What Oskar Blues Brewery does

Oskar Blues Brewery is a U.S. craft beer producer founded in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado by Dale Katechis, with operations now owned by Monster Brewing, LLC. The company pioneered putting craft beer in cans in 2002 with Dale's Pale Ale, an innovation that reshaped industry packaging and is its defining brand asset. Today the company operates two integrated production-and-taproom facilities in Longmont, Colorado (opened February 2009) and Brevard, North Carolina (opened December 12, 2012), enabling nationwide canned beer distribution alongside direct-to-consumer taproom sales. The product portfolio centers on the Dale's sub-brand (Pale Ale, Light Lager, Easy IPA, Double IPA, American IPA, Mix Pack, Designated Dale's NA Pils) with additional core styles including Hazy Blues, Imperial Hazy Blues, Mama's Little Yella Pils, Mas Lima, TenFidy, Old Chub, BA TenFidy, and the rotating OB15 and Small Batch releases (over 1,200 unique beers produced since founding).

The company's go-to-market combines three channels: company-owned taprooms (on-tap beer, crowlers, growlers, merchandise, and food via the CHUB Wagon truck in Brevard), wholesale canned distribution through grocery and liquor retailers nationwide (supported by an online beer finder tool), and e-commerce merchandise via a Shopify storefront. GTM motion is primarily direct-to-consumer at the taproom level, supplemented by event-driven acquisition (live music, trivia, festivals, Spring Shakedown, USA Curling sponsorship) and community-led marketing through a brand ambassador program featuring outdoor lifestyle personalities. A sister brand, Wild Basin Hard Seltzer, extends the portfolio into the gluten-free hard seltzer category and shares taproom and case distribution. In March 2016, Oskar Blues acquired Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, FL) for an undisclosed amount, broadening its Southeast footprint.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across taproom transactions (per-pint, flights, to-go packages, kegs with 3-day advance notice), retail wholesale unit pricing, e-commerce one-time merchandise sales, and limited private event rentals. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for beer or kegs; taproom event VIP tickets and cheesemaking classes are priced at $40 per person. The customer base is horizontal — adult craft beer consumers and local taproom communities in the Longmont and Brevard geographies — with no enterprise or named-account concentration.

Name

Oskar Blues Brewery

Legal name

Monster Brewing, LLC

Website

https://oskarblues.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oskar Blues Brewery is a U.S. craft beer producer (founded 1997, Lyons, CO) that pioneered canning craft beer in 2002 with flagship Dale's Pale Ale. It operates two production breweries and taprooms in Longmont, CO and Brevard, NC, distributing canned beer nationwide and serving adult craft beer consumers and local taproom communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Canned craft beer
• Brewery taprooms
• Craft beer distribution
• Imperial stout IPA

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyons

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Sales (On-tap and To-Go): Direct sales of beer by the pint, flights, and crowlers/growlers at the two company-owned taprooms (Longmont, CO and Brevard, NC). Keg orders are also accepted with 3 days advance notice. This is the primary direct-to-consumer channel.
2. Retail Canned/Packaged Beer Distribution: Nationwide distribution of canned craft beer through retail channels including grocery stores, liquor stores, and other beverage retailers. Core brands include Dale's Pale Ale, Dale's Light Lager, Dale's Double IPA, and seasonal/limited releases.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store selling branded apparel and goods through the company's e-commerce platform at store.oskarblues.com, powered by Shopify.
4. Private Events and Venue Rentals: The taprooms offer private event and space rental options for parties and gatherings, with dedicated contact channels for booking at both locations.
5. Food and Beverage at Taprooms: The Brevard location operates the CHUB Wagon food truck serving burgers and fries. The Longmont location hosts rotating food trucks and offers pre-packaged snacks. Food service drives additional per-customer revenue at taprooms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Oskar Blues Brewery is a craft beer producer that brews and packages a portfolio of canned craft beers led by the Dale's brand (Pale Ale, Light Lager, Easy IPA, Double IPA, American IPA, NA Pils). The company operates two production breweries with attached taprooms in Longmont, CO and Brevard, NC, selling beer on-tap, to-go packages, kegs, and merchandise directly to consumers, while also distributing canned beer nationwide through retail channels. In 2002, Oskar Blues pioneered putting craft beer in cans, a packaging innovation it still leads with today.

Product overview

Oskar Blues Brewery is a craft beer producer offering a portfolio of canned craft beers led by the Dale's sub-brand (Dale's Pale Ale, Dale's Light Lager, Dale's Easy IPA, Dale's Double IPA, Dales American IPA, Designated Dale's NA Pils, and Dale's Mix Pack), alongside other core styles (Hazy Blues, Imperial Hazy Blues, Mama's Little Yella Pils, Mas Lima, TenFidy, Old Chub, BA TenFidy, OB15, and Small Batch rotating releases). The company operates two taproom locations (Longmont, CO and Brevard, NC) with on-site production facilities, an e-commerce store for merchandise, and a sister brand Wild Basin Hard Seltzer. Oskar Blues pioneered canned craft beer in 2002 and continues to deliver fresh craft beer across the country from its original 1997 founding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dale's: Flagship beer brand featuring Dale's Pale Ale, Dale's Double IPA, Dale's Light Lager, and related variants.
• Wild Basin Hard Seltzer

