Brewhouse Triathlon
Duluth, United States · August · Independent (Fitger's Brewhouse; USAT sanctioned)
Course: 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 8 km (5.0 mi) run. Long course ('Brewhouse Long Course'): 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim, about 39 to 40 km (24 to 24.8 mi) bike, 8 km (5 mi) run on 2021-22 reports and 2025 coverage; a 2017 report had a 10 km (6.2 mi) run. Listings conflict; confirm with organiser.
Why people love it
- Many first-timers race; 200 m (0.12 mi) and 500 m (0.31 mi) exhibition swims are offered.
- Kayaks and paddleboards cover the swim and brought everyone in during the rough 2022 swim.
- Cool August mornings, about 12 to 23 °C (54 to 73 °F), suit the run.
- Volunteers and crowd get repeat praise from racers; about 400 to 500 athletes.
- One venue at Island Lake Park, about 20 km (12 mi) from Duluth.
Watch out for
- Wind can chop the lake; in 2022 the long swim was cut to the short distance.
- Listings disagree on course lengths (Olympic run 8 or 10 km (6.2 mi), 5 or 6.2 mi); check the athlete guide.
- Online entry only, no race-day sign-up; a USAT license or one-day pass is needed.
- Wetsuit rule, parking and bike elevation gain are not published.
- Few athletes have written about the bike and run.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Race write-ups from 2014 to 2026 are warm about the vibe and volunteers; one rough-water year in 2022. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Volunteers earn repeated praise, and the 2022 swim was shortened safely with kayak crews; entry is online only. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
The long course swims 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in a lake that turned rough in 2022. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Course record is 1:49:39, but wind varies and distances differ between listings. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.7
Water likely 20 to 24 °C (68 to 75 °F), under the USAT limit of 25.6 °C (78 °F); race rule not found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.7
Early August temperature is estimated; the director called 2025 water temperature ideal. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.1
Flat in 2025, but wind chop in 2022 pulled a buoy off line and beginners compared it to a washing machine. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.1
1.5 km (0.93 mi) of sighting was hard in the 2022 chop. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Forested reservoir with a beach start; no reports on water clarity. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.2
Kayaks and paddleboards covered the course and brought everyone in during the 2022 chop; short-course swims and separate waves. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No athlete comment on pavement; typical county roads. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
Traffic control is not documented; the roads are quiet rural roads. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Forest and lake country north of Duluth; few athletes comment on the bike views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.8
Crosswinds hurt disc-wheel riders in 2022; 2025 was mild. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.3
The 2017 winner rode 40 km (25 mi) in 59:19, about 40 km (24.9 mi)/h (25 mph). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
About 39 to 40 km (24 to 25 mi) of rural roads; elevation gain not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Rural roads with named turns, but no athlete has described the route in detail. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Racers and a near-100-race veteran praise the energy at the park pavilion; the road sections have few spectators. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Volunteers are praised in several write-ups; no detail on aid station spacing. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.5
Tree-lined road; little athlete comment. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Cool air and tree cover. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.3
Run of 8 to 10 km (5 to 6.2 mi) on Rice Lake Road; no elevation data. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
Mild or cool, about 12 to 23 °C (54 to 73 °F), in the 2022 and 2025 reports. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Wind changed the 2022 swim; other years were mild. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.6
Forest reservoir park; photos show a pleasant setting but few athletes comment. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
One venue at the park pavilion where spectators gathered and stayed for the last finisher. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.3
About 380 m (1,250 ft) above sea level. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Hotels are in Duluth, 25 to 30 minutes away, and busy in summer. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Duluth summer rates; not researched in detail. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
One venue, but parking details are not published. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
Duluth airport is about 45 km (28 mi) away and small. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Single venue, but online entry only with no race-day sign-up and a USAT license or one-day pass needed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.6
Duluth has a good food scene, but it is about 25 km (16 mi) from the venue. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Duluth, Minnesota, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 2 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Fitger's Brewhouse; USAT sanctioned)
- Field size
- About 200 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 39 km (24.2 mi) bike, 8 km (5.0 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Island Lake Reservoir, Island Lake Park (about 20 km / 12 mi northwest of Duluth) (reservoir)
- Water temperature
- 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Swim start
- wave (long course and short course start separately)
- Run shade
- Run goes north along Rice Lake Road, described as through the trees
- Air temperature
- 12–23 °C (54–73 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 380 m (1,250 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Duluth International (DLH), 45 km (28 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Duluth, Hermantown
- Booking
- Most people drive from Duluth, about 25 to 30 minutes (estimate). Book Duluth hotels early in August, tourist season.
What racers and reviewers say
- Minnesota TRI NewsRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Recap of the 38th edition. 406 athletes raced in flat water and mild weather. Volunteers get the credit, and a new Olympic course record of 1:49:39 and a repeat outright sprint win by a woman made the headlines.
“Flat water, mild weather and Brewhouse's signature fun vibe”
- Duluth News TribuneRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Wind chopped up Island Lake and pulled a buoy off line, so organisers shortened the long swim to the short distance. Sighting was hard, there were more rescues than the director remembered and kayakers and paddleboarders got everyone in. Cooler air helped the run, crosswinds hurt the bike. A first-timer finished it.
“the gnarliest thing I've ever done”
- Northern News NowRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Report on the 39th edition at the Island Lake pavilion with more than 400 athletes. A participant praised the crowd energy and a nearly 100-race veteran called it the event of the year for the area. The race director stressed the fun, supportive mood.
“The energy is great. It always is.”
- Minnesota TRI News (Duluthians win at Brewhouse)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Race recap of the 31st edition at Island Lake Reservoir. The long course ran a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim from the beach, a 40 km (24.8 mi) bike on Rice Lake, Emerson, Fish Lake and Taft roads and a 10 km (6.2 mi) run north on Rice Lake Road. The winner's splits were 21:18, 59:19 and 38:14.
“Wins are always special”
- NNCNOW (Northland's News Center)Raced 2014 · article · Positive
Short TV recap of the 28th edition at the then-new Island Lake site. Local athletes call it their hometown course; the page has little course detail.
“Part of the hometown. You know, my hometown course.”
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Sources
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