Loup River Distilling
About the Distillery
Loup River Distilling is in St. Paul, Nebraska, turning family-grown corn into corn-based spirits in a visible, small-scale production. The distillery combines farming experience with artisanal distillation and invites guests into a tasting room where they can sample the products close to the production area.
History
The distillery was started in 2016 by Eric and Maria Montemagni to create greater value from their family-owned Nebraska corn. Eric contributed agronomy education, three generations of farming experience, and a Master Level II distiller certification, while Maria handled customer service, education, and food safety in the tasting room. In 2022 a new ownership group came in, comprising Dirk Petersen, Terry Rasmussen, and Andrew McCarthy. In 2025 Dirk Petersen became sole owner and continued to focus on local ingredients, hard work, and community. Over the years the distillery's profile has remained rooted in a grain-to-glass approach with a strong tie to the Loup River Valley.
Ingredients and Production
The production rests on a grain-to-glass approach: the distillery uses family-grown Nebraska corn as the primary raw material for their corn-based spirits. The distillation environment is small-scale and craft-oriented, with visible copper equipment, columns, and traditional distillation components, enabling precise control in small batches. The technical approach combines agronomic knowledge and certified distiller skills with classic distilling techniques. The tasting room is located close to the production area, so visitors can gain insight into the entire process from raw material to bottle.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Several of the distillery's whiskies are described as barrel-aged in an American traditional style, indicating aging in barrels to develop bourbon- and whiskey-style expressions. At the same time, unaged spirits are produced such as Howard Hooch (moonshine/white dog), where no barrel aging is used. There are no details about barrel types, previous contents, or experimental finishes provided.
Whiskeys
The core range consists of unaged corn spirits and several barrel-aged American whiskey types: Howard Hooch (unaged corn liquor), Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Spring Creek Whiskey (barrel-aged), and a Straight Rye Whiskey. The range complements the distillery's other spirits (vodka and gin) but focuses on local ingredients and the corn-to-glass philosophy.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Hooch | Unaged whiskey | Hooch, Moonshine, White Dog, Corn Liquor; names for unaged whiskey. Less refined than barrel-aged variants, but powerful in character. | Current; Core Range | |
| Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | Barrel-aged (American-style) | A traditional barrel-aged, American-style bourbon produced as a Nebraska Straight Bourbon. | Current; Core Range |
| Spring Creek Whiskey | Barrel-aged whiskey | Barrel-aged (American-style) | A traditional barrel-aged, American-style whiskey. The name refers to Spring Creek that runs through the ranch fields where the corn is grown. | Current; Core Range |
| Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye | A robust, spicy rye whiskey described as a 'bold, spicy rye' with notes of smooth caramel and oak. | Current; Core Range |
The Whiskeys' Style and Flavor Profile
The documented flavor direction ranges from spicy, rye-forward notes to a pronounced barrel-aging influence. Straight Rye is described as 'bold, spicy' with 'smooth caramel and oak,' while the bourbon/whiskey variants are listed as barrel-aged. The distillery's unaged spirits are described as fresh and crisp, and their gin is highlighted for its aromatic botanicals. Taken together, these descriptions point to spice, caramel, and oak as recurring themes in the barrel-aged products, with freshness and botanical aroma in the unaged spirits.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery has a tasting room with public hours on Wednesdays and Friday–Saturday evenings. For tours and tastings outside normal opening hours, contact Eric directly by phone. The distillery also hosts private events and shows the production equipment in connection with the bar, so guests can experience the process up close.
The stated opening hours are Sunday–Tuesday: Closed. Wednesday: 4:00 PM–10:00 PM. Thursday: Closed. Friday–Saturday: 4:00 PM–10:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
Loup River Distilling is built on a grain-to-glass philosophy: they grow, process, and distill their own corn to highlight local ingredients. The company emphasizes local agriculture, traditions, and community, and management highlights values such as hard work, stewardship, and engagement in the Nebraska community.