The Brewing Network
The Brewing Network is a private multimedia company founded in 2005 that produces live "beer radio," podcasts, and video content for homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts, operating 14+ shows and funding operations primarily through listener donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Brewing Network does
The Brewing Network is a private multimedia company founded in 2005 that operates as the leading live "beer radio" platform for homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts. It produces and distributes live and on-demand audio and video programming through more than 14 branded shows spanning sub-niches such as wild and sour fermentation, homebrew judging, brewing science, commercial beer cloning, beer-and-food pairing, hop chemistry, and Spanish-language content. The core technology is audio/video podcast production coupled with live streaming (notably via Livestream) and a community forum; the platform does not rely on a proprietary software product but rather on content production, distribution, and community engagement.
The company serves a horizontal audience of amateur homebrewers, craft beer enthusiasts, and, to a lesser extent, professional brewers who appear as expert guests. Distribution is freemium across the globe: content is freely available via the company website, RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Livestream, and is supplemented by a blog, email newsletter, live chat, and an online community forum.
Monetization is diversified but small in scale. The primary revenue stream is a tiered recurring donation/membership program ranging from $5 to $100 per month (Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Ranger, and Colonel tiers), with all content remaining free to access. Secondary streams include Amazon Associates affiliate commissions routed through a BN-branded Amazon link, sponsorships from brewing-related companies (named sponsors not disclosed), and a small BN merchandise store. The company is privately held, has no institutional funding, no parent company, and no acquisition history, with founder Justin Crossley identified as host/producer.
The Brewing Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Brewing Network
- Legal name
- The Brewing Network
- Website
- https://thebrewingnetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Brewing Network is a private multimedia company founded in 2005 that produces live "beer radio," podcasts, and video content for homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts, operating 14+ shows and funding operations primarily through listener donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Brewing Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Podcasting and Craft Beer Media
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live Podcast Recordings (MPAGACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE), Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE)
Keywords
Where The Brewing Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Brewing Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Subscriptions: Recurring monthly donations from supporters at tiered levels ($5-$100/month) and one-time donations. This is the primary revenue driver supporting ongoing content production.
- Amazon Affiliate: The Brewing Network participates in the Amazon Associate program, earning commissions from qualifying purchases when users shop through their Amazon link.
- Sponsorships: The network has a dedicated sponsors page and accepts sponsorships from brewing-related companies.
- Merchandise Store: The BN Store sells merchandise related to the network and its shows.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time flexible donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private tier - $5/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Corporal tier - $10/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sergeant tier - $20/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Ranger tier - $50/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Colonel tier - $100/month |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Brewing Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Brewing Network produces and distributes live beer radio, podcasts, and video content aimed at homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts. Its content lineup includes 14+ branded shows covering brewing science, homebrew judging, commercial beer cloning, style-specific brewing, mixed fermentation, and craft beer interviews. The network is supported by listener donations, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and an Amazon affiliate program.
Product overview
The Brewing Network is a multimedia resource for brewers and beer lovers offering live beer radio and podcasts. The platform operates through multiple branded podcast shows including The Session (original beer radio), The Sour Hour (sour/wild beers), Dr. Homebrew (homebrew judging), Brew Strong (educational brewing science), Brewing With Style, Can You Brew It, The Jamil Show, The Home Brewed Chef, Bikes + Beer, Heads + Tails, Shinerunner, Entre Cervezas (Spanish-language), and Hop & Brew School. Additional offerings include BN Live streaming broadcasts, a community forum, blog content, merchandise store, and a tiered donation/membership program for supporter support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Session Flagship live beer radio show featuring professional brewers, interviews, and craft beer entertainment, covering specific brewing topics with world-class professional brewers as guests.
- Brew Strong Educational show tackling brewing science topics including water chemistry, fermentation, recipe formulation, and brewing techniques with expert guests like John Palmer and John Blichmann.
- The Sour Hour Show focused on sour, wild, and farmhouse beers, featuring interviews with brewers specializing in mixed fermentation and barrel-aged beers.
