Explore the Fleckenstein Brewery

One of Faribault's greatest claims to fame, besides the Faribo Woolen Mills, is that we were once the home of the Fleckenstein Brewery, located on the banks of the Straight River along the sandstone bluffs just below Shattuck/St. Mary's School. They used the natural coolness of the sandstone caves to complete the fermentation process of their lager.

As a child I spent many days and hours rooting around on the abandoned property where the brewery once stood. I found a few whole bottles and rusty items for my growing Flecks artifacts, but the thing I found the most of were the bottle caps. Some of them had remained in amazingly pristine condition despite the years of sitting in a pit of crushed bottles and other trash. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the time I spent at the old brewery site.

If you've never had the opportunity to explore the Fleckenstein Brewery, or what's left of it, then your in luck because this Saturday, April 22, the Rice County Historical Society is offering several tours to this historic site during their Fleckenstein Brewery Walking Tour. The first one has already sold out, but there's still room on the second and third, which are at 12:30PM and 3PM. If you'd like to join in on an adventurous outing, on what is suppose to be a beautiful afternoon, you can call the Rice County Historical Society Museum at (507) 332-2121. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes since it is a walking tour.