Dry Dock Brewing

What Dry Dock Brewing does

Dry Dock Brewing Company is a Colorado-based craft brewery founded in 2005 by Kevin DeLange and Michelle Reding as Aurora's first craft brewery. The company's core offering is a portfolio of fruit-forward craft beers centered on apricot as a signature ingredient, including the flagship Apricot Blonde, Apricot Sour, Blood Orange Blonde, Tropical Sour, and Hopricot IPA, brewed from real fruit purees and sold individually or via an Apricot Variety Pack. Dry Dock has accumulated 28 Great American Beer Festival medals and 8 World Beer Cup awards since opening, establishing a strong brand asset within the Colorado craft segment. In 2026 the company extended into a new category with the launch of Docktails, a 9.5% ABV ready-to-drink canned cocktail line (Mimosa, Strawberry Basil Daiquiri, Blackberry Mule, Paloma).

The company's go-to-market combines on-premise taproom and pub sales (most recently the May 2026 opening of Dry Dock Pub in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood at 1101 South Pearl Street, replacing the original Aurora taproom) with wholesale distribution. Following the 2025 merger with Left Hand Brewing Co. and integration into the Left Hand Collective, Dry Dock's products are distributed across 23 U.S. states (CO, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NV, NY, OH, PA, SD, VA, WI, WY) plus international markets, a significant expansion from its original regional footprint. Revenue mechanics are entirely transactional: per-can/per-pint beer and cocktail sales, plus pub food and beverage service. The customer base is fragmented consumer end-demand across craft beer enthusiasts and homebrewer-adjacent communities, with no named enterprise accounts. As part of the Left Hand Collective, Dry Dock now shares ownership, distribution, and operational infrastructure with peer craft brands while operating its Denver pub as a direct-to-consumer retail anchor.

Name

Dry Dock Brewing

Legal name

Dry Dock Brewing Company

Website

https://drydockbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dry Dock Brewing is a Colorado craft brewery producing fruit-forward beers (flagship Apricot Blonde) and a ready-to-drink cocktail line (Docktails), distributed across 23 U.S. states and internationally via the Left Hand Collective after its 2025 merger with Left Hand Brewing Co.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverage Production (Canned Cocktails, Hard Seltzer) (AFAFAAAE), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Fruit-infused ales
• Ready-to-drink cocktails
• Brewery taproom
• Wholesale beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales: Sale of packaged and draft beer through distribution network and taprooms. Flagship products include Apricot Blonde, Apricot Sour, Blood Orange Blonde, Tropical Sour, and Hopricot IPA.
2. Taproom and Pub Sales: On-site consumption of beer, food, and Docktails at taproom locations including the new Dry Dock Pub in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood.
3. Variety Packs: Pre-packaged variety packs featuring multiple beer styles (Apricot Variety Pack with 4 cans each of Apricot Blonde, Apricot Sour, and Hopricot IPA).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dry Dock Brewing Company produces and sells a portfolio of fruit-forward craft beers anchored by apricot-based recipes (Apricot Blonde, Apricot Sour, Blood Orange Blonde, Tropical Sour, Hopricot IPA) and ready-to-drink canned cocktails under the Docktails line. The company brews on a 7-barrel system, distributes packaged and draft beer across 22 states via the Left Hand Collective wholesale network, and operates the Dry Dock Pub brewpub in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood serving its beers alongside a simple food menu.

