Cartridge Brewing

What Cartridge Brewing does

Cartridge Brewing is a craft brewery and full-service brewpub operating inside the restored 1860s Peters Cartridge Factory on the Little Miami River in Maineville, Ohio (Greater Cincinnati area). The company runs a 15 BBL brewing system producing a diverse, approachable lineup spanning crisp lagers (Up The Hill Munich Helles, an ultra-light cerveza), hop-forward IPAs (Freakbeat, a hazy pale ale), wheat ales (Escape Pina Colada Wheat Ale), and rotating seasonals such as Limelight Lachancea Tart Gose. A full kitchen delivers elevated pub fare including Detroit-style pizzas, smokestack BBQ, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a Friday Prime Rib special; the bar serves curated cocktails and wine alongside draft beer.

The business generates revenue across eight distinct streams: on-premise taproom beer and cocktail sales, full-kitchen food and online ordering, brewery tours and tastings ($25 per person for a 4-beer flight), private events (The Mess Hall up to 100 guests, The Enlisted Club up to 75 guests, and full brewpub buyouts up to 225 guests), wholesale beer distribution across Southwest Ohio via Heidelberg Distributing's Ohio Valley Wine and Beer division, branded merchandise and Square-powered eGift Cards, and the High Caliber Society quarterly membership featuring exclusive collaboration brews with fellow hometown breweries. Operations are supported by an integrated hospitality technology stack (Square for payments, Tripleseat for event bookings, order.online for takeout, ItemOrder for merchandise, CodeRed for web content, and ADP for HR).

Cartridge was founded in October 2020 by Anthony Cook, Kyle Hackbarth, and Lindsey Hackbarth and was acquired by Cleveland-based Saucy Brew Works on December 1, 2022, becoming the sixth brewpub in Saucy's Ohio-Michigan portfolio. Operating management now sits under Saucy Brew Works Management LLC, with Brent Zimmerman as CEO of Cartridge and Nick Manos as Head Brewer. The company serves local Cincinnati-area craft beer enthusiasts and casual diners, private event organizers, beer club members, and Southwest Ohio wholesale retail accounts.

Name

Cartridge Brewing

Legal name

Cartridge Brewing (operated by Saucy Brew Works Management LLC)

Website

https://cartridgebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cartridge Brewing is a craft brewery and full-service brewpub operating a 15 BBL brewhouse inside the historic Peters Cartridge Factory in Maineville, Ohio. It serves the Greater Cincinnati market with award-winning craft beer, elevated pub fare, cocktails, private events, brewery tours, and regional wholesale distribution via Heidelberg Distributing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery & Brewpub

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Brewpub operations
• Craft beer production
• Private event hosting
• Draft beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

South Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: On-premise draft beer sales at the Maineville brewpub taproom; hours Sun 11am–9pm, Mon–Sat 11am–10pm; $4 draft Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4–6pm.
2. Food & Full Kitchen Sales: Elevated pub fare — starters, salads, Detroit-style pizzas, BBQ, burgers, sandwiches, mains, sides, desserts — with dine-in, online ordering, and BOGO Monday pizza promotion.
3. Cocktails & Wine: Curated cocktails and wine from a full bar; $8 craft cocktails and $7/glass wine during Happy Hour.
4. Brewery Tours: Guided tour + tasting flight (4 beers with signature pretzels and beer cheese) at $25/person; must be booked minimum 2 weeks in advance.
5. Private Events: Private and semi-private event bookings including The Mess Hall (up to 100 guests), The Enlisted Club (up to 75 guests), and full brewpub buyout (up to 225 guests) with custom food and drink packages.
6. Wholesale Beer Distribution: Home-market wholesale distribution through Heidelberg Distributing (Ohio Valley Wine and Beer) across Southwest Ohio retailers.
7. Merchandise & Gift Cards: Branded merchandise via online storefront and eGift Cards sold through Square.
8. High Caliber Society Membership: Quarterly beer membership featuring exclusive collab brews with fellow hometown breweries plus member-only perks and experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cartridge Brewing operates a 15 BBL craft brewery and full-kitchen brewpub inside the historic Peters Cartridge Factory in Maineville, Ohio, producing and serving an in-house lineup of award-winning craft beers, elevated pub fare, curated cocktails, and wine. Beyond the taproom, the business sells wholesale beer across Southwest Ohio through Heidelberg Distributing, hosts private and semi-private events, runs guided brewery tours, and operates the High Caliber Society quarterly beer membership featuring hometown-brewery collaboration releases.

