Devils Backbone Brewing Co.

What Devils Backbone Brewing Co. does

Devils Backbone Brewing Company is a craft brewery and integrated hospitality operator headquartered in Roseland, Virginia (Nelson County), founded in 2008 by Steve and Heidi Crandall and acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2016. The company operates two physical brewpub and taproom locations — the flagship Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Roseland, VA, featuring 16+ taps, a full bar, craft distillery lounge, cigar lounge, outdoor bar, 5-acre bier garden, and on-site campground, and the Outpost Taproom & Kitchen in Lexington, VA — alongside ancillary revenue streams in craft distilling (Danzig Whiskey, Wood Duck High Rye Bourbon, Fox Field Gin, Fox Field Barrel-Aged Vixen Gin, Smash Vodka, Osprey Silver Rum, Raptor Dark Rum), ready-to-drink canned cocktails (SMASH) and alcoholic iced tea (Tide Line Tea), on-site camping and lodging (RV sites, tent sites, group sites, vintage Airstream, and Three Ridges Haven vacation rental), private events, and branded merchandise.

The company earns revenue through five distinct streams: on-premise food and beverage sales at the two brewpub/taproom locations; camping and lodging at the Basecamp property (campsite pricing $20-$150/night with a $3.50 reservation fee plus seasonal discounts); retail and on-premise sales of proprietary spirits and RTDs; private event hosting (weddings, corporate events, celebrations) at Basecamp and Outpost; and branded merchandise through its online store. Distribution of packaged products is handled through the Anheuser-Busch InBev wholesale network, providing nationwide reach unavailable to comparably sized independent craft breweries, while on-premise and direct-to-consumer bookings are managed through proprietary digital channels and third-party platforms (Firefly Reservations for camping, Triple Seat for private events).

Devils Backbone serves adult craft beverage enthusiasts and outdoor recreationists (21+) seeking a combined craft beer, spirits, and outdoor hospitality experience in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, situated on the Nelson 151 craft beverage route alongside 20+ neighboring producers. Its primary customer segment is the persona-level "Craft Beverage Enthusiasts & Outdoor Recreationists," with secondary exposure through private event bookers and regional visitors drawn by signature events such as the Lumberjack Classic Weekend and Basecamp Oktoberfest Weekend. The company employs 51-100 staff and is privately held as a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, which itself operates within Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI, Euronext Brussels).

Name

Devils Backbone Brewing Co.

Legal name

Devils Backbone Brewing Company

Website

https://dbbrewingcompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Devils Backbone Brewing Co. is a Virginia-based craft brewery and hospitality operator (founded 2008, acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2016) operating two brewpubs, a craft distillery, an on-site campground and lodging, and RTD canned cocktails and spirits sub-brands, serving adult craft beverage and outdoor recreation customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Distilleries (312140), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Craft distillery spirits
• Brewpub hospitality
• Craft canned cocktails
• Campground lodging

Headquarters

HQ city

Roseland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-premise Food & Beverage Sales: Revenue from beer, spirits, cocktails, and food sales at the Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Nelson County and Outpost Taproom & Kitchen in Lexington, VA. Includes 16+ taps, full bar, seasonal menu featuring smoked meats.
2. Camping & Lodging: Revenue from campsite reservations (RV sites, tent camping, field sites) ranging from $20-$150/night, plus Airstream rental and Three Ridges Haven vacation rental accommodations at the Basecamp location.
3. Spirits & Canned Cocktails: Revenue from proprietary spirits including Danzig Whiskey, Wood Duck High Rye Bourbon, Fox Field Gin, Smash Vodka, Osprey Silver Rum, and Raptor Dark Rum, plus SMASH canned cocktails and Tide Line Iced Tea RTD products sold at locations and through retail.
4. Private Events: Revenue from hosting private events including weddings, corporate events, and celebrations at both Basecamp and Outpost venues, featuring curated food menus and award-winning brews.
5. Merchandise & Retail: Revenue from branded merchandise sold through the online shop (dbbrewingcompanyshop.com) and on-site at retail locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Devils Backbone Brewing Company operates a craft brewery and integrated hospitality business, brewing award-winning European-style lagers and ales and distilling craft spirits (whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, rum) at its Virginia facilities. It serves these beverages on-premise at the Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Roseland and the Outpost Taproom & Kitchen in Lexington, distributes bottled/canned beer and ready-to-drink cocktails through the Anheuser-Busch network, and operates an on-site campground and lodging at its Basecamp property.

Product overview

Devils Backbone Brewing Co. operates a multi-location craft brewery and hospitality business featuring two physical pub locations (Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Nelson County, VA and Outpost Taproom & Kitchen in Lexington, VA), an on-site campground with diverse accommodation options (RV sites, tent camping, group sites, Three Ridges Haven lodging, and vintage Airstream), a craft distillery producing spirits (Danzig Whiskey, Wood Duck Bourbon, Fox Field Gin, Smash Vodka, Osprey Silver Rum, Raptor Dark Rum), and ready-to-drink sub-brands (SMASH canned cocktails and Tide Line Tea alcoholic iced tea). The company also offers merchandise, private event hosting, and camping reservations through its digital properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Danzig Whiskey: Award-winning whiskey spirit
• Wood Duck High Rye Bourbon
• Fox Field Gin
• Fox Field Barrel-Aged Vixen Gin
• Smash Vodka
• Osprey Silver Rum
• Raptor Dark Rum
• Tide Line Tea
• SMASH

