Dokkaebier
Dokkaebier is an Oakland-based craft brewery founded in 2020 that produces and sells Asian-inspired beers (Kimchi Sour, Yuza Blonde, Rice Kolsch, Milk Stout, and others) through DTC e-commerce, an Oakland taproom, and wholesale distribution across 900+ retail stores in California, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Dokkaebier does
Dokkaebier (legal entity: DKB Brands Inc) is an Oakland, California-based craft brewery founded by Youngwon Lee in February 2020 (concept conceived in 2019) that produces Asian-inspired beer using ingredients such as kimchi culture, gochugaru, saenggang (ginger), yuzu (yuza), jasmine rice, calamansi, lemongrass, galangal, lychee, and bamboo tea. The brewery operates a portfolio of roughly a dozen core SKUs — including Yuza Blonde Ale, Kimchi Sour, Milk Stout (Cardamom & Peppercorn), Rice Kolsch, Calamansi & Tea Lager, Lemongrass Witbier, Lychee Blonde, Dokkaebi IPA, and Bamboo Pilsner — alongside a continuously rotating series of experimental batches (50+ recipes released since 2020), with successful experiments promoted to the core lineup. Beers are unfiltered and unpasteurized and brewed in limited, on-demand batches.
The business runs on a three-channel model: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce through enjoydkb.com (Shopify), with nationwide shipping handled by third-party logistics partner Good Times Oakland; (2) an on-site taproom in Oakland's Jack London Square providing flights, growler fills, and community programming; and (3) wholesale distribution through partners such as San Francisco Naturals (announced August 13, 2024) and direct listings at Whole Foods, BevMo!, Total Wine & More, independent bottle shops, bars, and restaurants in California, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Retail DTC pricing sits at roughly $5.75–$6.00 per 16-ounce can and $19–$20 per 4-pack, with experimental batches priced $13–$22 per unit; wholesale terms are inquiry-based. The brand primarily serves craft beer enthusiasts and Asian-American consumers seeking culturally rooted beverage options, with secondary reach into foodservice and cultural events (e.g., Chimaek Festival).
The company has accumulated third-party validation through World Beer Cup 2023 (Silver, Kimchi Sour), World Beer Championships 2022 (Silver, Milk Stout; Bronze, Yuza Blonde), Brewskie Awards 2022 (multiple medals including Beer of the Year for Milk Stout), Good Food Awards 2024 (Rice Kolsch), and the 2025 Startup CPG Shelfie Awards (Alcohol Category, Yuza Blonde Ale). Dokkaebier is privately held and founder-operated; the only disclosed financing is a $300,000 seed round from Sazze Partners in early 2020.
Dokkaebier firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dokkaebier
- Legal name
- DKB Brands Inc
- Website
- https://enjoydkb.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dokkaebier is an Oakland-based craft brewery founded in 2020 that produces and sells Asian-inspired beers (Kimchi Sour, Yuza Blonde, Rice Kolsch, Milk Stout, and others) through DTC e-commerce, an Oakland taproom, and wholesale distribution across 900+ retail stores in California, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Dokkaebier is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dokkaebier business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Beer Sales (E-commerce): Dokkaebier sells canned and packaged craft beer directly to consumers through its Shopify-powered online store at enjoydkb.com. Orders are shipped nationwide (except to prohibited states) via their third-party logistics partner Good Times Oakland.
- Taproom Sales: The company operates an on-site taproom in Oakland's Jack London Square for in-person beer sales, flights, and growler fills.
- Retail and Foodservice Distribution: Dokkaebier sells through retail chains (Whole Foods, BevMo!, Total Wine & More), liquor stores, bars, and restaurants via distribution partners like SF Naturals in Northern California.
- Merchandise Sales: The company sells merchandise including the Dokkaebi Character Sticker Set and gift cards through its online store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Can (16 oz) - Core Beers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 4-Pack - Core Beers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Experimental Batches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Wholesale |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Dokkaebier product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dokkaebier is a craft brewery that develops, brews, and sells Asian- and Korean-inspired beers using ingredients such as kimchi culture, yuzu, calamansi, and soba. Its products are sold unfiltered and unpasteurized through its Oakland taproom, direct-to-consumer online ordering, and retail/wholesale channels. The company uses the taproom as a brew-test lab to develop rotating, limited-batch recipes.
Product overview
Dokkaebier is an Asian-inspired craft beer company founded in February 2020 and headquartered in Oakland, California. The company operates a dual-channel business model consisting of direct-to-consumer online sales through their e-commerce store (powered by Shopify) with nationwide shipping, and a physical taproom in Oakland's Jack London Square. Their product portfolio centers on a core lineup of distinctive Asian-inspired craft beers brewed with unique ingredients like yuzu, kimchi cultures, jasmine rice, calamansi, lemongrass, galangal, bamboo, and gochugaru (Korean chili). The core beer lineup includes Yuza Blonde Ale, Kimchi Sour, Milk Stout (Cardamom & Peppercorn), Rice Kolsch, Calamansi & Tea Lager, Lemongrass Witbier, Lychee Blonde, Dokkaebi IPA, Bamboo Pilsner, and GL Witbier (Galangal & Lime). The company also maintains an extensive catalog of experimental seasonal batches (Batches 1-37+) exploring diverse Asian ingredients. Dokkaebier distributes through major retail chains (Whole Foods, BevMo!, Total Wine & More) and independent bottle shops across California, Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond, with expanded Northern California distribution through partnership with San Francisco Naturals. The company is recognized for innovation in Asian-inspired craft brewing, earning international awards including Silver Medal at World Beer Cup 2023 for Kimchi Sour, multiple Brewski Awards, and a 2025 CPG Shelfie Award for Yuza Blonde Ale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Asian-Inspired Craft Beer (rotating small-batch lineup) A rotating slate of craft beers brewed with Asian/Korean ingredients such as kimchi culture, yuzu, calamansi, and soba. Sold unfiltered and unpasteurized in cans and 4-packs via DTC e-commerce, retail, and wholesale, and on draft at the Oakland taproom. Targeted at U.S. craft beer drinkers seeking non-mainstream, ingredient-driven flavor profiles.
