Little Thistle announces new head brewer

ROCHESTER — Little Thistle Brewing Co. has a new head brewer who’s no stranger to the Minnesota brewing industry.

The award winning Rochester brewery announced Niko Tonks, former head brewer and one of the founders of Fair State Brewing Cooperative, will take over lead brewing duties there. The announcement was made Friday, May 3, 2024.

Tonks steps into the role after assistant brewer Nick Novotny left at the end of March this year and as Little Thistle co-founder and co-owner Steve Finney moves to focus more on the business end of the operation. Finney will continue to brew but said he's looking forward to collaborating with Tonks, the owners said Sunday.

Tonks started in the brewing industry in Austin, Texas in 2010 at Live Oak Brewing Co. He returned to Minnesota in 2013 and worked as head brewer at Sociable Cider Werks when it opened that year in Minneapolis.

Tonks along with Evan Sallee, and Matt Hauck opened Fair State in Northeast Minneapolis in 2014. Tonks moved to Yakima Chief Hops as regional sales manager in 2022.

“I love the hops game but I couldn't get that itch to brew out of my head, and so when Steve and Dawn called and asked whether I wanted to come make beer, I said, ‘let's do it,’” Tonks wrote in the announcement of his hire.

Tonks said the Little Thistle’s size is appealing to him. It’s large enough to have distribution contracts in the region with retailers and restaurants.

“(B)ut also be small enough that it's possible for us to plant a flag or two and say, ‘this is what we do well, give it a try, we think you'll like it,’” Tonks said.

Little Thistle opened in 2018. As of 2024, Little Thistle is the only Rochester brewery to win a Great American Beer Festival medal.