Rising Tide Brewing Company

What Rising Tide Brewing Company does

Rising Tide Brewing Company is an independent, family-owned craft brewery founded in 2010 in Portland, Maine, by husband-and-wife team Nathan Sanborn (Director of Brewing Operations) and Heather Sanborn (Director of Business Operations). It produces a portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and limited-release beers — including flagship Maine Island Trail Ale (a 4.3% session IPA), Daymark Pale Ale, Ishmael Copper Ale, and Zephyr IPA on the core side, with specialty releases such as Pisces (a gose brewed with harvested Maine seawater) and Hestia (a coolship spontaneously fermented ale with raspberries). Production runs on a 15-barrel brewhouse in a ~5,000 sq ft facility at 103 Fox Street, supported by a separate warehouse, with annual output of approximately 4,500 barrels as of 2021 and a crew of nearly 30. The company differentiates technically through a company-wide sensory quality control program and novel ingredient/method bets (locally-sourced grains from Maine Malt House, Buck Farms, Maine Grains, and Blue Ox; fresh hops from The Hop Yard; harvested seawater; coolship spontaneous fermentation).

The business operates across multiple consumer-facing revenue streams: on-premise taproom sales at the Fox Street tasting room (open 7 days/week, with patio); The Galley on-site kitchen offering elevated comfort food under a table-service model established during the COVID-19 pivot with Fire and Company; private event hosting (corporate, weddings, birthdays); a four-state wholesale distribution footprint across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; merchandise through online storefronts; and a Marina membership program offering discounted beer, pints, and merchandise. Distribution is intentionally regional to preserve freshness. Go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer experience, community programming (live music, Books + Beer book club, bluegrass nights, art markets, CSA), earned media (National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, Draft Magazine), and a long-standing Maine Island Trail Association partnership tied to MITA — with no traditional paid advertising and no outside investors, parent company, or institutional ownership on record. The company is privately held and has not raised institutional funding; financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Rising Tide Brewing Company

Legal name

Rising Tide Brewing Company

Website

https://risingtidebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rising Tide Brewing Company is an independent, family-owned craft brewery in Portland, Maine, producing ~4,500 barrels annually of year-round, seasonal, and specialty beers distributed across four New England states through its taproom, The Galley kitchen, private events, retail wholesale, and a Marina membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Independent brewery
• Taproom tastings
• Local sourcing ingredients
• Community events hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Premise Taproom Sales: Direct beer sales at the tasting room counter, patio service, and events. Table service model implemented post-pandemic. Includes sales of drafts, flights, and growler fills. Beer to-go also available.
2. Off-Premise Packaged Beer Sales: Sales of canned and bottled beer through retail distribution in Maine, NH, MA, and RI. Core beers packaged in 12 oz. four-packs; limited releases in 22 oz. bottles; barrel-aged beers in 375ml cork-and-cage bottles.
3. Food Service (The Galley): The Galley kitchen serves elevated comfort food including shareable bites, burgers, sandwiches. Full restaurant approach adopted post-pandemic with partner Fire and Company wood-fired pizza oven.
4. Private Events: Hosting of birthday parties, corporate socials, weddings, and other private events. Semi-private space for parties 8-40, East Room for parties over 40. Includes corporate events and non-profit socials.
5. Merchandise and Online Shop: Sales of Rising Tide branded merchandise including apparel, glassware, and other items through online storefronts.
6. Marina Membership Program: Annual membership program offering $10 four packs, $5 pints, and 20% off merchandise for members.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rising Tide Brewing Company is an independent, family-owned craft brewery that brews and packages a portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and limited-release beers using locally-sourced Maine ingredients. It operates an on-site tasting room and food kitchen (The Galley) at its Portland, ME brewery, distributes packaged beer to retail partners across four New England states, and hosts private events and a recurring Marina membership program.

