Octopi
Octopi is a Waunakee, Wisconsin-based craft brewery and taproom, founded in 2014, serving local Madison-area consumers through on-premise sales and now operating as Asahi Group's U.S. brewing platform post-2024 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWaunakee, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Octopi does
Octopi is a craft brewery and taproom based in Waunakee, Wisconsin, operating since 2014–2015 and employing between 51 and 100 staff across brewing, hospitality, and event functions. Its core business is the production and direct-to-consumer sale of craft beer through an on-site taproom with indoor seating and a sizable outdoor patio, supplemented by rotating specialty and barrel-aged releases such as BA S'Mores Stout and Blueberry Cheesecake Stout.
The company also operates a taproom to-go cooler that retails product from other Madison-area breweries, and it has historically participated in regional craft collaborations such as the Untitled Art Invitational. From a technology standpoint, Octopi is a traditional physical brewing operation — its product is built on standard brewing processes and recipe development, with no disclosed proprietary technology platform, software stack, or AI/ML capability underpinning the business.
Following its 2024 acquisition by Asahi Group Holdings, Octopi's business model has expanded: it now contract-brews Asahi Super Dry for U.S. distribution at its Waunakee facility, layering a wholesale/contract revenue line onto its prior direct-to-consumer taproom model. Revenue is generated through on-premise beverage and food sales, packaged beer sales via the to-go cooler, event/corporate bookings, and — post-acquisition — contract brewing fees and distribution economics tied to the Asahi Super Dry brand. Customers are primarily local Madison-area consumers and private/corporate event groups, with Asahi functioning as a single large wholesale counterparty on the production side.
Octopi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Octopi
- Legal name
- Octopi
- Website
- https://drinkoctopi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Octopi is a Waunakee, Wisconsin-based craft brewery and taproom, founded in 2014, serving local Madison-area consumers through on-premise sales and now operating as Asahi Group's U.S. brewing platform post-2024 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Octopi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Brewery and Taproom
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)
Keywords
Where Octopi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waunakee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Octopi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- On-site food and beverage sales: Direct sales of brewed-on-site beers including IPAs, fruited sours, Belgians, Pilsners, sweet stouts, and seltzers, as well as Asahi Super Dry. Food sales from the full-service restaurant menu. Revenue generated through dine-in, bar purchases, and table service.
- To-Go and curbside sales: Retail bottle and can sales through an on-site to-go cooler, offering Octopi and Asahi beers along with products from other Madison-area breweries. Curbside pickup available through online ordering.
- Private event rentals and catering: Revenue from renting event spaces for private parties, baby showers, wedding receptions, corporate outings, and other social functions. Catering services available for events with various menu options.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Octopi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Octopi is a craft brewery and taproom that brews beer on-site and serves it alongside a full restaurant menu at its Waunakee, Wisconsin location. The company produces a variety of beer styles including IPAs, fruited sours, Belgians, Pilsners, sweet stouts, and seltzers, and also brews Asahi Super Dry under the Asahi Group umbrella. It supplements beer and food sales with private event rentals, catering, to-go retail, and recurring entertainment such as trivia and live music.
Product overview
Octopi is a craft brewery and taproom offering a unified hospitality experience. The core offering consists of on-site brewed craft beers (IPAs, sours, Belgians, Pilsners, stouts, seltzers) including Asahi Super Dry, served alongside a full-service restaurant at the Waunakee taproom. Supporting offerings include a To-Go cooler for off-premise sales, private event space rentals with full AV equipment, catering services with themed food stations, dine-in and curbside pickup menus, and recurring entertainment events like trivia nights and live music.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Octopi Taproom and Restaurant Full-service restaurant and taproom at 1131 Uniek Drive, Waunakee, WI, serving on-site brewed beers alongside a full food menu. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
- On-Site Craft Beer Selection
Companies that use Octopi
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Octopi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Octopi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Asahi Group / Asahi Beer USAflagshipAsahi Group acquired Octopi Brewing as part of consolidation activity in the non-alcoholic beer market. Octopi now operates as part of Asahi Beer USA, producing Asahi Super Dry on-site in Waunakee alongside its own craft beer offerings. The acquisition provides Octopi with access to Asahi's distribution network and brand support while maintaining its craft brewing identity.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Octopi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bell's Brewery: Major Midwestern craft brewery with taproom, event spaces, and broad distribution. Comparable as an established craft brand with similar hospitality component though at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
- Surly Brewing: Minneapolis-based craft brewery with large destination taproom, restaurant, and event venue. Comparable brewpub + events business model though at much larger scale.
- Founders Brewing: Large Midwestern craft brewery with taproom and event facilities. Comparable in operating model (brewery + taproom + events) though at significantly larger scale and broader distribution.
Regional players
- Third Space Brewing: Milwaukee-based craft brewery with taproom, food service, and event programming. Comparable brewpub model but located in a larger metro market than Octopi's Waunakee base.
Direct peers
- Lakefront Brewery: Wisconsin craft brewery operating a taproom with on-site brewing, full food menu, and event space rentals in Milwaukee. Directly comparable as a Midwestern craft brewery + taproom model with similar DTC focus.
- Capital Brewery: Wisconsin craft brewery in Middleton (near Madison) operating a taproom with on-site brewing, food service, and event hosting. Similar scale and operational model to Octopi's Waunakee facility.
- Ale Asylum: Madison-area craft brewery with on-site taproom and beer-focused hospitality. Operates in the same regional craft beer market as Octopi with a comparable brewpub-style model.
- Vintage Brewing Company: Madison-area brewpub combining on-site brewing with full restaurant service and event space. Directly comparable in offering mix and Wisconsin market positioning.
- Karben4 Brewing: Madison-based craft brewery with taproom serving own beers and food, hosting events and live entertainment. Closely comparable Wisconsin craft brewpub competing for similar regional customer base.
- New Glarus Brewing: Wisconsin craft brewery with extensive distribution and brewery-tour hospitality model. Comparable as a Wisconsin craft beer brand though at much larger scale than Octopi.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Octopi social profiles
Digital presenceOctopi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Octopi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Octopi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Octopi 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 Octopi
What does Octopi do?
Octopi is a craft brewery and taproom that brews beer on-site and serves it alongside a full restaurant menu at its Waunakee, Wisconsin location. The company produces a variety of beer styles including IPAs, fruited sours, Belgians, Pilsners, sweet stouts, and seltzers, and also brews Asahi Super Dry under the Asahi Group umbrella. It supplements beer and food sales with private event rentals, catering, to-go retail, and recurring entertainment such as trivia and live music.
Is Octopi a public or private company?
Octopi is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Octopi founded?
Octopi was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Octopi based?
Octopi is headquartered in Waunakee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Octopi make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. On-site food and beverage sales are the primary driver. The others are to-Go and curbside sales and private event rentals and catering.
Who are Octopi's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bell's Brewery, Surly Brewing and Founders Brewing. Third Space Brewing is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Lakefront Brewery, Capital Brewery, Ale Asylum, Vintage Brewing Company, Karben4 Brewing and New Glarus Brewing.
Does Octopi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Octopi.
What industry is Octopi in?
Octopi's product category is Craft Brewery and Taproom. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAF, Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages). Its NAICS code is 722410 and its SIC code is 5810.