What Cisco Brewers does

Cisco Brewers is a craft brewery founded in 1995 on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and currently operates as a subsidiary brand within Anheuser-Busch's Brewers Collective, following Anheuser-Busch's 2020 acquisition of Craft Brew Alliance (which had acquired Cisco in 2018). The company produces a diversified portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers including Cisco IPA (West Coast IPA, 6.2% ABV), Whale's Tale Pale Ale (English Pale Ale, GABF 2022 bronze medalist), Wandering Haze Hazy IPA, Gripah Grapefruit IPA, Shark Tracker Light Lager, Grey Lady Wheat Ale, Cold Wave American IPA, plus seasonal offerings (Summer Rays Golden Ale, Acktoberfest Festbier, Pint Break Double IPA) and partnership brews (Forever New England Gameday IPA with the Patriots, Defend the Fort Pilsner with the New England Revolution). Brewing production is based at a Portsmouth, NH facility, with brand operations at five company-owned brewpubs across New England: the original Nantucket location (which also houses Triple Eight Distillery and Nantucket Vineyard), Boston Fenway, Boston Seaport, New Bedford, and Boston Logan Airport Terminal B.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer on-premise sales (brewpubs, reservable Beach Shacks at Seaport, gift cards) with off-premise wholesale distribution to retail and on-premise accounts throughout New England and the northeast United States, supplemented by e-commerce (merchandise, Drizly delivery), brewery tours, and event-driven revenue (Cisco Stroll, summer concert series, charitable events). Revenue streams are diversified across packaged beer wholesale, on-premise taproom and food service, spirits and wine through co-located subsidiaries, private venue rentals, and branded merchandise. The company serves craft beer enthusiasts, New England sports fans, tourists visiting Nantucket and Boston, and on-premise accounts (bars and restaurants), with marketing centered on the Nantucket island heritage, coastal lifestyle branding, community events, and sports sponsorship.

Operationally, Cisco Brewers employs 101-250 people and runs active community and cause-based partnerships (OCEARCH, Surfrider Foundation, South Boston Neighborhood House, Nantucket Land Council) that support both brand equity and local engagement. The 2020 brand refresh, 2022 Patriots partnership, 2025 Revolution partnership, and 2026 introduction of Cisco IPA as the first namesake packaged beer and Beach Shacks premium experience indicate an ongoing offensive product and distribution strategy within the Anheuser-Busch distribution umbrella.

Name

Cisco Brewers

Legal name

Anheuser-Busch, LLC

Website

https://ciscobrewers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cisco Brewers is a 1995-founded Nantucket craft brewery, now a subsidiary brand of Anheuser-Busch's Brewers Collective, producing a year-round and seasonal beer portfolio distributed across New England through five brewpubs, wholesale, and sports partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewpub operations
• Craft brewery portfolio
• Beer distribution
• Seasonal beer releases

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantucket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Brewpub and taproom sales: Direct sales of draft and packaged beer at company-owned brewpub locations (Nantucket, Boston Seaport, Boston Fenway, New Bedford, Airport). On-premise consumption generates revenue from pints, flights, and food.
2. Off-premise beer distribution: Packaged beer (cans, bottles) sold through retail stores, grocery chains, and convenience stores throughout New England. Revenue from wholesale distribution to retailers.
3. Spirits and wine: Related products through Triple Eight Distillery and Nantucket Vineyard at same locations, including Triple Eight spirits and Nantucket Vineyard wines.
4. Beach Shack reservations: Reservable Beach Shack experiences at Seaport location generating rental revenue. $200 for 2 hours, $250 for 3 hours plus food/beverage tab.
5. Merchandise and gear: Online store selling branded merchandise, apparel, and gear through store.ciscobrewers.com.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cisco Brewers is a craft brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and partnership-branded beers (IPAs, pale ales, lagers, wheat ales) for consumer purchase. It operates five brewpub and taproom locations across New England where it sells draft and packaged beer, food, and reservable experiences such as Beach Shacks, while also distributing packaged beer through wholesale to retail and on-premise accounts in the northeast United States.

