A brewery with roots in Norway and a heart in the USA

Passion, lovestory and strong ties to Norwegian roots

A 45-year-old love story, two passionate brewers, a small town in the American Midwest, and strong ties to Rogaland have come together to create Pulpit Rock Brewing Company.

“1980! That’s the year we met at Luther College in Decorah,” Pete Espinosa says with a smile.

This story was made as part of my journey to Decorah, Iowa and my photo exhibition out of the photo projects “A dying Norway - in a living America?” and “A different Stavanger”.

He fondly recalls meeting his wife, Kari, during their college years. Both with Norwegian heritage, they fell not only for each other but also for the charming town nestled in the rolling hills of Iowa.

After college, the couple split their time between two homes—one in Decorah and another in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis, just three hours away. But Decorah always held a special place in their hearts. Ten years ago, when they built a home there, the question arose: How could they give something back to the community?

The answer came one evening as they walked past an old laundromat. Stopping in front of the vacant building, they began to imagine what it could become. A brewery, perhaps?

Family ties and immigration

For the Espinosa family, ties to Norway have always been a central part of their identity. Pete and Kari’s story mirrors the journey of countless Norwegian immigrants who shaped the cultural landscape of the American Midwest, including Decorah.

Their ancestors’ journey to Iowa was marked by resilience and survival, Pete recounts.

“They lost everything during a shipwreck but were saved by another vessel. Once in America, they connected with family and friends and rebuilt their lives,” he says.

This is Pulpit Rock in Decorah, Iowa. A bit smaller than the original.

The brewery’s name, Pulpit Rock, was inspired by Norway’s iconic Preikestolen, a natural landmark symbolizing strength and vision. Decorah has its own Pulpit Rock—a much smaller geological formation—further cementing the connection between the two places.

“My mother’s family came from Holta, near Tau, just a short distance from Preikestolen. Naming the brewery after such an iconic landmark felt natural, especially since Decorah has its own version of Pulpit Rock,” Pete explains.

This is the original Pulpit Rock, Preikestolen, outside Stavanger, Norway.

The start of something big

Around the same time Pete and Kari discovered the old laundromat, brewers Bob Slack and Justin Teff were working for another brewery in the region. When the Espinosa family reached out, a shared vision quickly brought them together.

“We first met at a picnic table near Decorah’s Pulpit Rock, about a year before we opened,” Bob recalls. “Pete and Kari had one clear philosophy: quality over quantity.”

This philosophy laid the foundation for what would become Pulpit Rock Brewing Company. When it opened in 2015, the brewery was modest, with a small taproom in the former laundromat and a compact brewing space in the back. Yet the reception from locals and visitors alike was overwhelming.

“2015 was the perfect time to start,” says Scott Nading, who began as a bartender in 2016 and now serves as general manager. “Craft beer was booming, and we were able to tap into that momentum from the start.”

Norwegian and European inspiration

Norwegian heritage is a defining influence on both the brewery’s name and its beers. Pulpit Rock experiments with traditional Norwegian ingredients and brewing techniques, including kveik yeast and juleøl inspired by Norwegian recipes.

“Kveik yeast is incredibly versatile. It allows us to experiment with flavors in ways that few other ingredients can,” Bob explains.

His interest in European brewing styles began as a teenager.

“I remember the first time I tasted authentic German pilsners and hefeweizens during a youth exchange program. It opened my eyes to a new world of flavors and inspired me to start homebrewing—even though I was too young to legally drink the beer I made!” he says with a laugh.

Quality, always

Since its inception, Pulpit Rock has remained steadfast in its commitment to quality over quantity.

“We’ve never chased large-scale distribution or export,” says Scott. “Instead, we focus on making the best beer we can.”

Most of their beer is sold locally, either directly from their taproom or through limited distribution in Iowa and nearby states. While the brewery has been invited to international events like the Mikkeller Beer Festival in Copenhagen, exporting is not a priority.

In 2016 Scott Nading started as a bartender. Today he´s general manager.

“We like that people have to visit us to experience our beer and our town. It keeps both the brewery and Decorah unique,” says Marcella Meza, who manages the brewery’s social media and is Bob’s partner both professionally and personally.

Collaborations with Norway

Pulpit Rock’s Norwegian roots have also fostered exciting collaborations. The brewery has partnered with some of Norway’s most renowned brewers and enthusiasts.