Saugatuck Brewing Company

What Saugatuck Brewing Company does

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a Michigan craft brewery founded in 2005 and headquartered at 2948 Blue Star Highway in Douglas. The company operates a 45-barrel Brew System with 960 barrels of fermentation space and capacity to age more than 400 wood barrels at a time, housed in a 25,000-square-foot facility that was renovated from a former stamping factory in 2008. Its beer portfolio includes year-round flagships (Neapolitan Milk Stout, Oval Beach Blonde, Peanut Butter Porter, Hazy Duck IPA, Rainbow Rodeo IPA, Bonfire Brown, Cottonmouth Crusher, Maggie's Irish Ale), seasonal and conservation releases (Lake Street Light, Blueberry Lemonade Shandy, Blood Orange Oval Beach Blonde), bourbon barrel-aged variants of the Neapolitan series aged for 9 months, and IPA, Stout, and Shandy variety packs. Beyond beer production, the company operates brewpub taprooms in Douglas (headquarters, with 31+ rotating taps), Kalamazoo, and Creston (referred to as Golden Age at Creston), and maintains distribution across 13 U.S. states (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland) and three international markets (Canada, United Kingdom, Ukraine).

The business runs a hybrid revenue model combining direct-to-consumer on-premise brewpub sales (beer, food, cocktails, and wine), wholesale packaged-beer distribution, ancillary fee-based services (Brew On Premise experience at $325 for Mug Club members and $375 for the public, producing 60+ custom-labeled 22oz bottles; Barrel Room private event rental at 65-person capacity with $30-per-person food packages), and merchandise and gift card sales. The Mug Club loyalty program introduces a subscription pricing layer with annual cadence offering daily pour discounts ($1 off 10oz and 16oz pours), growler discounts, birthday gift certificates, and exclusive appreciation days. Distribution is executed through a hybrid channel architecture: direct brewpub sales, wholesale across the 13-state and 3-country distributor network, online ordering through Toasttab for Douglas pickup, and the experiential Brew On Premise channel.

Customer segments include local craft beer enthusiasts in Lake Michigan shoreline communities, regional packaged-beer buyers, Mug Club loyalty members, and Brew On Premise experiential customers. Marketing emphasizes earned media across regional outlets (WXYZ 7, Detroit Free Press, MLive, ABC7 Chicago, WOODTV), organic social on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, an email newsletter, and conservation partnerships — most prominently with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for lake sturgeon habitat restoration funded by Lake Street Light sales, alongside collaborations with Ferris Coffee and Habitat Kent.

Name

Saugatuck Brewing Company

Legal name

Saugatuck Brewing Company

Website

https://saugatuckbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a Michigan craft brewery operating brewpubs in Douglas, Kalamazoo, and Creston, distributing packaged beer across 13 U.S. states plus Canada, the UK, and Ukraine, with a distinctive Brew On Premise experience program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Manufacturing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewpub operations
• Barrel-aged beers
• Beer distribution
• Craft brewery experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Douglas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brewpub On-Premise Sales: Direct sales of beer, food, cocktails, and wine at their Douglas Pub & Barrel Room location. The brewpub offers a full food menu, cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages alongside their craft beer selection.
2. Packaged Beer Distribution: Distribution of canned and bottled beer to retail locations across 13 U.S. states and 3 international markets (Canada, United Kingdom, Ukraine). Products include year-round staples, seasonal releases, barrel-aged beers, and variety packs.
3. Brew On Premise Experience: Fee-based experience where customers brew their own beer at the facility. Produces 60 bottles of custom-labeled beer. Additional revenue from bottle deposits, tax, and optional custom labels or specialty ingredients.
4. Private Event Venue Rental: Rental of the Barrel Room (65-person capacity) for private events with customizable food packages and beverage service. Variable pricing based on date, length, and additional needs.
5. Merchandise and Gift Cards: Sale of SBC branded merchandise including clothing and accessories through their online store. Gift cards available for purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a craft brewery that manufactures and distributes a portfolio of beers including IPAs, stouts, porters, shandies, and barrel-aged variants through wholesale distribution to 13 U.S. states and 3 international markets. The company also operates brewpubs (Douglas, Kalamazoo, Creston) serving beer, food, and cocktails, and offers a unique Brew On Premise program where customers brew their own beer on professional equipment.