Product overview

Dry Dock Brewing Company is a craft brewery that opened in 2005 as Aurora's first craft brewery, now part of the Left Hand Collective. The company offers a portfolio of fruit-forward beers centered around apricot as the signature ingredient, including Apricot Blonde (flagship), Apricot Sour, Blood Orange Blonde, Tropical Sour, and Hopricot IPA, sold individually or as an Apricot Variety Pack. Additionally, the company launched Docktails, a ready-to-drink cocktail line featuring canned cocktails at 9.5% ABV. The company operates Dry Dock Pub in Denver's Washington Park neighborhood and is transitioning its Aurora taproom operations. Distribution spans 22 states nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apricot Blonde Flagship 5.0% ABV blonde ale brewed with pureed apricots, pale malts, and a kiss of hops; aromas of fresh apricots, light malt flavors, subtle sweetness, and the brewery's most popular and most-awarded beer.
• Apricot Sour 5.0% ABV refreshingly tart beer balancing sour and sweet with apricot flavor and bright effervescence; tart take on the popular Apricot Blonde.
• Blood Orange Blonde 5.0% ABV slightly hazy orange-hued blonde ale brewed with blood orange puree, offering fresh-squeezed blood orange notes, subtle sweetness, and delicate citrus and hops on the finish.
• Tropical Sour 5.0% ABV sour beer combining passion fruit, orange, and guava flavors into a fusion of tropical fruits and tangy sour notes for a refreshing taste experience.
• Hopricot IPA 6.0% ABV IPA blending hop-forward bitterness with juicy apricot sweetness; vibrant citrus and tropical fruit notes balanced with a smooth, crisp finish.
• Apricot Variety Pack Fruit-forward variety pack with 4 cans each of Apricot Blonde, Apricot Sour, and Hopricot IPA—three refreshing takes on apricot as the brewery's signature stone fruit.
• Docktails Ready-to-drink canned cocktail line in 12oz cans at 9.5% ABV, including Mimosa, Strawberry Basil Daiquiri, Blackberry Mule, and Paloma—bold cocktail alternatives to beer.
• Dry Dock Pub Brewpub at 1101 South Pearl Street, Denver, offering Dry Dock beer, simple food menu, full food and drink service; hosts trivia nights and accommodates private events; open Sun-Thu 11a-10p, Fri-Sat 11a-12a.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gold medal at World Beer Cup for Amber Ale shortly after opening in 2005
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Left Hand Brewing Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDry Dock Brewing Co. completed a merger with Left Hand Brewing Co., forming part of the Left Hand Collective. This strategic combination has expanded Dry Dock's distribution capabilities to include international markets, significantly broadening the company's geographic reach beyond its original regional footprint.
• The Brew HutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brew Hut was the sister company founded in 1995 by co-founders Kevin DeLange and Michelle Reding to serve homebrewers. The success and community around The Brew Hut led directly to the founding of Dry Dock Brewing in 2005 when they expanded by cutting a hole in the wall to create a 7-barrel brewery and tasting room. The Brew Hut has operated for 30 years.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Larger California craft brewery with national distribution, a flagship lineup, and an emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Operates as a broader incumbent that competes for the same craft consumer dollar.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: Fort Collins craft brewery now owned by Kirin. Significantly larger than Dry Dock but competing in the same Colorado craft segment, with flagship brands like Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger distributed nationally. A larger incumbent that defines the regional competitive set.
• Left Hand Brewing Company: Longmont, Colorado craft brewery that merged with Dry Dock in 2025 to form the Left Hand Collective. Comparable scale and product mix, and now effectively the parent/partner entity that provides Dry Dock access to its distribution network.

Direct peers

• Breckenridge Brewery: Colorado craft brewery founded in 1990, now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Comparable scale and multi-state distribution, with a flagship lineup and brewpub operations in Littleton, Colorado. A direct competitor in the Colorado craft segment.
• Great Divide Brewing Company: Denver-based craft brewery with similar employee scale, multi-state distribution, and a focus on year-round flagship and seasonal beers. Operates a taproom in the Denver area and competes for the same shelf space and tap handles as Dry Dock.
• Odell Brewing Co. Independent Colorado craft brewery founded in 1989 in Fort Collins with comparable employee scale, multi-state distribution, award-winning portfolio, and brewpub/taproom operations. Closest like-for-like comparable in the Colorado craft beer landscape.
• Bell's Brewery: Michigan-based independent craft brewery of similar scale with award-winning portfolio and broad multi-state distribution. Comparable in size and brand maturity, and competes for craft consumer attention across Dry Dock's distribution footprint.
• Avery Brewing Company: Boulder, Colorado craft brewery with similar size, award-winning portfolio, and taproom presence. Now owned by Mahou San Miguel but operates as a comparable craft competitor with overlapping distribution geography.
• Oskar Blues Brewery: Colorado-origin craft brewery known for pioneering canned craft beer, now part of CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective. Comparable scale and product mix with multi-state distribution and taproom operations.

Emerging players

• Cutwater Spirits: San Diego-based ready-to-drink canned cocktail brand. Direct competitor to Dry Dock's Docktails line in the RTD cocktail category, with broader SKU coverage and national distribution through Anheuser-Busch.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/drydockbrewing
• Xx.com/DryDockBrewing
• Facebookfacebook.com/DryDockBrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dry-dock-brewing-co-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Dry Dock Brewing