Bow & Arrow Brewing

What Bow & Arrow Brewing does

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. is a private craft brewery founded in 2013/2016 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It operates a 15-barrel brewing system producing a portfolio that includes year-round offerings such as Denim Tux American Pilsner, seasonal releases like SETI not YETI Oatmeal Stout, and specialty foeder-aged farmhouse ales (notably Funksloth) brewed with regionally-sourced ingredients including hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm, malt from Proximity Malt and Troubadour Maltings, and wild yeast cultivated from onsite peach tree and lavender fields. The company is recognized as the first Native American woman-owned brewery in the United States, founded by Shyla Sheppard (President & CEO) and Missy Begay (Creative Director), and has built a brand identity grounded in Southwest cultural heritage and storytelling.

The business generates revenue through three primary channels: direct-to-consumer sales at two New Mexico taprooms (the Albuquerque Brewery & Beer Hall at 608 McKnight Ave NW and the 4 Corners Taproom in Farmington), wholesale distribution of packaged beer (cans and bottles) across New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Illinois via independent distributors including Culture Beverage Distribution, and ancillary streams such as private event rentals ($500-$800 per booking) and branded merchandise. On-premise wholesale accounts include restaurants and bars such as Campo at Los Poblanos, Sawmill Market, and Cowgirl BBQ, while off-premise retail placement spans Total Wine & More, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Sprouts Farmers Market.

The company operates a hybrid marketing approach combining organic social, earned media (Forbes, Food & Wine, TODAY, NYT), educational programming (Brew Scholars series), and the Native Land Beer Collaboration, an annual inter-brewery initiative launched in 2021 that has grown to 60+ participating breweries across 24 US states and 2 Canadian provinces and has collectively raised over $110,000 for Indigenous non-profits. Recognitions include Vinepair Brewery of the Year (2024), James Beard Foundation Semifinalist (2024) and Top 5 Nominee for Outstanding Bar (2026), Wine Enthusiast Future 40 (2024), and Good Beer Hunting Signifier (2021).

Name

Bow & Arrow Brewing

Legal name

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.

Website

https://bowandarrowbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bow & Arrow Brewing is a private Albuquerque-based craft brewery and the first Native American woman-owned brewery in the US, producing sour, barrel-aged, and wild brett beers with regionally-sourced ingredients and selling through two New Mexico taprooms and wholesale distribution across five states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Pubs & Gastropubs (CRANACAB)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Sour barrel-aged beers
• Taproom operations
• Indigenous ingredient brewing
• Beer distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taproom Sales: Direct sales of craft beer to consumers at brewery beer hall and taproom locations, including on-site consumption, growler fills, and packaged beer to-go
2. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of packaged beer (cans and bottles) to independent retailers, restaurants, and bars across NM, CO, AZ, WA, and IL
3. Private Event Rentals: Rental of event spaces (loft, mezzanine, taproom) for private events with minimum 2-hour bookings and bar tab or rental fee options
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hats) featuring Bow & Arrow branding and Native Land campaign graphics

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. is a 15-barrel craft brewery based in Albuquerque, New Mexico that produces a portfolio of craft beers including IPAs, pilsners, stouts, farmhouse ales, and sour beers featuring Indigenous and locally-sourced ingredients. The company operates two taproom venues (Albuquerque and Farmington), offers private event rentals, and distributes packaged beer (cans and bottles) across New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Illinois.

Product overview

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. is a 15-barrel craft brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded in 2016 by Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay. The company operates as a single unified craft beverage business with multiple venue locations and a distributed packaged beer portfolio. Core offerings center on craft beer production featuring local and Indigenous ingredients, including year-round staples (Denim Tux American Pilsner), seasonal releases (SETI not YETI Oatmeal Stout), and specialty offerings (Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale). The Native Land Beer Project represents a collaboration product initiative supporting Indigenous causes. The business operates two physical venues—the main Brew Hall and Taproom in Albuquerque and the 4 Corners Taproom in Farmington—plus private event space rentals. Merchandise and packaged beer-to-go products round out the ancillary offerings. The company distributes canned and bottled beer across New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Denim Tux American Pilsner Year-round American Pilsner available in cans, featuring a crisp and refreshing profile consistent with the brewery's Southwestern-inspired offerings.
• Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale A rustic farmhouse ale brewed with regionally-sourced ingredients including hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm, barley from Proximity Malt and Troubadour Maltings, and wild yeast cultivated from onsite peach tree and local lavender fields. Features notes of peach skin, apricot, and pineapple with fruity funk and prickly carbonation. ABV 6.3%.
• SETI not YETI Oatmeal Stout Seasonal oatmeal stout from the Native Star Series, featuring a hazy IPA profile with Simcoe, El Dorado, and Chinook hops.
• Native Land Beer Project International collaboration beer initiative started in 2021 that raises awareness of Indigenous history and contributions in craft beer. Proceeds benefit Native non-profit organizations. The 2024 edition is a Hazy IPA featuring a 'All Beer Is Brewed On Native Land' label, with participating breweries across 24 states and Canada. Has collectively raised over $110,000 for Native non-profits since 2021.
• Albuquerque Brew Hall and Taproom Main brewery and taproom location at 608 McKnight Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Features a 15-barrel brewery, beer hall with industrial-style decor, outdoor patio with wood-burning fire pit, onsite brew hall open 7 days a week, and communal and intimate seating areas.
• 4 Corners Taproom (Farmington) Second taproom location at 5100 East Main Street Suite 109, Farmington, NM 87402. Located in the Go-To Plaza, offering fresh beer releases, sampler flights, growler fills, and limited release 16oz cans. Occasional food trucks and special events including Open Mic Nights, Local Market Pop-ups, and Live Music.
• Private Event Space Rentals Event venue rentals including the second floor loft (accommodates up to 31 seated or 60+ cocktail-style), main level mezzanine (seats up to 32), and Farmington taproom (accommodates 25-50 guests). Features industrial chic aesthetic, wine barrels, and built-in counters.
• Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including t-shirts (Comfort Colors Logo Tshirt, Native Land Shirt), apparel, and accessories featuring the Bow & Arrow branding and hop arrowhead logo.
• Packaged Beer (Cans and Bottles) for Off-Site Consumption Packaged beer available for off-site consumption, including 4-packs, mixed singles, and growler fills. Distributed across New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Illinois.

