FX Matt Brewing Co

What FX Matt Brewing Co does

FX Matt Brewing Co, doing business as Saranac Brewery, is a fourth-generation, family-owned beverage producer founded in 1888 and headquartered in Utica, New York. The company manufactures and sells beer under the Saranac craft brand, the historic Utica Club mainstream brand, Saranac soft drinks (root beer, ginger beer, cream sodas), and, through the Right Coast Spirits joint venture and acquired brands 'Merican Mule and Flying Dog, spirits-based ready-to-drink canned cocktails and Italian Ice vodka freezes. Production is anchored in a Utica brewery that was expanded in 2019 for $56 million and includes an anaerobic digester (installed 2012 with NYSERDA) that powers roughly 40% of facility electricity from methane generated on-site, with a reported 99.2% waste recycling rate. New product launches include the Weekend Warrior mid-strength craft line (3% ABV, 2025) and expanded Italian Ice flavor SKUs (2024).

FX Matt sells through a hybrid model: wholesale distributors across the Northeastern US reach grocery, convenience, package stores, and on-premise bars and restaurants, while the company captures direct-to-consumer revenue via the on-site 1888 Biergarten & Tavern restaurant, taproom, and VIP brewery tours ($20/person), an e-commerce store for merchandise and steins (priced from $20 to $159.95), an annual $30 Schultz & Dooley membership with 10% discounts, and event-driven sales including concerts and the Boilermaker 15K road race. The company also operates a co-packing service under the fxmattbeverage.com brand. Customer segments span craft beer enthusiasts, value-conscious mainstream beer consumers, non-alcoholic beverage buyers, and on-site dining and entertainment visitors.

The company employs 101-250 people, is privately held with no disclosed outside institutional investors or parent company, and is led by Fred Matt (President) and Nick Matt (Chairman). It is ranked 12th largest US brewing company in the 2025 Brewers Association top 50. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed; the primary growth levers visible in the data are M&A (Flying Dog 2023, 'Merican Mule 2024), RTD category expansion, new product launches (Weekend Warrior, Italian Ice), and the long-running Northeast distribution franchise anchored by 138 years of brand heritage.

Name

FX Matt Brewing Co

Legal name

Saranac Brewery

Website

https://saranac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FX Matt Brewing Co is a fourth-generation, family-owned Utica, NY brewery (dba Saranac Brewery) producing Saranac craft beers, Utica Club, soft drinks, RTD cocktails via Right Coast Spirits, and operating the 1888 Biergarten & Tavern, distributing across the Northeastern US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Beverage manufacturing
• RTD cocktails
• Brewery hospitality
• Alcoholic beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Utica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beverage Sales: FX Matt generates primary revenue through the production and sale of beer and other beverages including craft beers under the Saranac brand, Utica Club beers, soft drinks, and RTD cocktails. Products are sold through distributors to retail accounts and directly through the taproom.
2. Merchandise Sales: The company sells branded merchandise including steins (Superhero Shultz & Dooley at $159.95, Classic Stein at $130.00, Mini Stein at $20.00, Penguin Stein at $40.00), glassware, and apparel through its e-commerce store and on-site at the 1888 Biergarten & Tavern.
3. Brewery Tours: VIP Tours of the brewery are offered at $20 per person, providing a 45-minute behind-the-scenes tour ending with a tasting of four different beers. Tours are booked via email and conducted on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Food & Beverage Service: The 1888 Biergarten & Tavern restaurant generates revenue through food and beverage sales to dine-in customers. The venue operates Wednesday through Saturday with full food menu, exclusive brews on tap, and cocktails.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FX Matt Brewing Co manufactures and sells a diversified beverage portfolio including craft beers under the Saranac brand, mainstream beers under the Utica Club label, non-alcoholic Saranac soft drinks, and spirits-based RTD cocktails ('Merican Mule, Right Coast Italian Ice). The company operates the on-site 1888 Biergarten & Tavern restaurant and taproom, offers paid VIP brewery tours, and sells branded merchandise including collectible steins. Distribution reaches consumers through wholesale partners across the Northeastern US and direct-to-consumer channels.

Product overview

FX Matt Brewing Co operates as a diversified family-owned beverage company spanning four generations since 1888, producing beer, spirits-based RTDs, soft drinks, and operating hospitality venues. The core beer portfolio includes Saranac year-round flagship brands (Pale Ale, Adirondack Lager, Legacy IPA, Clouded Dream), Utica Club historic beer line, and seasonal limited releases organized into the 12 Beers seasonal variety pack system. The Weekend Warrior mid-strength sub-brand (3% ABV) addresses growing demand for lower-alcohol craft options. The Right Coast Spirits joint venture, integrated with acquired brands 'Merican Mule and Flying Dog, extends the portfolio into spirits-based RTDs including Italian Ice vodka freezes and canned Moscow Mule cocktails. Saranac soft drinks (Root Beer, Shirley Temple, Ginger Beer, specialty cream sodas) maintain the company's legacy of non-alcoholic beverages dating to its Prohibition-era survival strategy. The company operates the 1888 Biergarten & Tavern hospitality venue offering food, beer, cocktails, and VIP brewery tours, plus merchandise including collectible Schultz & Dooley steins. The $56M brewery expansion completed in 2019 and subsequent acquisitions of Flying Dog (2023) and 'Merican Mule (2024) demonstrate strategic growth in both craft beer and high-growth RTD beverage segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Utica Club: Pilsner beer brand available in various formats including 12-pack cans, 24-pack loose cans, 6-pack bottles, 19.2oz single serve, and Light variant.
• Saranac
• Saranac Soft Drinks
• Right Coast Spirits
• Right Coast

