the official opening date, tap lineup and any canning or event plans as the taproom gets closer to welcoming the public. This story will be updated once those plans are announced.
