What Black Hops Brewing does

Black Hops Brewing is an Australian independent craft brewery founded on the Gold Coast in 2014-2015, operating as a proprietary limited company (Black Hops Brewing Pty Ltd) headquartered in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, with production scaled at the Biggera Waters facility described as one of Queensland's largest independent breweries. The company brews and sells a multi-tier beer portfolio spanning a Core Range (G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA, Pale Ale, Hornet IPA, Super Hornet Double IPA, Japanese Lager), an East Coast Range of sessionable and zero-carb offerings (Crisp, Haze, Local, Pacific), and a rotating Limited Release pipeline (including Island Hopper, Dark Side of the Coconut, Decadent, and Pinnacle). Award credentials include multiple AIBA Gold Medals and G.O.A.T. being voted Australia's favourite Hazy IPA in the GABS Hottest 100 for four consecutive years.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront with Australia-wide shipping, a Home Guard quarterly beer subscription (A$99 per delivery), two owned taprooms (Burleigh Heads and Biggera Waters) generating on-premises revenue including food via the Mohr partnership, B2B wholesale to venues and retailers under standard A$2,000 trade credit terms, and ancillary revenue from merchandise, gift cards, brewery tours, and venue-hire functions and events. Distribution also extends to home-keg customers via the Kegs Off Tap channel partnership, and the company joined the Queensland Hotels Association in October 2025 to deepen trade integration. The leadership team comprises co-founders Eddie Oldfield and Michael McGovern alongside CEO Dan Norris, with no disclosed external institutional investors beyond a single A$1,547,614 funding round in January 2022.

Operationally, Black Hops runs on standard commercial technology infrastructure: Shopify e-commerce, Google Analytics, and Judge.me for product reviews, with no proprietary technology platform, no patents or trademarks filed, and no disclosed AI/ML capability. The product is brewed using conventional craft brewing processes; the competitive differentiation rests on brand reputation, awards, and multi-channel distribution rather than technology IP. The company serves Australian craft beer enthusiasts (DTC), health-conscious sessionable-beer consumers (East Coast Range), hospitality venues (wholesale), and corporate/private-event clients (functions).

Name

Black Hops Brewing

Legal name

BLACK HOPS BREWING PTY LTD

Website

https://blackhops.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Hops Brewing is an Australian independent craft brewery producing award-winning Core, East Coast, and Limited Release beers, selling through DTC e-commerce, two Gold Coast taprooms, a quarterly subscription, and B2B wholesale to venues and retailers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beer Retail (Bottle Shops & Beer Merchants) (CRANABAC)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Independent brewery operations
• Beer subscription service
• Brewery taproom experiences
• Wholesale beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Burleigh Heads