Products and services

• Saranac Year-Round Beers Flagship year-round craft beer portfolio including Saranac Pale Ale (5.5% ABV), Adirondack Lager (1991 GABF Gold Winner), Legacy IPA, Clouded Dream IPA, and Can-Do Pack variety offerings, marketed to craft beer enthusiasts.
• Saranac Seasonal Beers Seasonal and limited-release craft beers including 12 Beers of Summer, 12 Beers of Fall, 12 Beers of Christmas variety packs, Blueberry Blonde Ale, Pumpkin Ale, and Caramel Porter.
• Weekend Warrior Mid-Strength Craft Beer Mid-strength craft beer line offering Hazy IPA and Craft Pilsner at 3% ABV, targeting consumers seeking lower-alcohol craft beer options for social occasions.
• Utica Club Beer Historic mainstream beer brand introduced in 1933 as the first beer sold after Prohibition repeal, available in multiple formats including Utica Club Light (3.4%), Utica Club 19.2oz singles, and 12/24/6-pack options.
• Saranac Soft Drinks Non-alcoholic beverage line including Root Beer, Shirley Temple, Ginger Beer, Diet Ginger Beer, Sparkling Lemonade, Orange Cream, and Black Cherry Cream, marketed to consumers seeking quality soft drink alternatives.
• Right Coast Spirits Italian Ice Vodka Freezes Adult frozen vodka beverage line featuring Italian Ice flavors including Lemon, Cherry, and Blue Raspberry vodka freezes at 7.5% ABV, sold under the Right Coast Spirits joint venture brand.
• Flying Dog Brewery Craft Beers Maryland-based craft brewery brand portfolio acquired by FX Matt in 2023, with production relocated to Utica, NY and brand presence maintained via a Maryland taproom and innovation brewery.
• 'Merican Mule Canned Cocktails Spirits-based ready-to-drink canned cocktails including Jed's Mule Kicker (7% ABV) and 'Merican Mule Light (4.5% ABV), vodka-based with ginger and lime flavors, integrated into the Right Coast Spirits joint venture.
• 1888 Biergarten & Tavern

Named customers3 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

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Flying Dog BrewerymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023FX Matt acquired Flying Dog Brewery, a longtime contract partner based in Maryland. All of Flying Dog's production moved to FX Matt facilities over summer 2023, with operations ceasing in Frederick. The acquisition provides Flying Dog with increased capabilities and flexibility in product development and adaptation to changing consumer preferences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Boston Beer Company: Largest US-owned craft brewer (Samuel Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard) with a diversified beverage portfolio spanning craft beer, hard seltzers, and RTDs — comparable to FX Matt's multi-category strategy but at significantly greater scale and public-company reach.
• Anheuser-Busch InBev: World's largest brewer with deep craft portfolio (Goose Island, Wicked Weed, Elysian, 10 Barrel) — competes with FX Matt for shelf space and distributor attention, and represents the scale ceiling that constrains regional brewer pricing power.
• Molson Coors Beverage Company: Major North American brewer with craft and import portfolio (Blue Moon, Leinenkugel's, Hop Valley, Saint Archer) and broad wholesaler relationships — comparable to FX Matt on portfolio breadth across mainstream and craft tiers and distributor-led go-to-market.
• Tilray Brands: Large multi-category beverage and cannabis company that has aggressively consolidated craft breweries (SweetWater, Breckenridge, Terrapin) — relevant as both a ranked comparator (cited in FX Matt's 2025 Brewers Association ranking source) and as a competitor for acquisition targets.

Direct peers

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pioneering US craft brewery with national distribution and strong sustainability credentials (on-site hop yards, solar, wastewater treatment) — comparable to FX Matt on craft brewing scale, sustainability focus, and family-ownership ethos.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: Craft brewery (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) with national distribution, strong sustainability positioning, and diversified beer portfolio — comparable to FX Matt's craft positioning and sustainability investments, now under Kirin ownership.
• Allagash Brewing Company: Maine-based, family-rooted craft brewery known for Belgian-style beers and strong sustainability practices (wastewater treatment, grain reuse) — closely comparable on regional Northeast base, independent ownership, and sustainability-led operations.
• Harpoon Brewery: Northeast-based regional craft brewery with on-site taprooms, brewery tours, and event programming — directly comparable to FX Matt on regional footprint (Boston/Northeast vs. Utica/NY), hospitality-led DTC, and craft beer portfolio.
• D.G. Yuengling & Son: America's oldest brewery (founded 1829), family-owned across multiple generations, operating a portfolio of mainstream and craft-adjacent beers with strong regional concentration in the Eastern US — closely mirrors FX Matt's heritage-led, family-controlled, regionally anchored model.

Regional players

• Troegs Independent Brewing: Independent Pennsylvania craft brewery with broad year-round and seasonal portfolio plus on-site tasting room and snack-bar operation — comparable regional craft + hospitality model, though concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic rather than NY.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/saranacbrewery
• Facebookfacebook.com/saranac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fx-matt-brewing-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FX Matt Brewing Co