What Full Sail Brewing does

Full Sail Brewing is an independently owned, employee-owned craft brewery founded in 1987 in Hood River, Oregon, where it operates a brewery, brewpub, and headquarters overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. The company produces and distributes a portfolio of award-winning beers under two brand families — Full Sail (amber, IPAs, stouts, seasonal and barrel-aged specialties) and Session (premium lagers including Classic, West Coast, Japanese Rice, and Sesión Cerveza), with 400+ industry awards including over 200 gold medals. Its core technology platform is a 200 BBL brewhouse equipped with a Meura Mash Filter and Alfa Laval Centrifuge, Krones canning and bottling lines, a proprietary on-site water treatment plant, hot-water recovery systems, and a state-of-the-art quality assurance laboratory with PCR, GC-MS, and nanopore DNA sequencing, enabling production capacity of 30+ million cases annually and industry-leading water efficiency of less than 3 gallons of water per gallon of beer produced versus a 6-8 gallon industry average.

The company monetizes across four revenue streams: (1) packaged beer retail through 6-, 12-, 15-, and 24-pack cans and bottles in 9 western states (AK, AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA), distributed primarily through Columbia Distributing and other wholesalers; (2) draft beer keg sales (1/2 BBL, 1/4 BBL, 1/6 BBL, PET) to on-premise accounts; (3) direct-to-consumer Brew Pub sales in Hood River with dine-in, takeout, deck seating, brew dinners, and event programming priced at pints of $8.00 and taster flights of $18; and (4) contract brewing and co-packing services for other beverage brands producing beer, wine, cider, seltzer, spirit-based RTDs, and non-alcoholic beverages under BRCGS, USDA Organic, and Kosher certifications. Distribution is augmented by Drizly and Minibar online delivery platforms. The company sources 99% of ingredients from Pacific Northwest farms, purchases 140 blocks of Blue Sky wind power monthly, and recycles 4,160 tons of spent grain and 1,248 tons of spent yeast annually to local dairy farmers as animal feed.

Name

Full Sail Brewing

Legal name

Full Sail Brewing, Inc.

Website

https://fullsailbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Full Sail Brewing is an independently owned craft brewery in Hood River, Oregon, founded in 1987, producing award-winning packaged and draft beer under the Full Sail and Session brands, operating a brewpub, and offering BRCGS-certified contract brewing services across 9 western U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Craft brewery operations
• Packaged beer distribution
• Brewpub restaurant services
• Beverage contract manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hood River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brew Pub Sales: Direct revenue from food and beverage sales at the Full Sail Brew Pub in Hood River, Oregon. Includes dine-in, takeout, and catering services.
2. Packaged Beer Retail: Sale of canned and bottled beer through retail stores across 9 states (AK, AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA). Products include 6-packs, 12-packs, 15-packs, and 24-packs.
3. Draft Beer Distribution: Keg sales to restaurants, bars, and events. Available in 1/2 BBL (15.5 gal), 1/6 BBL (7.75 gal), and 1/6 BBL (5.16 gal) sizes, plus PET keg options.
4. Contract Brewing Services: Co-packing and contract manufacturing services for other beverage brands. Capabilities include beer, wine, cider, seltzer, spirit-based RTDs, and non-alcoholic beverages. Minimum volumes of 200 BBL per liquid stream.
5. Session Sub-Brand: Separate brand line (Session Lager and variants) positioned as accessible, everyday beer. Sold through same retail and draft channels as main brand.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Full Sail Brewing is an independent craft brewery founded in 1987 in Hood River, Oregon that manufactures and distributes a portfolio of award-winning packaged and draft beers under the Full Sail and Session sub-brands. The company also operates the Full Sail Brew Pub, a family-friendly restaurant and taproom overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and provides contract brewing and co-packing services for other beverage brands.

Product overview

Full Sail Brewing is a craft brewery founded in 1987 in Hood River, Oregon, producing a portfolio of beer products under two main brands: Full Sail (ales and specialty beers) and Session (premium lagers). The Full Sail core lineup includes flagship Amber Ale, IPAs (Hop Pursuit, Slipknot, Over Current), Blood Orange Wheat, and Off Trail Pale Ale, complemented by seasonal offerings like Wreck The Halls holiday ale, barrel-aged beers (Top Sail Porter, Barleywine), and fresh hop IPAs. The Session sub-brand focuses on approachable lagers including Session Classic Lager (21-year-old brand redesigning in 2025), Japanese Rice Lager, West Coast Lager, and Sesion Cerveza. Beyond packaged beers, the company operates a Brew Pub restaurant and offers contract brewing/co-packing services for other beverage brands, with facilities capable of producing 30+ million cases annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Session: Session is a sub-brand of Full Sail Brewing featuring premium lagers including Session Classic Lager, Session Japanese Rice Lager, Session West Coast Lager, and Sesión Cerveza. Launched in 2005, Session has won over 125 medals including 70 gold medals.

