Brew Export
Brew Export is a Michigan-based B2B services company that exports American craft beer to foreign distributors and retailers, integrating compliance navigation, cold-chain logistics, and international marketing support across roughly 150 U.S. breweries and 30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersComstock Park, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Brew Export does
Brew Export, founded in 2014 by Shannon Long in Michigan as an outgrowth of a Michigan State University international marketing capstone, is a privately held B2B services company that exports American craft beer to foreign distributors and retailers. The company does not brew, brand, or hold inventory of beer in the retail sense; instead, it operates as an intermediary that aggregates supply from approximately 150 U.S. craft breweries — a portfolio of over 500 SKUs ranging from blonde ales to IPAs, milk stouts, hard ciders, and gins — and delivers it into 30 countries via cold-chain, refrigerated-container logistics with warehouse consolidation.
Its core offering is an integrated services stack rather than a software platform. The stack has three pillars: compliance navigation (foreign import labeling, label translation and printing, TTB documentation, customs duties, certificates, licensing, lab testing), cold chain logistics (refrigerated containers, ocean freight, brewery pickup, consolidation, insurance), and international marketing support (price analysis, market selection, brand launches, partner selection, trade shows). The supporting surface is a five-language website (English, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish) and the Pure Brews America television property co-produced by Long, which aired 20 episodes on CBS featuring 70 craft breweries and won a Michigan Emmy Award in 2017.
The business model is transaction-fee and service-fee based. Revenue grew from $90,000 in 2017 to $800,000 in 2018 — nearly 9x in a single year — and the founder publicly projected revenue in excess of $4 million by 2021. The go-to-market is sales-led B2B targeting foreign beer distributors and retailers; anchor customers include BrewDog (UK, enterprise tier, with over 100 Midwest SKUs shipped) and three named Michigan breweries. Operations are organized under Brew Export LLC (USA) and the wholly-owned Brew Export UK Ltd. subsidiary established in Scotland in 2018. Headcount remains small at 1–10 employees, with stated plans to add up to five hires to support growth. No external institutional funding has been disclosed.
Brew Export firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brew Export
- Legal name
- Brew Export LLC
- Website
- https://brewexport.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Brew Export is a Michigan-based B2B services company that exports American craft beer to foreign distributors and retailers, integrating compliance navigation, cold-chain logistics, and international marketing support across roughly 150 U.S. breweries and 30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brew Export industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer Export / International Trade Services
- NAICS
- Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beverage Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale (AFAIAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Craft & Specialty Beverage Wholesale (Local/Artisanal) (AFAIAGAH), Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)
Keywords
Where Brew Export is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Comstock Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Brew Export business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Export Services and Commission: Brew Export charges for expert navigation services including compliance, logistics, and international marketing for craft beer exporters. Revenue generated through service fees and transaction facilitation for importing American craft beers into international markets. Grew from $90,000 in 2017 to $800,000 in 2018 with prediction of over $4 million in 2021.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Brew Export product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brew Export is a B2B export services company that helps American craft breweries distribute their beer internationally. It bundles compliance (TTB documentation, customs, labeling, licensing), cold chain logistics (refrigerated containers, ocean freight, warehouse consolidation), and international marketing (market research, trade shows, brand launches) into a single offering for foreign beer distributors and retailers. Its core asset is a consolidated portfolio of over 500 craft beer products from approximately 150 U.S. breweries, accessible to importers across 30 countries.
Product overview
Brew Export is a craft beer export service company that operates as a one-stop shop for foreign beer distributors and retailers importing American craft beers. The company provides an integrated suite of services including compliance navigation (foreign import labeling, TTB documentation, licensing), logistics (cold chain solutions, refrigerated containers, ocean freight), and international marketing (market research, brand launch, trade shows). The core product is the Brew Export Portfolio containing over 500 craft products from U.S. breweries. The company does not offer a software platform but rather professional services supporting the export/import process of physical beer products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brew Export Portfolio Consolidated catalog of over 500 American craft beer products from approximately 150 U.S. breweries, including blonde ales, milk stouts, hard ciders, IPAs, and gins. Offered as a one-stop import assortment to foreign beer distributors and retailers.
- Compliance Navigation Services Expert navigation of international alcohol regulations, including foreign import labeling, label translation and printing, TTB documentation, duty identification, certificates, custom documentation, import/export licensing, and laboratory testing for American craft beer exports.
