Forgotten Star Brewery in Fridley — online webcam
A Brewery with History: From Military Plant to Craft Brewing
Forgotten Star Brewery in Fridley is a place where the past meets the present. Forgotten Star Brewing was founded in 2019 in the former boiler house of a plant that produced artillery guns for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Today, craft beer is brewed here, but the walls still hold memories of the city's industrial past.
The online camera is positioned so that the frame captures not only the brewery itself but also the surrounding industrial landscape — railroad tracks, grain elevators, and silhouettes of tall buildings in the distance. It's a rare case where industrial aesthetics become part of the atmosphere of a place for relaxation.
A Building with a Military Past
The history of this place began long before the brewery. The Northern Pump Company was founded in 1929 and spent its first 12 years manufacturing munitions. During the war, the plant worked for the navy, producing artillery guns for the U.S. Navy.
The Northern Pump plant received numerous "E" awards for production excellence, but this history was forgotten — hence the name "Forgotten Star." The brewery didn't just occupy a vacant building; it restored the memory of the people and events that once defined this place.
The Northern Stacks Industrial Complex
The brewery is located in the Northern Stacks industrial complex — one of the largest redevelopment projects in Minnesota. The complex occupies 122 acres and was previously an abandoned industrial zone — a so-called brownfield. Today it's a modern industrial campus where the brewery became the anchor tenant.
The Northern Stacks redevelopment is an example of how industrial heritage can get a new life. Instead of demolishing old buildings, they were adapted for modern needs while preserving the industrial character of the place.
The First Brewery in Fridley
Forgotten Star Brewing became the first brewery in the city of Fridley, revitalizing an abandoned industrial zone. This event changed not only the city's landscape but also its identity — Fridley gained a new attraction for residents and tourists.
The city with a population of 29,590 according to the 2020 census long remained a typical Minneapolis suburb without its own notable attraction. The brewery filled this niche, creating a space where people gather not just for beer but for the atmosphere.
Beer and Awards
The brewery's menu includes a variety of styles — from light lagers to rich stouts. Special attention deserves Schwartzbier — a dark lager that has received recognition at professional competitions.
In 2022, the brewery won two Craft Beer Marketing Awards — global and national — in the "Coolest Taproom or Beer Garden" category. This recognition confirms that the place is valued not only for its beer but for its atmosphere.
Events and Atmosphere
The brewery is not just a place where people drink beer. Events are regularly held here: food trucks, live music, Oktoberfest celebrations, pull tabs, and other events. A spacious indoor hall with historic atmosphere and a large open patio create a space for various forms of relaxation.
The brewery's address: 38 Northern Stacks Dr, Fridley, MN 55421. It's a northern suburb of Minneapolis, about a 10-minute drive from downtown. Easy access to highways I-694 and I-94 makes the brewery easily accessible to residents of the entire Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.
Fridley — A City with Character
Fridley is a city with a rich history, located in Anoka County. It was founded as the Manomin settlement where Rice Creek flows into the Mississippi River. Today it's a diverse suburb with a population of about 30,000, where industrial past coexists with residential neighborhoods and green spaces.
Forgotten Star Brewery has become part of the city's new identity — a place that isn't afraid of its history and knows how to turn it into an advantage. It's an example of how a local business can change the perception of an entire city.
What You Can See on the Camera
The online webcam is mounted at an elevated position and covers the territory of Forgotten Star Brewery in Fridley. In the foreground — an open area with seating zones, tables, benches, and canopies where people are visible. The frame includes a water feature and parked vehicles, including a painted van.
In the background — railroad tracks where a freight train with an orange locomotive and a long chain of freight cars moves. In the distance, industrial buildings, grain elevators, and the city skyline with tall buildings are visible. The real-time camera conveys the atmosphere of this unique place where industrial past meets craft present.
