Otherwise Brewing

What Otherwise Brewing does

Otherwise Brewing, operating through legal entity OWB Holdings Inc., is a San Francisco craft brewery founded in 2020 by Aaron Gervais (CEO) and Stellar Cassidy (COO) to produce beer brewed exclusively with naturally gluten-free ingredients rather than barley. The company uses alternative grains including malted rice, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat, and applies proprietary enzyme dosing protocols (liquefaction enzymes such as Termamyl, saccharification enzymes such as Fungamyl and Ceremix Flex, and enzyme cocktails such as Ondea Pro) along with grain-specific milling parameters to manage starch conversion, gelatinization, and head retention in a fully gluten-free mash. The portfolio spans seven SKUs across IPA, pale ale, rice lager, stout, kettle sour, and fruit ale styles, including Cali Crisp (flagship rice lager), Western Addition (pale ale), Sonic Bloom and 30,000 Feet (rotating juicy IPAs), Goth Girlfriend (stout), Guava Fresca (kettle sour), and Péché de Pêche (fruit ale), with every beer in recent lineups winning industry awards.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining wholesale, direct-to-consumer, and e-commerce. Wholesale distribution moved to an exclusive statewide California arrangement with Breakthru Beverage effective January 1, 2026, expanding from a Bay Area stronghold that already included chain retailers such as Whole Foods and Mollie Stone's and a long tail of on-premise accounts. Direct-to-consumer sales are generated through the North Beach taproom in San Francisco, which also hosts private events, and through the company's own webstore plus third-party resale and delivery platforms including Instacart, GoPuff, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. Revenue mechanics are transactional unit-pricing across 16-oz cans, 5.16-gal kegs, and 15.5-gal kegs, with wholesale orders routed through Breakthru's sales reps and Breakthru Now portal. Marketing leans on educational content marketing, earned media, awards, paid social/search, Klaviyo email/SMS, and podcast appearances by the founders. The company has raised seed capital from Founders Committee Ventures (lead) and ICA Fund, with earlier support from the Newchip Accelerator and a 2025 follow-on from LvlUp Ventures.

Name

Otherwise Brewing

Legal name

OWB Holdings Inc.

Website

https://otherwisebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Otherwise Brewing is a San Francisco craft brewery producing gluten-free beer brewed exclusively with naturally gluten-free grains like rice, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat instead of barley, serving celiac consumers and health-conscious craft beer drinkers across California through wholesale, taproom, and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Gluten-free craft beer
• Alternative grain brewing
• Craft beer distribution
• Taproom beer sales
• Specialty beverage production

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale beer sales: Otherwise Brewing sells its gluten-free craft beer to retailers, bars, and restaurants across the San Francisco Bay Area and California through wholesale accounts. Distribution is handled through Breakthru Beverage (as of January 2026) and previously through self-distribution and Hillebrand last-mile fulfillment.
2. Taproom direct sales: The company operates a taproom in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood where beer is sold directly to consumers for on-site consumption. The taproom also hosts private events.
3. E-commerce / home delivery: Beer is sold for home delivery through the company's webstore and third-party resale partners and delivery platforms including Instacart, GoPuff, DoorDash, and Uber Eats.
4. Wholesale distribution via Breakthru Beverage: As of January 1, 2026, Breakthru Beverage assumed exclusive distribution rights across California. Otherwise beers are available in 16-oz cans, 5.16-gal kegs, and 15.5-gal kegs through the Breakthru Now portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Otherwise Brewing is a craft brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of award-winning gluten-free beers brewed exclusively with naturally gluten-free grains (rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat) instead of barley. The company sells its packaged and draft beer through wholesale accounts, its own North Beach taproom, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce and third-party delivery platforms across California.