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Beer Sales (Online Store): Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of packaged beer (4-packs and 16-packs of canned beer) shipped to customers across Australia. Includes core range, East Coast range, limited releases, and merchandise.
2. Wholesale/B2B: B2B sales to venues (pubs, bars, restaurants) and retailers (bottle shops) wanting to stock Black Hops products. Contact via [email protected]. Credit accounts available for trade partners.
3. Home Guard Subscription: Quarterly beer subscription ($99 per delivery every 3 months in February, May, August & November) delivering limited release beers, core range selections, archive series 4-packs, plus 15% discount on online store and early access to new releases.
4. Taproom On-Premises: On-site beer sales at two Gold Coast taproom locations (Burleigh Heads and Biggera Waters). 16 taps available at Biggera Waters; food available from Mohr at Burleigh Heads.
5. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), headwear (caps), accessories (stubby coolers, keyrings), and gift cards sold through online store and taprooms.
6. Functions and Events: Event hosting including birthdays, corporate functions, Christmas parties, engagement parties with venue hire options. Package-based pricing from table bookings to full venue buyouts.
7. Brewery Tours: 70-minute behind-the-scenes tours of the Biggera Waters production brewery, including guided beer tasting. Tours run fortnightly on Friday & Saturday.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Black Hops Brewing is an Australian independent craft brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of craft beers — including the award-winning G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA, a Core Range, an East Coast sessionable range, and rotating Limited Releases — directly to consumers via a Shopify online store and two Gold Coast taprooms (Burleigh Heads and Biggera Waters). Revenue is complemented by a Home Guard quarterly beer subscription, B2B wholesale to venues and retailers, brewery tours, private functions and events, gift cards, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Black Hops Brewing is an Australian independent craft brewery operating a unified brand portfolio across two main beer collections plus subscription, merchandise, and experience services. The Core Range includes flagship beers (G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA, Pale Ale, Hornet IPA, Super Hornet Double IPA, Japanese Lager) representing the company's original and best-selling products. The East Coast Range offers four easy-drinking sessionable beers (East Coast Crisp, East Coast Haze, East Coast Local, East Coast Pacific) targeting the mass-market consumer. Beyond packaged beers, the business operates a Home Guard quarterly subscription service delivering limited releases and exclusive Archive Series revivals, an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise, two taproom venues with functions and events capabilities, production brewery tours, and a B2B wholesale program for venues and retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• G.O.A.T. Hazy IPA 6.0% Hazy IPA featuring tropical fruit aromas of mango and passionfruit balanced by light pineapple bitterness; awarded Australia's favourite Hazy IPA in the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers for four consecutive years and winner of multiple AIBA and Indies gold medals. Sold in 4-pack ($26.00) and 16-pack ($76.50) 375ml cans via the Black Hops online store and wholesale.
• Pale Ale 4.4% Pale Ale brewed with pale malted barley and tropical hop aromas in a light golden hue; Black Hops' best-selling nationwide SKU since first can release, distributed across Australia. Sold in 4-pack ($20.00) and 16-pack ($55.80) 375ml cans.
• Hornet IPA 5.6% India Pale Ale with a bitter hops bite, stone and citrus fruit nose, and subtle sweetness on the palette. Sold in 4-pack ($24.00) and 16-pack ($72.25) 375ml cans. AIBA, International Beer Awards, and Royal Queensland Food & Wine medal winner.
• Super Hornet Double IPA 8.0% Double IPA — a bolder, higher-alcohol version of Hornet IPA — featuring citrus and resinous pine aroma with intense flavour and smooth finish. Sold in 4-pack ($32.00) and 16-pack ($89.25) 375ml cans. AIBA Silver, Royal Queensland Food & Wine Silver, and International Beer Awards Silver medalist.
• East Coast Crisp 3.3% Zero Carb Mid-strength lager, light-bodied and crisp, positioned as an easy-drinking no-carb option for any occasion. Sold in 4-pack ($17.00) and 16-pack ($37.80) 375ml cans.
• East Coast Haze 4.0% Hazy Pale Ale, refreshingly smooth and juicy with subtle tropical fruit; designed as an easy-drinking companion to G.O.A.T. Sold in 4-pack ($18.00) and 16-pack ($52.20) 375ml cans. Indies Gold (2019, 2024), AIBA Gold (2022), and Queensland Food and Wine Gold medalist.
• East Coast Local 4.0% Zero Carb Lager brewed for zero carbs with full flavour and refreshment, targeting health-conscious consumers. Sold in 4-pack ($18.00) and 16-pack ($40.60) 375ml cans.
• East Coast Pacific 4.0% Pacific Lager inspired by the Gold Coast coast, brewed with Galaxy hops for light citrus notes and a smooth finish. Sold in 4-pack ($18.00) and 16-pack ($40.60) 375ml cans.
• Japanese Lager 4.2% Low Carb Japanese Rice Lager, clean and crisp with a delicate blend of malt and hop flavours; a 2025 Core Range addition. Sold in 4-pack ($20.00) and 16-pack ($43.40) 375ml cans.
• Island Hopper Sea Salt & Citrus Hazy IPA 6.8% Sea Salt & Citrus Hazy IPA from the 2025 Road Trip Series of limited release craft beers. Sold in 4-pack ($32.00) and 16-pack ($95.00).
• Dark Side of the Coconut — Toasted Coconut Porter 5.8% Toasted Coconut Porter, smooth and medium-bodied with dark chocolate, coffee, and toasted coconut notes. 2025 Limited Release. Sold in 4-pack ($38.00) 440ml cans.