Product overview

Cisco Brewers is a craft brewery operating a portfolio of year-round and seasonal beer products distributed throughout New England and the northeast United States. The year-round core portfolio includes: Cisco IPA (flagship West Coast IPA), Whale's Tale Pale Ale (award-winning English Pale Ale), Gripah Grapefruit IPA, Shark Tracker Light Lager, Wandering Haze Hazy IPA, Grey Lady Wheat Ale, and Cold Wave American IPA. Seasonal offerings include Summer Rays Golden Ale (summer), Acktoberfest Festbier Lager (fall), and Pint Break Double IPA (spring), with partnership brews such as Forever New England Gameday IPA (Patriots collaboration) and Defend the Fort Pilsner (New England Revolution collaboration). The company also operates e-commerce through an online store for branded merchandise and gear, offers reservable Beach Shacks at its Seaport pub, provides digital gift cards, and runs a Beer Finder tool for retail location discovery. Cisco Brewers operates multiple pub locations across New England (Nantucket, Boston/Fenway, Boston/Seaport, New Bedford, Airport Terminal B) and provides tours of its facilities. The brand was founded in 1995 on Nantucket island and is now part of Anheuser-Busch's Brewers Collective.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cisco IPA First packaged namesake beer from Cisco Brewers; a modern West Coast IPA at 6.2% ABV and 40 IBU with vibrant aromas of grapefruit, orange, pine, and resin. Year-round offering targeted at craft beer enthusiasts.
• Whale's Tale Pale Ale Award-winning English Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV and 40 IBU, generously hopped and balanced with finest malts; fruity in aroma and copper in color. Won bronze medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival in the ESB category.
• Gripah Grapefruit IPA Grapefruit IPA at 5.5% ABV and 50 IBU combining zesty citrus with tropical hops; sweet yet tart, delivering a refreshing slice of island life.
• Shark Tracker Light Lager Light, crisp lager at 4.2% ABV and 13 IBU brewed in partnership with OCEARCH shark-tracking organization; Cisco Brewers makes an annual donation to support OCEARCH research.
• Wandering Haze Hazy IPA Smooth New England-style hazy IPA at 6.8% ABV and 50 IBU featuring a dynamic blend of Azacca, Citra, and Galaxy hops; juicy, tropical, and fruit-forward.
• Grey Lady Wheat Ale Slightly hazy wheat ale at 5.0% ABV and 15 IBU named after foggy Nantucket island; bright with citrusy flavor and suitable for any weather. Nominated for USA Today 10Best Best Beer Label in 2023.
• Cold Wave American IPA Cold-weather American IPA at 5.3% ABV and 40 IBU with aromas of fresh pine and citrusy hops; designed to embrace the season and awaken the spirit.
• Acktoberfest Festbier Lager German-style Festbier Lager at 5.9% ABV and 18 IBU named after Cisco's fall festival on Nantucket (ACK); delivers a smooth, malty taste.
• Summer Rays Golden Ale Summer seasonal golden ale at 4.4% ABV and 19 IBU brewed with Galaxy, Azacca, Saaz and Citra hops; hoppy, tropical, and best enjoyed at the beach.
• Forever New England Gameday IPA New England Patriots partnership IPA celebrating the tradition, legacy, and fans of the team; brewed with Amarillo and Galaxy hops, slightly hazy, at 6.0% ABV and 45 IBU.
• Defend the Fort Pilsner Traditional Czech Pilsner brewed in partnership with the New England Revolution soccer club; at 5.3% ABV and 35 IBU, bright, crisp, dry-hopped with New Zealand hops; named after the club's loyal supporters in 'The Fort' standing sections at Gillette Stadium.
• Pint Break Double IPA Spring seasonal double IPA at 8.7% ABV and 60 IBU brewed with Citra, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops; big, hoppy, fruit-forward, and well-balanced.
• Beach Shacks (Seaport) 10 reservable private outdoor Beach Shacks at the Seaport location. Each shack accommodates 6-12 guests with lounge seating, indoor nook, stage views, and bar access. Reservations at $200 for 2 hours or $250 for 3 hours, plus food and beverage on a group tab.
• Cisco Brewers Online Store / Gear E-commerce store selling Cisco Brewers merchandise and gear including branded apparel and accessories.
• Nantucket Brewery, Distillery & Vineyard Tours Tours of the Cisco Brewers, Triple Eight Distillery, and Nantucket Vineyard facilities, showcasing three iconic Nantucket producers sharing the same pure island water and founding philosophy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Whale's Tale ranked among top 3 in Extra Special Bitters category at 2022 GABF out of 63 entrants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New England RevolutioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2025Defend the Fort Pilsner partnership brew with New England Revolution soccer club. Traditional Czech Pilsner featuring club's bold red and blue colors. Name pays homage to loyal supporters in 'The Fort' standing sections at Gillette Stadium. Available at Gillette Stadium and throughout Massachusetts during 2025 season.
• South Boston St. Patrick's Day ParademinorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 March 2024Second year sponsoring the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2024. Participated with Duck Boat float and branded merchandise.
• Surfrider Foundation Cape & Islands ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2024Beneficiary of 'Surf's Up at Cisco' annual event. Mingle with local surfing legends, win surfboard, enjoy sunset and live music. Event kicks off June 24th.
• South Boston Neighborhood HousecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2023Charitable partner for Cisco Stroll events. Cisco donates $1 per pint sold during events. 2023 Cisco Stroll raised over $10,000. First Annual (2022) raised over $7,500. Multiple year partnership.
• Nantucket Land CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2023Charitable beneficiary of 6th Annual Trashion Show event, which raised over $17,000 total along with OCEARCH and The Greg Hill Foundation.
• The Greg Hill FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2023Charitable beneficiary of 6th Annual Trashion Show event, which raised over $17,000 total along with OCEARCH and Nantucket Land Council.
• OCEARCHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2023Shark Tracker Light Lager brewed in partnership with OCEARCH for shark tracking research. Cisco Brewers proudly supports OCEARCH with an annual donation. The partnership includes environmental conservation messaging with #DrinkBeerDoGood hashtag. Partnership part of Trashion Show event raising funds.
• New England PatriotscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 August 2022Forever New England Gameday IPA created in collaboration with the Patriots through partnership between Patriots and Anheuser-Busch. First craft beer collaboration for Patriots. Features Patriots throwback 'Pat the Patriot' logo on packaging. Available at Gillette Stadium and throughout New England.
• Green Mountain TapsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2022Custom tap handle created for Forever New England Gameday IPA, working with New Hampshire-based Green Mountain Taps.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Foundational US craft brewery with flagship year-round lineup and seasonal releases distributed nationally; comparable on portfolio structure, on-premise/retail strategy, and family-ownership-to-corporate history.
• New Belgium Brewing: Large US craft brewer (part of Lion/Kirin) with year-round IPAs/pales and national retail distribution; relevant comparable on craft brand scale, parent ownership structure, and portfolio breadth.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Heineken-owned (formerly AB InBev-distributed) craft brewer with broad national distribution and a similar IPAs-and-seasonal portfolio; comparable as a scaled craft brand within a multinational parent.