Product overview

Otherwise Brewing is a gluten-free craft beer company that produces award-winning beers brewed exclusively with naturally gluten-free ingredients. The product portfolio consists of seven distinct beer products: Cali Crisp (Rice Lager), Western Addition (Pale Ale), 30,000 Feet (Juicy IPA), Sonic Bloom (Juicy IPA), Goth Girlfriend (Stout), Guava Fresca (Kettle Sour), and Péché de Pêche (Fruit Ale). The company operates both a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel and a physical taproom in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. Beers are distributed throughout California via Breakthru Beverage and available through multiple delivery platforms including Instacart, DoorDash, GoPuff, and Uber Eats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cali Crisp A 5.0% ABV gluten-free Rice Lager brewed with malted rice and malted millet in a classic American pilsner style; described as easy-drinking and suited to drinking on its own or with a meal. Targeted at gluten-free consumers and craft beer drinkers seeking a clean, crushable lager.
• Western Addition A 5.0% ABV gluten-free Pale Ale styled as a classic West Coast pale ale, built for maximum crushability with bold hop-forward flavor. Targeted at gluten-free and craft beer drinkers who prefer hoppy pale ales.
• 30,000 Feet A 6.4% ABV rotating gluten-free Juicy IPA featuring fruity, hoppy flavor as part of the company's quarterly changing IPA series. Targeted at gluten-free and craft beer drinkers who want ongoing style variety.
• Sonic Bloom A 6.8% ABV rotating gluten-free Juicy IPA with fruity aroma and taste, restrained bitterness, and an easy-drinking profile. Targeted at gluten-free and craft beer drinkers who prefer juicy, low-bitterness IPAs.
• Goth Girlfriend A 5.3% ABV gluten-free Stout with a smooth, velvety texture, deep obsidian hues, and alluring caramel notes. Targeted at gluten-free drinkers looking for full-flavored dark beer styles.
• Guava Fresca A 7.0% ABV gluten-free Kettle Sour brewed with a healthy serving of pink guava, producing a moderately tart flavor profile. Targeted at gluten-free consumers seeking fruit-forward sour beers.
• Péché de Pêche A 5.9% ABV gluten-free Fruit Ale brewed with a healthy serving of real peach for a fruit-forward taste. Targeted at gluten-free consumers seeking fruit-forward craft beer styles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Swept all three medals (gold, silver, bronze) for gluten-free beer at the 2026 CA Brewers Cup with Cali Crip, Goth Girlfriend, and Western Addition
• +5 more outcomes

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

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Breakthru BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 December 2025Effective January 1, 2026, Breakthru Beverage assumed exclusive distribution rights for Otherwise Brewing across California. The partnership expanded distribution from the San Francisco Bay Area to statewide coverage. Orders facilitated through Breakthru Now portal and sales representatives.
• TIG Brands (eTardigrades Accelerator)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2023Otherwise Brewing was accepted into the TIG Brands eTardigrades accelerator program for the beverage cohort. TIG Brands focuses on helping early-stage food and beverage businesses grow through fundraising support and industry collaboration.
• HillebrandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 June 2022Otherwise Brewing engaged Hillebrand's last-mile alcohol delivery service to fulfill wholesale orders in Northern California, responding to strong demand for its gluten-free beers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Glutenberg: One of North America's leading dedicated gluten-free craft breweries, producing a wide range of styles (IPA, lager, stout, saison) brewed without barley. Closely comparable to Otherwise on product, target consumer (celiac/gluten-intolerant), and craft positioning.
• New Planet Beer: Dedicated gluten-free craft brewery offering multiple beer styles brewed with alternative grains. Directly comparable to Otherwise on gluten-free positioning, product breadth, and target consumer base.
• Bard's Brewery: A gluten-free craft brewery producing beer styles using sorghum and other alternative grains. Comparable niche positioning and target consumer, though operating on a smaller craft scale like Otherwise.
• Ghostfish Brewing: Dedicated gluten-free craft brewery (Seattle) producing a wide range of styles with alternative grains. Closely comparable in gluten-free positioning, alternative-grain brewing process, and craft distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing: Large established craft brewer with broad national distribution. Comparable in craft beer category and California footprint, though not gluten-free; useful as a benchmark for craft scaling and distribution economics.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major craft brewery (Petaluma, CA) with broad distribution and a wide style portfolio. Comparable in California craft beer operations and wholesale channel strategy, though mainstream rather than gluten-free.
• 21st Amendment Brewery: Established San Francisco craft brewery with strong Bay Area taproom and distribution presence. Comparable in California craft operations, though mainstream craft rather than gluten-free specialty.

Others

• Hillebrand (GXO Logistics Beer & Beverage): Previously served as Otherwise's last-mile alcohol delivery partner in Northern California. Relevant as a logistics/distribution peer that understands the company's wholesale fulfillment needs.
• Breakthru Beverage Group: Otherwise's exclusive California distributor as of January 2026. Comparable as a wholesale channel partner influencing Otherwise's growth path, though not a product competitor.
• TIG Brands (eTardigrades): Accelerator program that selected Otherwise for its beverage cohort. Comparable as an early-stage CPG ecosystem peer that has validated Otherwise's brand potential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/otherwise-brewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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 Otherwise Brewing