Product overview

Rising Tide Brewing Company is an independent, family-owned craft brewery offering a portfolio of beers including core year-round offerings (Maine Island Trail Ale, Daymark Pale Ale, Ishmael Copper Ale, Zephyr IPA, Spinnaker Hefeweizen), seasonal releases (Cutter Imperial IPA, Nature's Gold, Pisces Gose), and limited/specialty releases (Hestia coolship beer, Atlantis Black Ale, Mockingfish). The brewery also operates The Galley, an on-site food service kitchen, and offers a membership program called The Rising Tide Marina. All beers are packaged in aluminum cans for sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maine Island Trail Ale (MITA) A 4.3% ABV session IPA with citrus, grapefruit, slight pine, and subtle mango notes, brewed in partnership with the Maine Island Trail Association (~$1 per case donated to MITA). Sold year-round as a flagship canned beer across New England.
• Daymark Pale Ale American Pale Ale featuring Centennial and Columbus hops with spicy rye from Valley Malt; named to Men's Journal's list of 'Great Beers You've Never Heard Of'.
• Ishmael Copper Ale A copper ale featured in the Wall Street Journal and named top beer of 2020 by Portland Press Herald; pairs with burgers and barbecue.
• Zephyr IPA IPA featuring notes of grapefruit, grass, and pear; referenced in Draft Magazine's profile of Portland's craft beer scene.
• Spinnaker Hefeweizen Summer seasonal hefeweizen from Rising Tide's core lineup.
• Cutter Imperial IPA Imperial IPA / Double IPA honoring hops with multiple late and dry-hop additions; seasonal return release.
• Nature's Gold Golden ale brewed with maple syrup from Balsam Ridge Christmas tree farm; the only Maine brewery participating in Maine Maple Sunday.
• Pisces Gose Tart and salty gose brewed with local Maine seawater harvested by employees via boat; featured in VinePair article on alternative water-based beers.
• Hestia Spontaneously fermented beer with raspberries, aged in a coolship using the traditional Belgian method of wild-yeast inoculation; second batch recently released.
• Atlantis Black Ale Black ale limited release from Rising Tide's specialty lineup.
• Mockingfish Limited-release beer named among the Top 25 Beers of 2015 by Draft Magazine.
• The Galley On-site kitchen at the brewery serving elevated comfort food including shareable bites, burgers, sandwiches, and wood-fired pizza (via Fire and Company partnership) to pair with the brewery's beers.
• The Rising Tide Marina Membership Annual membership program offering $10 four packs, $5 pints, and 20% off merchandise to members at the brewery.
• Private Event Hosting On-site hosting of birthday parties, corporate socials, weddings, and non-profit events; semi-private space for 8-40 guests, East Room for over 40. Includes on-site catering via The Galley.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% energy reduction through motion sensor LED lighting
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harvest Tide OrganicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program hosted at the brewery. Rising Tide customers and community members can participate in the CSA from Bowdoinham, ME.
• Maine Malt HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal malt supplier providing locally-grown and malted grains used in Rising Tide beers. One of several local grain suppliers.
• Buck FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grain supplier providing ingredients for Rising Tide's commitment to using locally-sourced malts in every batch brewed.
• Maine GrainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grain supplier supporting Rising Tide's farm-to-brewery model.
• Blue OxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grain supplier contributing to Rising Tide's use of locally-sourced ingredients.
• The Hop YardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGorham, ME hop supplier providing fresh hops for brewing whenever possible.
• Broadturn FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScarborough, ME flower supplier providing local flowers for the tasting room and private events.
• Hall Edge FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindham, ME farm receiving donations of all spent grain and unusable yeast for animal feed. Supports sustainability through waste reduction.
• Garbage to GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposting partner that collects all hop matter, food waste, and paper goods. Supports brewery's sustainability and environmental stewardship goals.
• CasellaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling management partner handling all recycling at the brewery facility.
• Maine Island Trail Association (MITA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner since 2012. Rising Tide brews Maine Island Trail Ale with portion of proceeds supporting MITA's stewardship of Maine's wild islands. One of MITA's largest corporate donors. Rising Tide crew volunteers annually on islands. Beer now available year-round, expected to significantly increase donations (~$1/case).
• Fire and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered during COVID-19 pandemic when Rising Tide pivoted to food service. Fire and Company owner Ryan Carey brought wood-fired pizza oven which was set up permanently at the brewery. Shifted to table service model, credited with keeping brewery afloat during pandemic.
• Print BookstoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPortland bookstore co-hosting monthly Books + Beer Book Club at the brewery. Joint marketing through newsletters and events.
• East Bayside Bluegrass CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bluegrass music collective that hosts Tuesday Bluegrass Nights at the brewery on a rotating basis.
• University of Southern MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality control internship partnership with USM. Rising Tide hosts quality control interns from the university.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lone Pine Brewing Company: Portland, Maine craft brewery with a taproom and retail distribution across New England. Closely comparable peer to Rising Tide in production scale, target market, and on-premise/off-premise split; both compete for the same Portland craft drinker.
• Marshall Wharf Brewing Company: Independent Maine craft brewery (Belfast, ME) with a taproom and regional distribution. Comparable on independent family/owner-operator model, craft brewing techniques, and regional New England footprint.
• Oxbow Brewing Company: Portland/Midcoast Maine craft brewery operating a taproom and regional distribution. Rising Tide's online shop is notably hosted at shop.oxbowbeer.com, suggesting a back-of-house e-commerce or operational partnership; both are small, independent, sustainability-focused Maine craft brewers with overlapping distribution and customer base.
• Foundation Brewing Company: Portland, Maine craft brewery known for IPAs and pales, with a taproom and regional distribution. Directly comparable peer — same city, similar production scale and taproom-led model, overlapping distribution channels and customer base.
• Austin Street Brewery: Portland, Maine craft brewery and taproom. Directly comparable to Rising Tide on Portland geography, small independent scale, and taproom-led go-to-market; competes for the same local customer and draft line pool.
• Maine Beer Company: Freeport, Maine craft brewery known for Lunch IPA and other highly rated flagship beers. Comparable to Rising Tide on independent ownership, regional New England distribution, flagship-driven portfolio, and craft beer enthusiast target customer.
• Allagash Brewing Company: Portland, Maine-based craft brewery and one of the most established independent craft brewers in New England. Closest direct peer to Rising Tide given shared Portland location, similar distribution footprint in New England, comparable taproom-plus-wholesale model, and direct overlap in flagship beer competition (Rising Tide's MITA beat Allagash Curieux in March Beer Madness 2014).
• Bissell Brothers Brewing: Portland, Maine craft brewery with a strong taproom presence and New England distribution. Directly comparable to Rising Tide on geography (Portland), business model (taproom + wholesale), and target customer (craft beer enthusiasts seeking flagship IPAs and pales).

Broad incumbents

• Harpoon Brewery: Boston-based craft brewery with New England-wide distribution, taprooms, and a flagship-driven portfolio. Comparable to Rising Tide on category (independent craft), taproom-plus-wholesale model, and New England footprint, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Shipyard Brewing Company: One of the larger and longer-established Maine craft breweries, with broader distribution across the U.S. and a wider product portfolio. Comparable as a Maine-based craft brewery serving similar customers and accounts, but operates at meaningfully larger scale and brand breadth than Rising Tide.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/risingtidebeer
• Instagraminstagram.com/risingtidebeer
• Xx.com/risingtidebeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rising-tide-brewing-company-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Rising Tide Brewing Company