Emerging players

• Tree House Brewing Company: Massachusetts craft brewery with strong cult following and taproom-led model; competes for the most engaged New England craft drinkers and shelf space at premium on-premise accounts.

Direct peers

• Wachusett Brewing Company: Massachusetts craft brewery with regional New England distribution and on-premise taproom presence, competing for similar accounts and shelf space in the same geography as Cisco.
• Shipyard Brewing Company: Maine-based craft brewer with a comparable year-round and seasonal lineup distributed across New England, overlapping on-premise and retail channels with Cisco.
• Narragansett Beer: Heritage New England lager brand with strong regional presence in on-premise accounts (sports venues, bars). Competes directly for the same Northeast draft and retail occasion as Cisco.
• Allagash Brewing Company: Portland, Maine craft brewery (now part of Craft Brew Alliance alongside Cisco pre-AB) with strong New England distribution and a portfolio spanning pale ales, wheats, and specialty releases — direct peer on portfolio and region.
• Harpoon Brewery: Boston-based craft brewery with comparable New England heritage, multi-location taproom strategy, and broad year-round/seasonal portfolio. Closest geographic and operational analog to Cisco's brewpub-led model.
• Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company): Largest New England-rooted craft brewer with a comparable year-round flagship portfolio (Boston Lager, IPAs, seasonal) and significant on-premise/retail distribution. Direct competitor in the same region and on-premise accounts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ciscobrewers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Cisco Brewers