Product overview

Saugatuck Brewing Company is a craft brewery and brewpub operating a 45-barrel brew system with 960 barrels of fermentation space and capacity for 400+ wood barrels. The company produces a portfolio of core beers including IPAs (Hazy Duck, Rainbow Rodeo), stouts (Neapolitan Milk Stout, Espresso Tini Coffee Stout), porters (Peanut Butter Porter), shandies (Blueberry Lemonade), and blonde ales. The portfolio includes barrel-aged variants (BA Neapolitan series aged 9 months in bourbon barrels) and variety packs (IPA, Shandy, Cabin Warmer). Beyond beer production, SBC operates a brewpub taproom in Douglas, MI with full food service, offers a unique Brew On Premise program (only in Michigan), runs a Mug Club loyalty program, and provides event venue rental through the Barrel Room.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brew On Premise Unique program allowing customers to brew their own beer at the brewery using professional equipment, recipes, and expert guidance. Produces 60+ 22oz bottles. Customers can create custom labels. Available 7 days a week by appointment. Only brewery in Michigan with this program. Mug Club members pay $325, public pays $375 plus tax and bottle deposit.
• Barrel Room Private Event Venue Private event space at Douglas location with 65-person capacity, featuring games (skee ball, shuffle board, darts), live music, and customizable food packages (Taco Bar, Mediterranean Bar, BBQ Bar at $30 per person). Rental fees vary by date, length, and additional needs.
• Douglas Pub & Barrel Room Brewpub Brewpub location in Douglas, MI housing the 45-barrel brewing system, 960 barrels of fermentation space, and 400+ wood barrels for aging. Features full food menu, craft beer with 31+ rotating taps, cocktails, wine, Barrel Room event space, and games. Open daily 11:30am-8:30pm.
• Lake Street Light Crisp, easy-drinking lager with only 96 calories. Supports lake sturgeon conservation in partnership with Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A portion of every can sold directly funds habitat restoration efforts. ABV 4.3%.
• Neapolitan Milk Stout Creamy milk stout with flavors of Neapolitan Ice Cream - chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Award-winning stout with multiple medals including 2014 Grand National Champion Stout and 2017 Silver Medal at Dublin Craft Beer Cup. ABV 6%, available year round.
• Blueberry Lemonade Shandy Variety Pack 12-can variety pack with 3 cans each of Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Lemonade, and Black Cherry Lemonade Shandy. Light, refreshing radler-style beers with tart lemonade and fruit flavors, inspired by Michigan Fruit Belt.
• Cabin Warmer Variety Pack Winter variety pack with 3 cans each of Blueberry Maple Stout, Neapolitan Milk Stout, G.O.A.T Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Porter.
• IPA Variety Pack 4 unique IPA styles with 3 cans each: Backyard IPA (sessionable with Michigan honey), Hazy Duck IPA (citrusy haze), Rainbow Rodeo IPA (fruit-forward hops), and Melon Ball IPA (juicy melon and citrus).
• Hazy Duck IPA Fruity and slightly bitter IPA. ABV 7.5%. Core IPA offering in the Saugatuck portfolio.
• Blood Orange Oval Beach Blonde Ale Blonde ale brewed with blood oranges. Bright and flavor packed. IBU 11. Available April-September as a seasonal offering.
• BA Neapolitan Milk Stout Imperial Neapolitan Milk Stout aged in bourbon barrels for 9 months. Features vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry Neapolitan ice cream flavors. Part of the Bourbon Barrel Aged Neapolitan Series.
• Espresso Tini Coffee Stout Coffee stout collaboration with Ferris Coffee using their flagship 1924 Espresso. Features velvety, rich coffee and chocolate with subtle vanilla notes. ABV 6%.
• Mug Club Loyalty Membership Annual membership program with benefits including $1 off 10oz and 16oz pours, $2 off growler fills, $1 off howler/crowler fills, $2 off to-go packs, two yearly appreciation days, Mug Club Mondays (first 2 pints $1 with 15% off food), $25 birthday gift certificate, and reduced rates on Brew On Premise ($325 vs $375).
• Merchandise and Gift Cards Sale of SBC branded merchandise including clothing and accessories through their online store. Gift cards available for purchase.
• SBC Kalamazoo Brewpub Second brewpub location for Saugatuck Brewing Company in Kalamazoo, MI, serving craft beer and food. Listed on the company's contact page as an active location.
• Golden Age at Creston Brewpub Third brewpub location referred to as 'Golden Age at Creston'. Press mentions the Creston Brewery reopening. Listed as a third location serving craft beer and food.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lake sturgeon conservation funding through Lake Street Light beer sales
• +1 more outcomes

