Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

What Toppling Goliath Brewing Company does

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2009 by Clark and Barbara Lewey in Decorah, Iowa. The company produces a portfolio of more than 40 rotating beers across three primary lines: the flagship Sue Series of single-hop and hazy IPAs (Pseudo Sue, King Sue, Seismic Sue, and their DDH variants), a rotational calendar of fruited sours, lagers, wheat ales, and seasonal beers, and a premium limited-release barrel-aged stout program (KBBS, Assassin, Term Oil, anniversary releases) aged 12-42+ months in bourbon, rye, tequila, and apple brandy barrels. KBBS has held the #1 beer ranking on BeerAdvocate since 2015, and the brewery is consistently ranked among the top breweries globally by BeerAdvocate, RateBeer, US Open Beer Championship, and World Beer Championships.

The business operates through a hybrid distribution model: a destination taproom in Decorah with food service, brewery tours, and a year-round private event venue; a self-managed field sales team distributing packaged and draft beer across 30 US states through retail and on-premise partners; and dedicated e-commerce channels including a Shopify merchandise store, ToastTab-powered taproom to-go ordering, and a separate direct-to-consumer store for Merry Rain, a hemp-derived THC sparkling water sub-brand (1mg/5mg/10mg strengths) manufactured by Surly Brewing Co. under license. Premium limited releases such as Assassin are monetized through ticketed bottle events and exclusive pairing dinners, with KBBS and related stouts functioning as both halo products and high-margin collectibles.

The company serves four overlapping customer segments: craft beer enthusiasts seeking award-winning IPAs and barrel-aged stouts, beer collectors pursuing allocation-only limited releases, local visitors and tourists at the Decorah taproom, and wellness/cannabis consumers purchasing Merry Rain as an alcohol alternative. Customers are reached through organic social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), a once-monthly email newsletter, beer competition PR, limited-release event marketing, and community partnerships including a multi-year collaboration with Lua Brewing on Iowa waterway protection. Toppling Goliath has no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, or M&A activity and remains under founder ownership.

Name

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

Legal name

Toppling Goliath Inc.

Website

https://tgbrews.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery founded in 2009 in Decorah, Iowa, producing award-winning IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and the Merry Rain THC beverage line, distributed to 30 US states and sold through its destination taproom, wholesale, and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Barrel-aged stouts
• India pale ales
• Cannabis-infused beverages
• Brewery taproom

Headquarters

HQ city

Decorah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: On-site draft, bottles, cans, growlers, and kegs sold directly to consumers at the Decorah taproom. Food service also available.
2. Bottled/Canned Beer Distribution: Packaged beer distributed across 30 states through retail partners, bottle shops, and on-tap at bars/restaurants. Field sales team manages distribution.
3. Limited Release Events: Annual bottle releases for premium beers like Assassin (2026 at $100 for 2 bottles) and KBBS, sold via ticketed events at taproom.
4. Merry Rain THC Beverages: Hemp-derived cannabis-infused sparkling water sold online with shipping to 30+ states, plus in-person at retailers in IA, WI, MN, SD, KS, MO.
5. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel, glassware, and accessories sold through dedicated Shopify store.
6. Event Space Rental & Catering: Event venue rental for private events (reunions, corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners) with full catering menu and private bar service.
7. Brewery Tours: 30-minute guided brewery tours offered every Saturday at 3pm, ticketed through Etix.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces and sells a rotating portfolio of more than 40 beers, anchored by the Sue Series IPAs (Pseudo Sue, King Sue, Seismic Sue) and an extensive barrel-aged stout program including Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout (KBBS) and the Assassin series. The company also sells hemp-derived cannabis-infused sparkling water under the Merry Rain sub-brand, operates a taproom with food service and event space in Decorah, Iowa, and distributes packaged beer across 30 states.