- Cold Chain Logistics Services Temperature-controlled export logistics including refrigerated containers, container loading, brewery pickup, warehouse consolidation, ocean freight, and insurance for international beer shipments.
- International Marketing Services Marketing support including price analysis, market selection research, brand launch assistance, partner selection, trade shows, market visits, event coordination, and promotional materials for entering and maintaining export markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue grew from $90,000 to $800,000 between 2017-2018 (nearly 9x increase)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Brew Export
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Brew Export technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Brew Export partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BrewDogflagshipBrew Export ships over 100 different midwest beer products to BrewDog Bars throughout the United Kingdom. BrewDog is the UK's largest independent craft brewery based in Ellon, Scotland, operating 50 craft beer venues worldwide. This partnership represents a significant distribution channel for American craft beers in the UK market.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Brew Export competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shelton Brothers (Artisanal Imports): One of the largest U.S.-based craft beer importers/exporters, distributing American craft beer to international markets and importing specialty beers into the U.S. Brew Export competes for similar brewery supply partnerships and downstream foreign distributor relationships.
- Merchant Du Vin: Family-owned B2B craft beer importer founded in 1982, supplying American craft breweries to foreign distributors and on-premise accounts. Highly comparable to Brew Export in mission (specialty craft beer export services) and customer base.
- B. United International: Specializes in importing and distributing American craft and specialty beers to international markets. Overlaps directly with Brew Export on brewery-side sourcing and downstream foreign distributor relationships.
- Total Beverage Solution: U.S.-based importer and supplier of craft beer, cider, and specialty beverages to wholesalers and retailers. Comparable as a craft beer import/export intermediary, with overlapping product categories (beer, cider) and channel partners.
- 12 Percent Imports: U.S. craft beer import company distributing to domestic and international accounts, focused on small-batch and specialty producers. Closely comparable to Brew Export's niche, value-added distribution model for craft producers.
- Vine Connections: Importer and distributor of wine, sake, and craft beer from specialty producers to U.S. and international markets. Comparable as a B2B import/export intermediary serving both producer and distributor ends of the craft beverage value chain.
Emerging players
- Tavour: Craft beer discovery and delivery platform that aggregates U.S. craft breweries and ships to consumers domestically. Comparable as an aggregator/distribution layer between small U.S. craft breweries and downstream buyers, though its channel is direct-to-consumer rather than export.
Broad incumbents
- Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits: Largest North American beverage alcohol distributor with broad beer, wine, and spirits portfolios. Competes indirectly with Brew Export by offering international sourcing and large-scale logistics that smaller craft-focused intermediaries must match or partner with.
- Republic National Distributing Company: Major U.S. beverage alcohol wholesaler with broad beer, wine, and spirits offerings. Relevant as a large-scale incumbent whose logistics and trade compliance capabilities set a competitive benchmark for niche craft exporters like Brew Export.
Regional players
- Eurobrew: UK-based importer and distributor of American craft beer into the British market. Direct regional overlap with Brew Export's UK strategy, particularly the BrewDog channel, making it a head-to-head competitor for U.S. craft brewery supply into the UK.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brew Export social profiles
Digital presenceBrew Export financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brew Export leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Brew Export subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Brew Export funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brew Export 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 Brew Export
What does Brew Export do?
Brew Export is a B2B export services company that helps American craft breweries distribute their beer internationally. It bundles compliance (TTB documentation, customs, labeling, licensing), cold chain logistics (refrigerated containers, ocean freight, warehouse consolidation), and international marketing (market research, trade shows, brand launches) into a single offering for foreign beer distributors and retailers. Its core asset is a consolidated portfolio of over 500 craft beer products from approximately 150 U.S. breweries, accessible to importers across 30 countries.
Is Brew Export a public or private company?
Brew Export is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Brew Export founded?
Brew Export was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Brew Export based?
Brew Export is headquartered in Comstock Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brew Export make money?
One revenue line is on record: export Services and Commission.
Who are Brew Export's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shelton Brothers (Artisanal Imports), Merchant Du Vin, B. United International, Total Beverage Solution, 12 Percent Imports and Vine Connections. Tavour is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company. Eurobrew is listed as a regional player.
Does Brew Export have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brew Export.
What industry is Brew Export in?
Brew Export's product category is Craft Beer Export / International Trade Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAGAL, Beverage Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale, with a secondary code of AFAIAGAH, Craft & Specialty Beverage Wholesale (Local/Artisanal). Its NAICS code is 42481 and its SIC code is 5180.