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

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brewery VivantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Saugatuck Brewing Company and Brewery Vivant partnered to share a brewery facility in Douglas, Michigan through an Alternating Proprietorship agreement. This collaboration enables both breweries to maintain operational independence while benefiting from shared infrastructure, helping meet demand and reduce costs as a strategic response to industry challenges.
• Michigan Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for lake sturgeon conservation. Lake Street Light beer sales fund habitat restoration efforts for lake sturgeon populations - living fossils that have been swimming in Michigan waters since the age of dinosaurs. A portion of every Lake Street Light sold directly funds conservation efforts.
• Ferris CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Espresso Tini Coffee Stout using Ferris Coffee's flagship 1924 Espresso. The beer features velvety, rich coffee and chocolate with subtle vanilla notes.
• Habitat KentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrand Rapids-area breweries partner with Habitat Kent on building 5 homes, demonstrating community commitment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Founders Brewing Company: Grand Rapids, Michigan craft brewery comparable in scale, regional distribution, and broad portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers including stouts and IPAs. One of the most direct Michigan-based peers.
• Bell's Brewery: Michigan craft brewery (Comstock/Kalamazoo) with broad distribution, multi-state taproom presence, and similar multi-channel model spanning packaged distribution and brewpubs. Closest direct peer given overlapping Michigan footprint and portfolio breadth.
• Short's Brewing Company: Northern Michigan craft brewery with strong taproom presence, broad portfolio of IPAs and stouts, and a focus on seasonal/experimental releases. Directly comparable in Michigan craft positioning and brewpub-led go-to-market.
• New Holland Brewing Company: Michigan craft brewery and distillery operating a brewpub, broad distribution, and a diverse portfolio including stouts, IPAs, and barrel-aged series. Comparable in size, multi-channel model, and Midwest craft positioning.
• Brewery Vivant: Grand Rapids-based craft brewery with a taproom focus and a portfolio of Belgian-inspired and hop-forward beers. Direct peer by geography and brewpub model, and is SBC's facility-sharing partner via Alternating Proprietorship.
• Perrin Brewing Company: Comstock Park, Michigan craft brewery with a taproom, broad distribution in the Midwest, and a comparable portfolio of IPAs, stouts, and seasonal releases. Directly comparable in scale and channel mix.
• Dark Horse Brewery: Marshall, Michigan craft brewery known for bold stouts, IPAs, and a taproom-driven model with broad regional distribution. Comparable in product positioning and Midwest craft identity.
• North Peak Brewing Company: Traverse City, Michigan craft brewery with multiple taproom locations and broad portfolio of IPAs, stouts, and seasonal beers. Direct peer by Northern Michigan presence and brewpub-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing: Large U.S. craft brewery with national distribution, strong IPAs, and a robust taproom/brewpub model. A broader incumbent in the craft space that competes for similar consumers and shelf space as SBC, though at meaningfully larger scale.

Regional players

• Revolution Brewing: Chicago-based craft brewery with a taproom, broad Midwest distribution, and a comparable portfolio of IPAs and stouts. Regional peer given overlapping Midwest distribution footprint and brewpub-led model, though operating in Illinois rather than Michigan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbrewing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/saugatuckbrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/saugatuckbrewingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/saugatuckbrewingco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saugatuck-brewing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Saugatuck Brewing Company