Brooklyn Kura

What Brooklyn Kura does

Brooklyn Kura is an American craft sake brewery headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company produces a range of sake styles including Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, Junmai Dai Ginjo, Namazake, Nigori, dry-hopped Junmai, and bottle-conditioned sparkling sake, using traditional Japanese brewing techniques such as koji fermentation and rice milling. It operates a brewery and taproom at Industry City in Sunset Park (opened 2023) and distributes direct-to-consumer through a Shopify e-commerce storefront with shipping to New York, Washington DC, Florida, and Minnesota.

The business operates across multiple revenue streams: bottled sake sales ($15-$50 per bottle), the Kura Kin subscription service delivering limited-release sake on 2-, 3-, or 6-month cadences at $80-$240 per delivery, on-premise taproom sales (sake on draft, shochu cocktails, food menu), branded merchandise ($5-$40), digital gift cards ($50-$150), and in-person sake education classes at the Sake Studies Center. Customer segments span craft beverage enthusiasts (foodies, wine and craft beer drinkers), sake-curious newcomers, and event/party hosts booking the taproom for private gatherings.

The company was built on a 2021 partnership with Hakkaisan Brewery in Niigata, Japan, which supplies traditional brewing expertise and category credibility. Brooklyn Kura is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, headcount, or revenue figures, and is the only sake brewery operating in New York City. Growth levers currently visible include expanding interstate shipping, introducing novel specialty SKUs (e.g., dry-hopped and sparkling formats), scaling the Kura Kin subscriber base, and monetizing events and education at the taproom.

Name

Brooklyn Kura

Legal name

Brooklyn Kura

Website

https://brooklynkura.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brooklyn Kura is a Brooklyn-based craft sake brewery producing traditional and specialty sake styles, selling direct-to-consumer via its Industry City taproom, a Shopify e-commerce store shipping to four states, and a tiered Kura Kin subscription for limited-release bottles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Sake

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Breweries (31212)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands (CRADAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sake & Traditional Rice Wine Production (AFAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Craft sake brewing
• Japanese rice wine
• Sake subscription service
• Craft beverage production
• Brewery taproom

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

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. Sake Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of bottled sake through e-commerce and taproom. Products range from $15-$50 per bottle. Includes Junmai, Ginjo, Dai Ginjo, Namazake, Nigori, and specialty varieties.
2. Kura Kin Subscription: Recurring subscription service delivering 2-6 limited release sake bottles every 2-6 months. Priced from $80-$240 per delivery. Members receive 10% off purchases and access to community events.
3. Taproom Sales: On-site sales at Industry City taproom including sake on draft, shochu cocktails, and food menu items. Open Thursday-Sunday with private event capabilities.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel (shirts, sweatshirts) and enamel pins. Prices range from $5-$40.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in $50, $100, and $150 denominations for gifting purposes.
6. Sake Education: In-person sake classes at Sake Studies Center, ranging from basics to certification courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Brooklyn Kura brews and sells American craft sake using traditional Japanese brewing methods (koji fermentation, rice milling with premium varieties like Yamada Nishiki). The company operates a direct-to-consumer model combining e-commerce sales of bottled sake, an Industry City taproom in Brooklyn, the Kura Kin community-supported subscription program delivering limited release bottles, and the Sake Studies Center for education and certification.

Product overview

Brooklyn Kura is an American craft sake brewery based in Brooklyn, NY. The company operates as a unified product portfolio consisting of: (1) Core Sake Products - hand-crafted sakes including Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, Junmai Dai Ginjo, Namazake, Nigori, Dry-hopped, and Bottle Conditioned Sparkling varieties; (2) Kura Kin Subscription Service - a community-supported brewing membership delivering limited release bottles on recurring schedules (every 2, 3, or 6 months); (3) Merchandise - branded apparel including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and enamel pins; (4) Physical Experiences - Brewery & Taproom at Industry City with on-tap sake and shochu cocktails; and (5) Education - Sake Studies Center offering in-person classes and certification. The company distributes direct-to-consumer via their e-commerce store and at their taproom location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kura Kin: Monthly limited release sake subscription service celebrating community-supported brewing, delivering exclusive and limited run sakes directly to members' doorsteps.

