4-13-2025 2:29am

Family Of Falling Knife Brewing's Late Owner Seeks Support From Community

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Family Of Falling Knife Brewing's Late Owner Seeks Support From Community

Tom Berg was 46 years old.

The family of Tom Berg, who owned Falling Knife Brewing Company in northeast Minneapolis, is gaining support from the community after Berg's unexpected death.

The brew business announced Berg's death on Monday and that Falling Knife would be closed the same day to "grieve this monumental loss." He was 46 years old.

A GoFundMe launched by Berg's family says he was heavily involved in the Minneapolis music community. He was a member of multiple bands over the past 30 years, including Self-Evident, Zebulon Pike, and The Heed.

Aside from starting Falling Knife Brewing Co. in 2019 alongside Andy Rutledge and Dan Herman, Berg was also a member of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Board of Directors, and contributed to multiple collaborations with other breweries, including Venn Brewing Company, Back Channel Brewing, Flat Earth Brewing, and Day Block Brewing.

"Needless to say, and as proven by the hundreds if not thousands of messages and tributes to Tom already, his presence and warmth brightened countless lives," Berg's cousin, Courtney Wetternach, said. "So many have said a version of 'to know Tom is to love him,' and from the stories our family has read in the past few days, it is clear that HE loved everyone he met. Tom's tragic and sudden death has left family and friends deep in mourning."

Wetternach said via the GoFundMe that the family is saddled with funeral and memorial expenses for Berg, along with other expenses related to Berg's home and finances.

As of Friday morning, the fundraiser has generated over $11,100 of its $25,000 goal.