Product overview

Cartridge Brewing operates as a single integrated brewpub concept rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offering is the Cartridge Brewing Brewpub & Taproom — a 15 BBL craft brewery inside the historic Peters Cartridge Factory in Maineville, Ohio — which anchors the Craft Beer Lineup and Pub Fare Menu. Layered on top of this core are several named offerings: the High Caliber Society quarterly beer membership with hometown-brewery collaboration releases; Private Events (The Mess Hall, The Enlisted Club, and full buyouts up to 225 guests); Brewery Tours & Tastings; the recurring Sip Trip V5 passport event along the Little Miami Scenic Trail; and Merch & eGift Cards. Together, these form one unified hospitality brand that also benefits from its 2022 acquisition by Saucy Brew Works and a 2023 distribution partnership with Heidelberg Distributing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High Caliber Society: Cartridge Brewing's exclusive quarterly beer membership program featuring collaborative hometown brewery releases.
• Sip Trip

Products and services

• Cartridge Brewing Brewpub & Taproom A 15 BBL craft brewery and full-kitchen brewpub located inside the historic Peters Cartridge Factory in Maineville, Ohio, serving adult consumers in the Greater Cincinnati area with award-winning craft beer, elevated pub fare, curated cocktails, and wine.
• Craft Beer Lineup In-house 15 BBL brewery producing a diverse lineup of year-round, seasonal, and rotating craft beer releases including Up The Hill Munich Helles, Escape Pina Colada Wheat Ale, Freakbeat IPA, Limelight Lachancea Tart Gose, an ultra-light cerveza, and a hazy pale ale, sold on draft at the taproom and through wholesale distribution.
• Pub Fare Menu Elevated pub fare from a full kitchen, including starters (Pretzels + Beer Cheese, Fighter Wings, 'Nati Nachos), Detroit-style pizzas, smokestack BBQ, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, desserts, and a Friday Prime Rib Night, served dine-in, online pickup, and via BOGO Monday pizza promotions.
• Private Events (The Mess Hall, The Enlisted Club, Full Buyouts) Private and semi-private event hosting inside the historic Peters Cartridge Factory with The Mess Hall (up to 100 guests), The Enlisted Club (up to 75 guests), and full brewpub buyouts for up to 225 guests, with craft beer and chef-driven food packages, managed through Tripleseat booking.
• Brewery Tours & Tastings Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the brew deck for groups of up to 15 guests, covering the history of the Peters Cartridge Factory and the brewing process, paired with a four-beer flight tasting and signature pretzels and beer cheese at $25 per person, available Tuesdays–Sundays with 21+ valid ID required for tasting.
• High Caliber Society An exclusive quarterly beer membership featuring four unique collaboration releases each year brewed with fellow hometown breweries, plus member-only perks and experiences, with annual billing cadence.
• Merch & eGift Cards Branded merchandise shop hosted on ItemOrder and digital eGift Cards sold through Square, accessible from the site's Merch / Gift Cards navigation, supporting gifting and repeat consumer purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 225 guests for full brewpub buyout events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Fifty West Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 May 2025Co-host of Sip Trip V5 on May 31, 2025 — a 19.7-mile brewery-to-brewery bike trail passport event spanning Four stops including Miamiville Trailyard and Cappy's Wine and Spirits. A special pale ale collaboration brew was created for the event, available at all stops.
• Miamiville TrailyardminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 May 2025Listed stop on the Sip Trip V5 passport route between Fifty West Brewing Company and Cappy's Wine and Spirits.
• Cappy's Wine and SpiritsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 May 2025Listed stop on the Sip Trip V5 passport route between Miamiville Trailyard and Cartridge Brewing.
• Heidelberg Distributing (Ohio Valley Wine and Beer)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 May 2023Cartridge awarded its home-market distribution rights to Heidelberg's Ohio Valley Wine and Beer division on May 30, 2023. Heidelberg leverages its 85-year distribution network (since 1938) to bring Cartridge's craft beers to retailers across Southwest Ohio, building on a longstanding relationship between Heidelberg and Saucy Brew Works.