Quantifiable outcome

• Native Land Beer Collaboration raised over $110,000 for Native nonprofits since 2021
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Native Land Beer Collaboration ParticipantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024International collaboration involving 60+ breweries across 24 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. Annual beer collaboration with proceeds benefiting Indigenous non-profits. Each participating brewery brews the annual recipe and donates proceeds to designated Indigenous organizations.
• Navajo FarmingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Native farming non-profit based on Navajo Nation in Four Corners area, focused on retaining traditional ecological knowledge while promoting western science with youth. Featured non-profit beneficiary for Native Land Beer Collaboration 2024-2025 campaigns, receiving proceeds from beer sales.
• Billy Goat Hop FarmminorOthersRegional hop supplier providing locally-sourced hops for Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale and other beers
• Proximity MaltminorOthersRegional malt supplier providing locally-sourced barley for beers including Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale
• Troubadour MaltingsminorOthersRegional malt supplier providing locally-sourced barley for beers including Funksloth Foeder-aged Farmhouse Ale
• Vida Verde FarmminorOthersLocal farm partner for beer dinner collaborations, providing produce and setting for harvest celebration events
• Southwest Grassfed Livestock AllianceminorOthersPartner for beer dinner events and local food initiatives, with President Nancy Ranney participating in collaborative dinners
• Culture Beverage DistributionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado distribution partner for retail locations in Colorado market

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Tractor Brewing Company: New Mexico craft brewery with multiple taprooms in Albuquerque and surrounding markets. Comparable regional craft peer competing for New Mexico taproom and retail customers.
• Marble Brewery: Albuquerque-based craft brewery operating multiple taprooms in New Mexico. Directly comparable as a same-city craft competitor competing for local taproom traffic and on-premise accounts.
• La Cumbre Brewing Company: Albuquerque craft brewery with a strong reputation for IPAs and award-winning beers. Closest same-city competitor on taproom experience and local craft market share.

Direct peers

• Allagash Brewing Company: Maine-based craft brewery with a flagship wild ale program and foeder-aged coolship beers. Directly comparable on specialty wild/foeder aging techniques and craft beer quality positioning.
• Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Michigan-rooted craft brewery renowned for foeder-aged sour/wild ales and farmhouse-style beers. Closely comparable to Bow & Arrow's foeder program, wild-yeast farmhouse ales, and small-batch specialty positioning.
• Oxbow Brewing Company: Small New England craft brewery focused on farmhouse ales, wild fermentations, and locally-sourced ingredients. Closely mirrors Bow & Arrow's niche, ingredient-driven wild ale approach.
• Russian River Brewing Company: California craft brewery famous for barrel-aged sours (e.g., Supplication, Consecration) and a small-batch, award-winning portfolio. Comparable on barrel/sour program excellence and premium craft positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large, established U.S. craft brewer with broad portfolio and national distribution. Provides a benchmark for what scaled craft distribution looks like and where macro/incumbent craft pressure originates.
• Stone Brewing: Large independent craft brewer with broad distribution and a strong taproom/brewery experience focus. Comparable on craft taproom-plus-distribution hybrid model.
• New Belgium Brewing: Major craft brewer owned by Kirin/Lion, with national distribution and a portfolio spanning sours (e.g., La Folie) to IPAs. Relevant incumbent peer for distribution dynamics and sour-program benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bowandarrowbeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/bowandarrowbrewingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/bowandarrowbrewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bow & Arrow Brewing