- Oakland Taproom Experience (Jack London Square) On-site beer service, tastings, flights, and merchandise sales at the brewery's Oakland taproom, used also as a brew-test lab to iterate recipes before broader release. For local and visiting craft beer consumers and event attendees.
- DTC E-Commerce Beer Sales Online ordering and ship-to-home purchase of Dokkaebier cans and 4-packs via the company website, serving U.S. craft beer consumers who cannot visit the Oakland taproom.
- Wholesale Distribution (via SF Naturals) Bulk and case-goods supply of Dokkaebier craft beer to bars, restaurants, and retail accounts through regional distributor SF Naturals, with wholesale pricing available on inquiry.
- Retail Chain Placement Shelf placement of Dokkaebier packaged craft beer at specialty grocery and beverage retailers (e.g., Whole Foods, BevMo!, Total Wine), serving craft beer shoppers at the retail shelf.
Quantifiable outcome
- Kimchi Kettle Sour won Silver Medal at World Beer Cup 2023 and Platinum Medal at Brewskie Awards 2022, and was named in Top 100 Beers of 2021 by Beer Connoisseur
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Dokkaebier
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dokkaebier technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Dokkaebier partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- San Francisco Naturals, Inc. (SF Naturals)coreDokkaebier officially partnered with San Francisco Naturals, Inc. on August 13, 2024, to expand distribution throughout Northern California. SF Naturals is a leading distributor of craft beer and natural organic foods, trusted by thousands of clients across the region. The partnership ensures fan favorites like Kimchi Sour and Yuza Blonde Ale reach more restaurants, grocers, and beer enthusiasts while maintaining quality and freshness. Sam Elgendy, SF Naturals founder and CEO, noted that Dokkaebier complements their growing portfolio with one-of-a-kind craft beers.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dokkaebier competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 21st Amendment Brewery: San Francisco craft brewery with taproom and canned beer distribution across California retailers; comparable on product format (cans), wholesale structure, and local market positioning.
- Fort Point Beer Company: Independent San Francisco craft brewery focused on traditional and innovative styles with strong Bay Area retail presence and bar/restaurant placement; comparable in size and channel mix.
- Drake's Brewing Company: Bay Area craft brewery with a similar scale and taproom-plus-distribution model; the most direct geographic and operational peer to Dokkaebier in the Northern California craft market.
- Cellarmaker Brewing Co. Small San Francisco craft brewery emphasizing flavorful, ingredient-forward beers with a taproom and limited regional distribution; closely comparable in flavor-forward positioning and operational scale.
Broad incumbents
- Stone Brewing: One of the largest US craft brewers with national distribution and a flavor-forward product portfolio; a benchmark for what scaled craft looks like and the competitive ceiling Dokkaebier could face.
- Tsingtao Brewery: One of the largest Chinese beer brands widely distributed in US retail and restaurants; relevant benchmark for Asian-origin beer demand in the US market Dokkaebier is targeting.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major California craft brewery (Petaluma) with broad national distribution; sets the competitive bar for craft placement in California retail and on-premise accounts.
Emerging players
- BIRA 91: India-based craft beer brand with a strong South Asian cultural positioning and DTC plus on-premise model; useful peer for what an Asian-rooted craft narrative looks like at greater scale.
- Health-Ade Kombucha: California-based fermented beverage brand with strong Whole Foods and natural retail presence; reflects the natural/specialty channel partners and DTC marketing approach Dokkaebier leverages.
Regional players
- Yanjing Brewery: Major Chinese beer brand with growing US presence, primarily distributed in Asian-American grocery and restaurant channels; relevant to understanding the overseas-Asian beer competitive set in US specialty retail.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dokkaebier social profiles
Digital presenceDokkaebier financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dokkaebier leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dokkaebier funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dokkaebier M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dokkaebier
What does Dokkaebier do?
Dokkaebier is a craft brewery that develops, brews, and sells Asian- and Korean-inspired beers using ingredients such as kimchi culture, yuzu, calamansi, and soba. Its products are sold unfiltered and unpasteurized through its Oakland taproom, direct-to-consumer online ordering, and retail/wholesale channels. The company uses the taproom as a brew-test lab to develop rotating, limited-batch recipes.
Is Dokkaebier a public or private company?
Dokkaebier is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dokkaebier founded?
Dokkaebier was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dokkaebier based?
Dokkaebier is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dokkaebier make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Beer Sales (E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are taproom Sales, retail and Foodservice Distribution and merchandise Sales.
Who are Dokkaebier's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 21st Amendment Brewery, Fort Point Beer Company, Drake's Brewing Company and Cellarmaker Brewing Co.. Broad incumbents are Stone Brewing, Tsingtao Brewery and Lagunitas Brewing Company. Emerging players are BIRA 91 and Health-Ade Kombucha. Yanjing Brewery is listed as a regional player.
Does Dokkaebier have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dokkaebier.