Product overview

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company is a craft brewery offering a diverse portfolio of beer products centered around its flagship Sue Series IPAs (including Pseudo Sue, King Sue, Seismic Sue, and their variants), rotational seasonal releases (fruited sours like Dragon Fandango, lagers, and specialty styles), and limited-release barrel-aged stouts (the award-winning KBBS, Assassin series, Term Oil series, and anniversary beers). The company also operates a separate sub-brand, Merry Rain, producing hemp-derived cannabis-infused sparkling water beverages. Physical offerings include a taproom with food service, event space rentals, brewery tours, and an online merchandise store. The products are distributed across 30 states with the taproom serving as the primary location for limited-release bottle sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Merry Rain Hemp-derived cannabis-infused sparkling water in 1mg, 5mg, and 10mg THC strengths with balanced CBD ratios, offered in flavors including Orange Cream, Lemon Lime, and Strawberry. Manufactured by Surly Brewing Co. under license; sold direct-to-consumer online and through retailers in select states.
• Pseudo Sue Single-hop pale ale showcasing Citra hops with delicate body, mild bitterness, and aromas of grapefruit, citrus, mango, and evergreen.
• King Sue Full-bodied hazy double IPA Citra-hopped with juicy mango, orange, and pineapple flavors finishing with grapefruit aroma.
• Seismic Sue Triple IPA featuring Citra hops with colossal notes of mango, orange, and pineapple, finishing with grapefruit aroma.
• Cyber Sue IPA bursting with tropical fruit notes from Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops creating mango, pineapple, and fresh tangerine aromas.
• KBBS (Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout) Award-winning barrel-aged stout with intense aromatics of espresso and maple syrup, bourbon-drenched maple candy and chocolate brownies, aged 12% ABV. Held title of #1 beer in the world since 2015 on BeerAdvocate.
• Assassin Series (Annual Limited Release Barrel-Aged Stout) Annual barrel-aged stout spending over a year in barrels, sometimes closer to two, featuring notes of bourbon, warmth, and fudge chocolate base. Includes annual variants (Assassin 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) plus specialty variants like Double Barrel, Rye, Tequila, Vanilla Bean, Muerte Dulce, and Bramble Barrel.
• Sue Mix Pack Variety pack featuring multiple Sue series beers including Pseudo Sue, Cyber Sue, Krush Dry Hop Sue, and Double Dry Hop Sue.
• Dragon Fandango Fruited sour featuring mango, passion fruit, and dragon fruit, creating a tropical sour experience.
• Oktoberfest Traditional Oktoberfest lager with rich amber color, soft caramel and biscuit notes, and malty fresh-baked bread flavors.
• Munich Weiss Old-world Weissbier tradition with hazy deep-orange color, soft pillowy head, and aromas of cinnamon, clove, banana, and fresh bread.
• Taproom Physical taproom location at 1600 Prosperity Rd, Decorah, IA with food service, to-go beer sales, brewery tours, and event space. Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm.
• Event Space Rental Event venue hosting reunions, holiday parties, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and weddings with three space options, full catering menu, private bar, A/V equipment, and private tours.
• Branded Merchandise Store Online merchandise store (store-tgbrews.myshopify.com) selling branded apparel, glassware, and accessories.
• Krush Sue Well-balanced pale ale with mild bitterness, featuring citrus and woody aromatics for a refreshing taste.

Quantifiable outcome

• KBBS ranked #1 beer in the world since 2015
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surly Brewing Co.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSurly Brewing Co. manufactures Merry Rain cannabis-infused sparkling water under agreement with Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. Contact: (763) 999-4040 or [email protected].
• Lua BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix-year collaboration (Project Hop Fisch) between Toppling Goliath and Lua Brewing to clean and protect Iowa's waterways. Each batch supports water conservation efforts and partners with organizations including Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Iowa Project Aware, and Iowa Driftless.
• Fidens BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative beer Jasper - a double IPA created jointly with Fidens Brewing Company.
• Tired Hands BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative beer Pseudo Alien - an extraterrestrial pale ale blend featuring American hops with notes of pineapple, orange zest, and tropical fruit.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Founders Brewing Co. Michigan craft brewery known for KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) and Breakfast Stout — direct competitors in the barrel-aged stout category. Comparable premium positioning and broader national distribution profile.
• Russian River Brewing Company: California craft brewery famous for Pliny the Elder IPAs and Supplication / Consecration barrel-aged sours. Comparable as a cult-status brewery whose limited releases command extraordinary secondary-market value and on-premise demand.
• WeldWerks Brewing Co. Colorado craft brewery recognized for hazy IPAs (Juicy Bits) and an extensive barrel-aged stout program. Direct peer in IPA + barrel-aged stout dual focus with national distribution and taproom-driven brand.
• Tree House Brewing Company: Massachusetts-based craft brewery renowned for hazy IPAs and limited barrel-aged releases with strong allocation-driven demand. Mirrors Toppling Goliath's premium, hype-driven craft model with dedicated taproom and bottle distribution.
• The Alchemist: Vermont craft brewery famous for Heady Topper and focal Binger IPA, with a destination taproom model. Comparable as a craft brewery whose flagship IPAs and taproom experience drive cult-like consumer demand.
• Surly Brewing Co. Minnesota craft brewery and Toppling Goliath's contract manufacturer for Merry Rain THC beverages. Comparable as a Midwest craft peer with strong taproom, distribution, and contract-manufacturing capabilities.
• 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Indiana craft brewery best known for Dark Lord barrel-aged imperial stout and the Dark Lord Day festival. Closely comparable in barrel-aged stout leadership, ticketed limited releases, and cult collector following.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. One of the largest U.S. craft brewers (Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing, barrel-aged Bigfoot). Comparable in barrel-aging expertise and diverse portfolio but operates at far larger national scale.
• Bell's Brewery: Established Midwest craft brewery (Two Hearted IPA, Expedition Stout) with broader distribution and longer history. Comparable premium craft portfolio but at meaningfully larger scale and reach.
• New Belgium Brewing Co. National craft brewer (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) now owned by Kirin. Comparable as a craft brewery with national distribution and a strong portfolio of IPAs and barrel-aged offerings, but at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tgbrews
• Instagraminstagram.com/topplingbrews
• TikToktiktok.com/@topplingbrews
• Xx.com/TGBrews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Toppling Goliath Brewing Company