- Dr. Homebrew Homebrew judging show where BJCP judges evaluate listener-submitted homebrew recipes and commercial calibration beers.
- Can You Brew It Show where hosts attempt to clone famous commercial beers and analyze what makes them unique.
- The Jamil Show Hosted by Jamil Zainasheff, featuring in-depth discussions on brewing techniques and beer styles.
- BN Live (Live Streaming) Live audio and video streaming service providing real-time broadcasts with interactive audience participation through chat and call-ins, distributed via Livestream.com.
- BN Store Online merchandise store selling Brewing Network-branded apparel and merchandise for listeners and supporters.
- Donation/Membership Program Tiered recurring monthly donation program with five levels (Private $5, Corporal $10, Sergeant $20, Ranger $50, Colonel $100) providing supporter recognition and funding ongoing content production, plus one-time flexible donations.
- BN Community Forum Online community forum for brewer discussions, peer support, and listener engagement with The Brewing Network.
Companies that use The Brewing Network
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Brewing Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Brewing Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AmazonminorThe Brewing Network participates as an Amazon Associate, earning commissions from qualifying purchases when users access Amazon through their referral links on the site. This affiliate arrangement provides a minor revenue stream.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Brewing Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine: A leading craft beer media brand covering brewing techniques, recipes, and culture across print, digital, and podcast — directly comparable in mission and audience to The Brewing Network.
- BeerAdvocate: A craft beer ratings and community platform with editorial content, events, and forums serving the same homebrewer and craft beer enthusiast base as The Brewing Network.
- PorchDrinking: An independent craft beer media site producing articles, reviews, and podcasts aimed at craft beer enthusiasts and homebrewers — overlapping target audience and content format.
- Hop Culture: A craft beer media outlet producing editorial, podcasts, and event coverage aimed at craft beer enthusiasts — competing for the same sponsorship and listener dollars.
- The Full Pint: An online craft beer magazine publishing news, reviews, and lifestyle content for beer enthusiasts — comparable editorial scope and homebrewer/craft beer audience overlap.
- Brew Your Own Magazine: A dedicated homebrewing publication covering techniques, recipes, and equipment — the network's site directly links out to BYO subscriptions, reflecting an overlapping homebrewer audience.
Emerging players
- AHA (American Homebrewers Association): The leading membership organization for U.S. homebrewers; The Brewing Network explicitly funnels listeners to AHA membership, indicating they serve the same hobbyist base from a non-profit, membership-driven angle.
Broad incumbents
- Craft Brewing Business: A trade-focused media outlet serving professional craft brewers with editorial and podcasts — comparable content format but oriented to a B2B pro-brewer audience.
- VinePair: A larger beverage media company covering beer, wine, and spirits with professional editorial and podcasting — competes for craft beer mindshare and ad budgets with broader scale.
- Brewbound: A craft beverage industry trade publication covering business news, with podcasts and events — comparable media format but focused on commercial brewers rather than homebrewers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The Brewing Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe Brewing Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Brewing Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Brewing Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Brewing Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Brewing Network
What does The Brewing Network do?
The Brewing Network produces and distributes live beer radio, podcasts, and video content aimed at homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts. Its content lineup includes 14+ branded shows covering brewing science, homebrew judging, commercial beer cloning, style-specific brewing, mixed fermentation, and craft beer interviews. The network is supported by listener donations, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and an Amazon affiliate program.
Is The Brewing Network a public or private company?
The Brewing Network is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Brewing Network founded?
The Brewing Network was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Brewing Network based?
The Brewing Network is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Brewing Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are amazon Affiliate, sponsorships and merchandise Store.
Who are The Brewing Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, BeerAdvocate, PorchDrinking, Hop Culture, The Full Pint and Brew Your Own Magazine. AHA (American Homebrewers Association) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Craft Brewing Business, VinePair and Brewbound.
Does The Brewing Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Brewing Network.
What industry is The Brewing Network in?
The Brewing Network's product category is Podcasting and Craft Beer Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGACAJ, Live Podcast Recordings, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAA, Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing. Its NAICS code is 51611.