Products and services

• Blue Door Junmai Classic junmai namazake made with a blend of Calrose and Yamada Nishiki rice milled to more than 70%. Full bodied, earthy, dry, umami-laden with subtle notes of banana and ripe melon. ABV 17%. For craft sake enthusiasts seeking food-pairing versatility.
• Number Fourteen Junmai Ginjo Classic junmai ginjo namazake made with a blend of Calrose and Yamada Nishiki rice milled to more than 60%. Fresh, crisp, light, and aromatic with a dry finish. ABV 15%. For craft sake enthusiasts.
• Lake Effect Junmai Nigori Cloudy-style sake crafted by fermenting and pressing traditional junmai, then blending in amazake. Velvety, light texture with gentle, nuanced sweetness. Milling 50%, ABV 14%. For craft sake enthusiasts.
• Catskills Junmai Dai Ginjo Super premium style Dai Ginjo made with 100% sake brewers rice (Yamada Nishiki) and single modern yeast. Delicate and luxurious, fermented below 11 degrees Celsius. For premium sake collectors.
• Occidental Dry-hopped Junmai Single yeast junmai gently dry-hopped post pressing to extract hop aroma and character. Bright, aromatic with tropical fruit notes, dry, and light bodied. Pours like a rose with an IPA nose. For craft beer crossover enthusiasts.
• Secondi Bottle Conditioned Sparkling Sake Limited release bottle conditioned junmai ginjo that goes through secondary fermentation driven by amazake and sake yeast. Light bodied and effervescent with notes of freshly baked shortbread. For collectors and enthusiasts.
• Tidal Junmai Made with 100% Calrose rice from California. Medium bodied and dry expression, blending two modern Junmai sakes for depth and complexity with fruit and rice notes. ABV 17%. For craft sake enthusiasts.
• Pretty, Dry Junmai Ginjo Limited release karakuchi (super-dry) style sake balancing super-dry crispness with signature fruit forward flavors and velvety mouth feel. Notes of ripe apple, yogurt, banana-y and tart. ABV 16%. For sake collectors.
• Ashokan Junmai Ginjo Junmai Ginjo sake available in 375ml ($15) and 750ml ($25) sizes. For craft sake enthusiasts.
• Kura Kin | 2 Limited Release Bottles | Every 2 Months Subscription tier delivering 2 limited release sake bottles every 2 months for $80 per delivery. Includes 10% off online and in-store purchases and access to Kura Kin Community events. Shipping in February, April, June, August, October, and December.
• Kura Kin | 2 OR 3 Limited Release Bottles | Every 3 Months Subscription tier with member's choice of 2 bottles ($80) or 3 bottles ($120) every 3 months. Includes 10% discount and access to community events. Shipping in January, April, July, and October.
• Kura Kin | 3 or 6 Limited Release Bottles | Every 6 Months Subscription tier delivering 3 bottles ($120) or 6 bottles ($240) every 6 months. Includes access to Kura Kin Community events. Shipping in July and December.
• Brewery and Taproom at Industry City Physical taproom location at 34 34th Street, Industry City, Sunset Park, Brooklyn, featuring sake on tap, shochu cocktails, snacks, and small bites. Open Thursday-Friday 4-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 1-8pm. Available for private event bookings.
• Sake Studies Center In-person sake education service offering sake basics classes and certification programs at the Brooklyn Kura location. For sake curious consumers and hospitality professionals.
• Gift Card Digital gift cards available in $50, $100, and $150 denominations, redeemable only for purchases on the Brooklyn Kura website. For gifting purposes.
• Enamel Pin Brooklyn Kura branded enamel pin accessory priced at $5.
• Brooklyn Kura Pocket Tee Unisex t-shirt featuring Brooklyn Kura logo in iconic blue color on front pocket. 100% Ultra Cotton, available in S/M/L/XL/2XL. Price $20.
• Brooklyn Kura Front Door Shirt T-shirt featuring the iconic blue door facade of the original taproom. Available in white and black, sizes S/M/L/XL. Price $25.
• Brooklyn Kura Crew Neck Sweatshirt Crew neck sweatshirt in Brooklyn Kura's iconic shade of blue. Dry Blend of 50% Cotton and 50% Polyester. Unisex sizes S/M/L/XL/2XL. Price $40.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hakkaisan BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Long-term partnership established in 2021 with Niigata-based Hakkaisan Brewery, one of Japan's most respected breweries and home to many celebrated sakes. The partnership focuses on sharing love of fermentation and passion for sake around the world.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Brooklyn Brewery: Iconic NYC craft brewery with deep Brooklyn roots and a craft-beer enthusiast brand. Comparable as a Brooklyn-based craft beverage producer targeting similar craftsmanship-minded consumers, though in beer rather than sake.

Broad incumbents

• Hakutsuru Sake: One of Japan's largest sake breweries with a long-standing US import business. Operates as a broad incumbent in the imported sake category that Brooklyn Kura competes against for the premium-drinker occasion.
• SakeOne: Oregon-based sake producer and largest US craft sake manufacturer, owning the Momokawa brand. Comparable as a US-scale sake producer, but operates at much larger scale and broader distribution than Brooklyn Kura.
• Takara Sake USA: US subsidiary of Japanese Takara Shuzo producing sake and shochu in California. Functionally a direct competitor in the US craft sake category but at significantly larger scale and broader distribution.
• Ozeki Sake: Major Japanese sake producer with established US import and distribution operations. Competes in the same premium sake category Brooklyn Kura targets, but offers imported products at global scale.
• Gekkeikan Sake: One of the oldest and largest Japanese sake producers, with a major US presence and broad retail distribution. Comparable as a sake producer competing for the same end consumer, but at vastly greater scale and brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Insitu Sake: Brooklyn-based nano sake brewery producing small-batch craft sake in NYC. Most directly comparable US sake-making peer in the same metro, sharing the local craft positioning and small-scale brewing model.
• Dojima Sake: Virginia-based craft sake brewery producing sake in the US using Japanese techniques. Comparable as a small US craft sake producer targeting local markets rather than mass distribution.
• Blue Current Sake Brewery: Small-batch craft sake brewery based in Hawaii producing Junmai and ginjo-style sake using traditional Japanese methods. Directly comparable as a US craft sake producer with limited distribution and a local-brewery identity.

Others

• Urban Sake: NYC sake-focused bar and education platform. Adjacent rather than directly competing — it provides sake retail and education in the same New York market where Brooklyn Kura also pursues experience-based revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BrooklynKura
• Instagraminstagram.com/brooklynkura/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Brooklyn Kura