• Saucy Brew WorksflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Saucy Brew Works acquired Cartridge Brewing on December 1, 2022, making Cartridge the 6th brewpub in Saucy's Ohio-Michigan beer empire. Saucy provides access to its full QAQC Lab and depth of brewing and culinary expertise, while select Cartridge beer is placed on draft at Saucy locations and plans to expand Cartridge's distribution footprint are in motion. Cartridge operates as a separate brand under Saucy ownership.
• Saucy Brew Works Management LLCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebsite copyright held by Saucy Brew Works Management LLC, indicating Saucy Brew Works is the managing operating entity of Cartridge Brewing since the December 2022 acquisition.
• Bloomfield/SchonminorOthersBloomfield/Schon was the developer that restored the entire Peters Cartridge Factory complex after more than a dozen years of planning, enabling Cartridge Brewing to set up its brewpub inside the historic building.
• Fellow hometown breweries (High Caliber Society 2026 collaborators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEach quarter in 2026, Cartridge Brewing collaborates with a fellow hometown brewery to produce a unique release as part of the High Caliber Society membership (Baklava Barleywine in March, Quadruple IPA in June, Walnut Maple Pie Imperial Stout in September, Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Brown Ale in December). Individual partner breweries for each release are not named in the source.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Artifact: Cincinnati craft brewery and taproom known for fruited sours and eclectic lineup. Comparable taproom-centric craft model in the same local market.
• MadTree Brewing: Cincinnati-based craft brewery with taproom, food, events, and regional distribution. Direct local competitor in the same Greater Cincinnati craft segment.
• Saucy Brew Works: Parent company of Cartridge Brewing since December 2022 and operator of an Ohio-Michigan brewpub portfolio. Directly comparable as a craft brewpub + production platform with taproom, kitchen, events, and wholesale distribution — Cartridge is one of six Saucy brewpubs.
• Fifty West Brewing Company: Cincinnati-area craft brewery co-host of Sip Trip V5 with Cartridge. Directly comparable as a regional Ohio craft brewery offering taproom food, events, trailside recreation, and limited distribution in the same Southwest Ohio geography.
• Christian Moerlein Brewing Company: Historic Cincinnati craft brewery with taproom (Moerlein Lager House), lager-focused portfolio, and strong regional distribution. Comparable brewpub-plus-distribution model in the same Ohio Valley geography.
• Fat Head's Brewery: Ohio-based craft brewpub chain with multiple locations, full kitchens, and beer distribution. Comparable multi-brewpub restaurant-brewery model with similar scale of on-site brewhouse.
• Listermann Brewing Company: Cincinnati craft brewery and homebrew supply shop with taproom and food. Comparable neighborhood-brewpub format in the same Cincinnati market.
• Rhinegeist Brewery: One of the largest Cincinnati craft brewers, operating a major Over-the-Rhine taproom with full kitchen, events, and broad distribution. Closest scale-and-geography peer to Cartridge in the same city.

Regional players

• Hoppin' Frog Brewery: Akron, Ohio craft brewery with taproom and strong regional distribution footprint. Comparable Ohio craft producer with similar brewpub-and-distribution operating model, though more distribution-weighted.

Broad incumbents

• Great Lakes Brewing Company: Established Ohio craft brewery with broad regional distribution, brewpub, and full food program. Comparable brewpub-plus-wholesale operating model at meaningfully larger scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CartridgeBeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/cartridgebrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/cartridgebrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cartridge-brewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cartridge Brewing