Products and services

• Full Sail Amber Ale Oregon's original amber ale and Full Sail's flagship brew. A sweet, malty, medium-bodied ale with spicy, floral hop finish. Brewed with 2-row Pale, Crystal and Chocolate malts and hopped with Columbus and Cascades. Named World's Best Dark Beer at the World Beer Awards. Sold in 6-packs, 12-packs, and on draft at the brew pub.
• Session Classic Lager Session Classic Lager is the flagship of the Session sub-brand, an American craft lager with plenty of flavor that goes down clean and smooth. A 21-year-old craft lager icon with 30+ gold medals. Retro package design launched in 2025 for the 21st birthday. Sold in 6-pack 12oz cans, 15-pack, 6-pack 16oz cans, and 24-pack formats.
• Hop Pursuit IPA Northwest IPA featuring tropical pineapple aromas, piney and mango notes with hint of honey. Clean, bready body with crisp, assertive finish. Silver medal winner at 2026 New York International Beer Competition.
• Bridge to Nowhere Hazy IPA Hazy IPA with golden rolled oats providing sweet backbone. Hop combination of Citra Cryo, Mosaic, Columbus, Hull Melon, and Mandarina Bavarian showcases pineapple, honeydew, and pear flavors. Silver medal winner at NYIBC.
• Juicy Fruit IPA Gold medal winner at 2026 New York International Beer Competition. Vibrant golden pour with candied tropical fruit bouquet. Uses Superdelic and Citra hops for pineapple, guava, tangerine with limoncello and grapefruit notes.
• Slipknot IPA Medium-bodied IPA hop forward with solid malt backbone. Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe hops deliver pine-forward and citrus aroma with notes of ruby red grapefruit pith.
• Over Current Juicy Imperial IPA Complex and dangerously drinkable Juicy Imperial IPA. Hop-forward brew supercharged with nectarine, blood orange, and passionfruit. At 9% ABV with sweet-yet-drying finish.
• Off Trail Pale Ale Bright, citrus-forward Pale Ale featuring Amarillo, Azacca, and Strata hops. Bold aromas of pine, Meyer lemon, and tangerine with hint of papaya. Bronze medal winner at 2026 NYIBC.
• Blood Orange Wheat Refreshing, crisp and zesty unfiltered wheat beer with citrus twist. Medium malt body with subtle orange flavor and crisp wheat finish. Three-time gold medal winner.
• Wreck The Halls Traditional holiday favorite and four-time gold medal winner. Hybrid of American-Style Double IPA and Winter Warmer with rich malty notes and pine, floral, citrus hops.
• Nut Brown Ale Rich brown ale with caramel, molasses, and hint of smoke. Crafted with Maris Otter, Crystal, Biscuit, and Chocolate malts, balanced with Azacca hops. Double Gold medal winner at 2025 Sip Magazine Best of the Northwest.
• Night Sailor Stout Dark stout crafted with special blend of 6 chocolaty and roasty malts. Delivers big chocolate and coffeehouse aromas smoothed through creamy nitro head. Platinum medal winner at 2025 Sip Magazine Best of the Northwest.
• Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter Imperial Style Porter aged for months in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels. Rich malty chocolate finish with hints of vanilla, dark cherry, and oak.
• Barrel-Aged Barleywine Ale Aged one year in Jacob Williams Syrah and Cab Franc barrels. 2025 vintage features blackberry jam, cherry, fig with black pepper and balsamic tang. Smooth vanilla backbone. Silver medal winner at 2026 NYIBC.
• Session Japanese Rice Lager Dry, ultra-clean lager built for precision and effortless drinkability. Rice lightens body and sharpens finish. Japanese Sorachi Ace hops with distinct lemon zest and herbal character. Bronze medal winner at 2026 NYIBC.
• Session West Coast Lager All-malt classic PNW lager capturing bright aromatics of West Coast IPA in crisp, light-bodied frame. Features Mosaic and Anchovy hops with notes of white grape, guava, lemongrass, and grapefruit peel. Silver medal winner at 2026 NYIBC.
• Sesion Cerveza Gold medal winning Mexican-style lager. Straw-gold and brilliantly clear, light-bodied and crisp. Pilsner malt and flaked corn keep body soft with crisp finish. Featured in Alaska Airlines Session Vacation Getaway promotion.
• Contract Brewing Services Pacific Northwest-based beverage contract packaging manufacturing for other brands. Facilities capable of producing 30+ million cases annually. Licensed for beer, wine, cider, seltzer, spirit-based RTDs, and non-alcoholic offerings. 200 BBL brewhouse with Meura Mash Filter and Alfa Laval Centrifuge. Minimum volumes of 200 BBL per liquid stream. BRCGS, Oregon Tilth USDA Organic, Kosher, TTB, and OLCC certifications.
• Full Sail Brew Pub Family-friendly brewpub in Hood River, Oregon with views of Columbia River Gorge. Serves Full Sail and Session beers on draft, pub food made with local sustainable ingredients, hard seltzers, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. Happy hour menu available Monday-Thursday 3-6PM. Dine-in and takeout service with deck seating.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption reduced to less than 3 gallons per gallon of beer vs industry average of 6-8 gallons
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Virgil Gamache FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Albert's Dry Hopped Seltzer is produced by Virgil Gamache Farms in Yakima Valley, Washington, and brewed in partnership with Full Sail Brewing. This farm-to-fridge non-alcoholic, hop-flavored sparkling seltzer represents a co-development partnership leveraging Full Sail's brewing expertise for Virgil Gamache Farms' product line.
• Pacific Power Blue SkycoreOthersFull Sail purchases 140 blocks of Blue Sky wind power monthly from Pacific Power, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 168 tons annually. This renewable energy partnership supports Full Sail's sustainability commitments.
• Dirt HuggerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal composting company that processes Full Sail's biosolids from their water treatment plant. The resulting soil amendments are used by local farmers and orchardists, closing the sustainability loop.
• Local Dairy FarmersminorOthersLocal dairy farmers receive 4,160 tons of spent grain and 1,248 tons of spent yeast annually for use as animal feed. This waste-to-feed partnership supports the local agricultural community.
• Columbia DistributingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary wholesale distribution partner for Full Sail products in Oregon. Columbia Distributing serves retailers and restaurants across the state from their Portland location.
• Breweries in the Gorge (BIG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull Sail is a founding member of Breweries in the Gorge (BIG), a group of 13 local breweries with over 200 employees united to promote and progress craft brewing in the Columbia River Gorge region.
• Hood River Chamber of Commerce Green Smart ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull Sail was a founding member of the Hood River Chamber of Commerce's Green Smart program, which helps businesses improve resource efficiency and reduce waste and pollution.
• Oregon ZoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFull Sail participates in the annual Zoo Brew fundraising event at Oregon Zoo, pouring Juicy Fruit IPA and Session Japanese Rice Lager. The event supports wildlife conservation.
• Alaska AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration between two iconic Pacific Northwest brands for Session Vacation Getaway promotion, featuring Full Sail Session Cerveza and Alaska Airlines travel.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lagunitas Brewing Company: California craft brewery acquired by Heineken, with established IPA and lager portfolio competing with Full Sail's Session lineup. Now part of a global beverage platform, providing a useful comparison for what scaled distribution looks like in the same categories.
• Stone Brewing: San Diego craft brewery, now owned by Sapporo, that competes across IPAs and barrel-aged offerings with Full Sail. Larger national footprint but overlaps significantly in IPA category innovation and West Coast craft positioning.
• New Belgium Brewing: Fort Collins, Colorado craft brewery now owned by Kirin, with strong sustainability positioning (similar wind power/energy focus to Full Sail). Larger scale but overlapping mission-led brand story and lager/IPA portfolio.
• Craft Brew Alliance (Tilray Brands craft beer): Portland-based craft holding company (formerly Craft Brew Alliance) historically aggregating Redhook, Widmer, and Kona brands. Provides a comp for what consolidated PNW craft scale looks like and the strategic value of regional craft brand portfolios.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing: California craft pioneer founded in 1979 and one of the largest US independent craft brewers. Operates broadly in the same IPA/pale ale/seasonal categories as Full Sail, with much larger national distribution and a comparable sustainability narrative.