Products and services

• Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows Flagship brewpub and headquarters location at 200 Crandall Run, Roseland, VA featuring 16+ taps, full bar, craft Distillery Lounge, Shanty Cigar Lounge, Summit merchandise shop, Meadows Outdoor Bar & Grill, and an adjacent 5-acre bier garden with seasonal live music. Serves adults 21+ seeking on-premise craft beer and spirits consumption with a seasonal smoked-meat menu.
• Outpost Taproom & Kitchen Taproom and kitchen at 50 Northwind Lane, Lexington, VA offering the full Devils Backbone beer and spirits lineup for on-premise consumption. Targets craft beverage consumers in the Lexington market.
• Devils Backbone Camp On-site campground at 30 Three Ridges Lane, Roseland, VA offering 30-Amp RV slips, full-hookup sites (30/50/110 electric), tent-only non-electric sites, group tent camping, and field tent/RV sites. Adjacent to a 5-acre bier garden and located 5 miles from Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail Reid's Gap trailhead. Targets outdoor recreationists and craft beverage enthusiasts.
• Three Ridges Haven Vacation Rental Vacation rental house at 203 Three Ridges Lane, Roseland, VA: 3,750 sq ft, sleeps 10, with 5 bedrooms (3 queens and 4 twins), 3 full bathrooms plus 1 half-bath, and Blue Ridge Mountain views. Targets families and groups seeking premium lodging near the brewpub and campground.
• Vintage Airstream Lodging One-bedroom Airstream accommodation near Basecamp with full kitchen, bathroom, outdoor living space, Smart TV, WiFi, and mountain views. Targets couples and small groups seeking unique overnight lodging.
• SMASH Canned Cocktails Ready-to-drink canned cocktail line built around Smash Vodka, sold at Devils Backbone locations and through retail distribution via Anheuser-Busch. Targets adult consumers seeking convenient pre-mixed cocktails.
• Tide Line Iced Tea (RTD) Ready-to-drink alcoholic iced tea line combining Smash Vodka with iced tea in Original, Lemonade, Peach, and Raspberry varieties, available in 4-pack and 8-pack formats. Targets adult consumers seeking sessionable flavored malt/RTD beverages at retail.
• Danzig Whiskey Award-winning whiskey from the Devils Backbone craft distillery, served at the Distillery Lounge and distributed through retail. Targets craft spirits enthusiasts.
• Wood Duck High Rye Bourbon High rye bourbon produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery. Targets craft spirits enthusiasts.
• Fox Field Gin Award-winning gin produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery. Targets craft gin and cocktail enthusiasts.
• Fox Field Barrel-Aged Vixen Gin Barrel-aged variant of Fox Field Gin produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery. Targets craft spirits enthusiasts seeking aged gin expressions.
• Smash Vodka Vodka produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery, used as the base for SMASH canned cocktails and Tide Line Tea. Targets craft spirits consumers.
• Osprey Silver Rum Silver rum produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery. Targets craft rum enthusiasts.
• Raptor Dark Rum Dark rum produced at the Devils Backbone craft distillery. Targets craft rum enthusiasts.
• Award-Winning Craft Beer (Bucks, Lager, Ales) Devils Backbone's core craft beer portfolio, with which the company has earned numerous accolades for its European-style lagers in an ale-dominated craft industry. Served on-premise at Basecamp and Outpost and distributed through the Anheuser-Busch retail network.
• Devils Backbone Merchandise Shop Direct-to-consumer online store at dbbrewingcompanyshop.com selling branded apparel and accessories. Targets craft beer fans and brand loyalists.
• Private Event Hosting Private event services at Basecamp and Outpost, including weddings, corporate events, and celebrations, featuring curated food menus, award-winning brews and cocktails, and event coordination booked through the Triple Seat platform. Targets event planners, couples, and corporate event organizers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 craft beverage producers within 20-minute drive, positioning company as hub on Nelson 151 craft beverage route

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stone Brewing Co. Large independent craft brewery with multiple brewpubs, taprooms, and a packaged distribution footprint — comparable on multi-location brewpub strategy and craft brand scale.
• Dogfish Head Brewery: Craft brewery and distillery with on-premise brewpub, packaged distribution, spirits (Dogfish Head Distilling), and an experiential hospitality focus — comparable across brewing, distilling, and destination hospitality.
• New Belgium Brewing: Acquired craft brewery (by Kirin-owned Lion) operating its own brewpubs, taprooms, and hospitality programs nationally with a multi-product beer portfolio and branded merchandise — strong comparable on craft scale and post-acquisition structure.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large, founder-led craft brewery with national distribution, on-premise brewpubs, and an award-winning portfolio spanning lagers, ales, and specialty beers — directly comparable in scale, craft credentials, and multi-channel go-to-market.
• 10 Barrel Brewing Co. ABI-owned craft brewery operating multiple brewpubs and taprooms with a focus on outdoor lifestyle branding — directly comparable as a sibling ABI craft brand with brewpub/hospitality emphasis and similar distribution model.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Craft brewery majority-owned by Heineken, operating taprooms and brewing a broad portfolio including lagers and IPAs — directly comparable as an internationally-backed craft brand with brewpub operations.

Regional players

• Starr Hill Brewery: Virginia-based craft brewery with taprooms, music venues, and packaged distribution — directly comparable as a same-state craft peer competing on the same regional consumer base.
• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Virginia-based craft beverage producer with a Nellysford taproom on the Nelson 151 corridor — directly comparable as a same-route destination beverage competitor.

Emerging players

• Cutwater Spirits: Craft distillery producing a full line of canned cocktails and spirits — closely comparable to Devils Backbone's SMASH and Tide Line Tea RTD strategy and its multi-spirit portfolio play.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams): Largest US-focused craft brewer with a multi-brand portfolio including Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly, and Angry Orchard — comparable at the portfolio level given Devils Backbone's own RTD and spirits extensions (SMASH, Tide Line Tea).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/devilsbackbonebrewingcompany
• Xx.com/dbbrewingco

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 Devils Backbone Brewing Co.