• Decadent Imperial Banoffee Dessert Stout 10.0% Imperial Banoffee Dessert Stout, indulgent and comforting. 2025 Limited Release. Sold in 4-pack ($55.00) and 16-pack ($165.00) 440ml cans.
• Pinnacle West Coast Pilsner 6.2% West Coast Pilsner, positioned as a Pinnacle top-tier limited release. Sold in 4-pack ($29.00) and 16-pack ($63.00) cans.
• Home Guard Beer Subscription Quarterly subscription beer club delivering fresh and limited release Black Hops beers. Each delivery includes 2x Limited Release 4 Packs, 1x Fresh Core Range 4 Pack, and 1x Archive Series 4 Pack. Members receive 15% online store discount, early access to new releases, and exclusive collectables. $99.00 per quarterly delivery (February, May, August, November); $35 one-time setup fee includes welcome pack with Black Hops T-shirt and Home Guard Glass.
• Black Hops Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including apparel (East Coast Tee from $49.00, GC In A Tinnie Tee $49.00, Hoodie $80.00, Eggnog Flanno 10th Anniversary $60.00), headwear (Black Hops Trucker Cap $30.00, East Coast Surf Cap $25.00), accessories (stubby coolers, $5.00 keyrings), and gift cards; sold through the online store and taprooms.
• Black Hops Gift Card Digital gift cards redeemable on the online store and at taprooms, available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, and $200.
• Brewery Tours 70-minute behind-the-scenes guided tours of the Biggera Waters production brewery, including the Black Hops founding story, the brewing process from raw materials to packaging, a guided beer tasting, and team meet-and-greet. Tours run fortnightly on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Functions and Private Events Event hosting at two Gold Coast venues (Burleigh Heads and Biggera Waters), offering table bookings (10–20 guests, no venue hire fee, food & drink packages), private functions (20–50 guests, minimum spend), and full venue buyouts (50–150+ guests, complete venue exclusivity, brewery tours included, professional event coordination) for birthdays, corporate events, and celebrations.
• Wholesale / Stock Us (B2B Beer Distribution) Wholesale distribution program for venues and retailers to stock Black Hops beers, accessible via [email protected]. Trade credit terms available with a standard $2,000 credit limit, 14-day payment terms from invoice date, and a formal credit application process (higher limits evaluated at discretion). 14-day payment terms are standard for trade partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• G.O.A.T. voted Australia's favourite Hazy IPA four years in a row in GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• MohrminorOthersMohr provides food offerings at the Black Hops Burleigh Heads taproom location, enhancing the customer experience with food pairings for craft beers.
• Kegs Off TapminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKegs Off Tap stocks Black Hops beers specifically for home keg systems, providing an alternative distribution channel for customers with home keg setups.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mountain Goat Beer: Australian independent craft brewery known for flagship IPAs and core range packaged beer distributed nationally with taproom experience; closely mirrors Black Hops' IPA-anchored portfolio and DTC-plus-venue model.
• 4 Pines Brewing Company: Independent Australian craft brewer with broad portfolio including flagship lagers, IPAs, and limited releases, plus taproom venues and DTC operations; comparable to Black Hops on multi-SKU portfolio and venue-driven model.
• Balter Brewing Company: Australian craft brewery with national distribution of core range canned beer and strong brand identity; competes head-to-head with Black Hops on packaged craft SKU sales in venues and retail.
• Stone & Wood Brewing Co: One of Australia's largest independent craft brewers, founded in a regional hub (Byron Bay/NSW) with national distribution, multiple taprooms, and a portfolio of core and seasonal beers; most directly comparable peer to Black Hops in scale, channel mix, and brand-led growth.
• Pirate Life Brewing: Independent Australian craft brewery with a strong flagship-led portfolio (IPA-focused), national wholesale distribution, and taproom venues; comparable to Black Hops on flagship beer dependence and channel mix.
• BrewDog Australia: Global craft brewery with Australian operations and multiple taproom venues; competes directly with Black Hops for craft beer occasions, especially in Hazy IPA and Pale Ale segments, and in DTC channels.
• Colonial Brewing Co: Australian independent craft brewer with strong regional origin story (Margaret River), national packaged distribution, and taproom venues; comparable to Black Hops in lifestyle brand positioning and venue-led DTC growth.

Broad incumbents

• Little Creatures Brewing: Established Australian craft brand owned by Lion, with flagship brewery/taproom destination (Fremantle) and broad packaged distribution; provides incumbent benchmark for Black Hops' taproom-as-destination model.
• Coopers Brewery: Australia's largest independent family-owned brewery with national distribution of mainstream and craft-style beers; serves as the incumbent analogue to Black Hops' independent craft positioning.

Emerging players

• Modus Operandi Brewing: Australian independent craft brewery with a hazy/IPA-forward portfolio and brewery-taproom venue on the NSW Northern Beaches; comparable as a similarly sized indie challenger competing for craft occasions in the same consumer demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/blackhopsbeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackhopsbeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-hops-brewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackhopsbeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Black Hops Brewing