Direct peers

• BridgePort Brewing: Portland craft brewery founded in 1984 (originally Old Town Brewing), similar vintage to Full Sail and a historical Oregon craft pioneer. Comparable scale and PNW lager/IPA portfolio that overlaps with Full Sail's category mix.
• Deschutes Brewery: Independently owned Oregon craft brewery founded in 1988 in Bend, OR, with comparable PNW focus, brewpub operations, and multi-state regional distribution. Most directly comparable peer to Full Sail by founding era, geography, and independent craft positioning.
• Widmer Brothers Brewing: Portland, Oregon craft brewery founded in 1984, now part of the Craft Brew Alliance (AB InBev). Operates in the same PNW craft lager and ale category as Full Sail, with overlapping wholesale and brewpub presence in the Portland metro market.
• 10 Barrel Brewing: Bend, Oregon craft brewery founded in 2006, now owned by AB InBev. Operates brewpub locations and a Pacific Northwest distribution footprint directly comparable to Full Sail's regional craft positioning and full-service pub model.
• Rogue Ales & Spirits: Independently owned Oregon craft brewery founded in 1988 in Newport, OR, with a similarly sized production footprint, brewpub operations, spirits expansion, and PNW regional distribution footprint that competes head-to-head with Full Sail on-premise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/fullsailbrewing
• Xx.com/FullSailBrewing

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Full Sail Brewing