Products and services

• Dale's Pale Ale The flagship American Pale Ale with malty aroma, strong dank piney hops, bitter and caramel malty flavor with piney citrus hop body, finishing sweet, tangy and slightly dry. Brewed with Cascade, Centennial, and Comet hops.
• Dale's Light Lager A crisp American Light Lager with subtle malt and grain aroma, mild floral hops, and light honeysuckle character providing unique complexity on a simple backdrop.
• Dale's Easy IPA An easy-drinking IPA with tropical and citrus notes from Eldorado, Citra, and Mosaic hops. Features light bitterness, effervescent mouthfeel, substantial body, and clean dry refreshing finish. 4.9% ABV.
• Dale's Double IPA A bold American Double IPA with pine, citrus, peach, and melon aroma and flavor. Features fruit and graham cracker notes with medium-bodied sweetness and balancing bitterness. 9% ABV.
• Dales American IPA A classic West Coast-style American IPA chock full of citrusy, herbal, and fresh pine notes. Brewed with Chinook, Citra, Simcoe, and Strata hops. 6.9% ABV.
• Designated Dale's NA Pils A non-alcoholic Pilsner with crisp and floral hop aromas, hints of lemon and pear, supported by the lightest Pilsner malt backbone. 0.0% ABV.
• Dale's Mix Pack A variety pack featuring Dale's Pale Ale (original craft beer in a can), Dale's Double IPA (aggressively hopped American Double IPA), and Dale's Light Lager (crisp clean American Light Lager).
• Hazy Blues A juicy IPA with layers of velvety fluffy flavors built from Galaxy, Citra, and Strata hops. Delivers fruit basket of aromas including passionfruit, citrus, strawberry, and peach on a balanced pillowy malt base. 7% ABV.
• Imperial Hazy Blues An Imperial Juicy IPA (DIPA) with Southern Passion whirlpool hops leading ripe tropical fruit on the nose, followed by Mandarina, Citra and Strata dry hopping for ripe citrus flavors. Made with wheat, oats, and London III yeast for softness. 9.5% ABV.
• Mama's Little Yella Pils A crisp Saaz-and-Aramis hopped easy-drinker with herbal lemony hop flavors supported by a clean honey-and-bread malt base. 4.7% ABV.
• Mas Lima A Salt & Lime Lager that transports drinkers south of the border with an ice cold crispy beer with hint of salt and lime. 5% ABV.
• OB15

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200+ unique beers brewed since founding in 1997
• +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

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Noblebrau BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOskar Blues collaborated with Noblebrau Brewing to create a limited-edition collaboration beer released at the WNCW 88.7 Listener Appreciation Party in Brevard, NC. The collab beer was crafted specifically to raise money for WNCW independent radio station.
• USA CurlingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOskar Blues is the Official Beer of USA Curling. The partnership is framed around shared values of precision, patience, community, and craft. The company promotes curling through its website and links to curling clubs, positioning Dale's Pale Ale alongside the sport.
• Wild Basin Hard SeltzerminorOthersWild Basin Hard Seltzer is described as a sister brand of Oskar Blues Brewery on the main website footer. Wild Basin offers gluten-free and vegan hard seltzer options and is available at Oskar Blues taprooms. The brand is separately owned but shares distribution and taproom presence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Boston Beer Company: Large independent U.S. brewer (Sam Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea) with national distribution. Larger-scale comparator operating in overlapping craft and beyond-beer categories.

Direct peers

• Great Divide Brewing Company: Denver-based craft brewery distributing across the U.S. with taproom presence. Similar mid-tier craft scale and hop-forward brand positioning as Oskar Blues.
• New Belgium Brewing: Colorado-based craft brewer with national distribution and a flagship pale ale (Fat Tire). Directly comparable to Oskar Blues in category, scale, and outdoor lifestyle positioning.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: National craft brewer with IPA-led portfolio, taproom presence, and wholesale distribution. Similar size and channel structure to Oskar Blues, now operating under Heineken ownership.
• Avery Brewing Company: Boulder, Colorado craft brewery with national canned distribution and taproom experience. Directly comparable in scale, hop-forward portfolio, and Colorado craft identity.
• Stone Brewing: California craft brewer known for hop-forward IPAs and bold packaging, with on-site taprooms and broad retail distribution. Comparable in style and channel mix to Oskar Blues.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pioneering U.S. craft brewer with nationwide canned distribution and multiple taproom locations. Closely comparable in product mix, distribution model, and operational scale.
• Cigar City Brewing: Tampa-based craft brewery acquired by Oskar Blues in 2016. Direct peer as a wholly-owned subsidiary with shared distribution and similar hop-forward style portfolio.
• Breckenridge Brewery: Colorado craft brewer with national distribution and taprooms, now owned by AB InBev. Comparable regional craft player with overlapping product line and Denver-Colorado roots.

Emerging players

• Allagash Brewing Company: Independent craft brewer with national distribution focused on Belgian-style and specialty beers. Comparable mid-sized independent craft player with similar direct-distribution ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OskarBluesNC
• Instagraminstagram.com/oskarblueswnc
• Xx.com/oskarblues

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oskar Blues Brewery