Barebottle Brewing

Name

Barebottle Brewing

Legal name

Barebottle Brewing Co.

Website

https://barebottle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Barebottle Brewing is a San Francisco-based craft brewery operating five Bay Area taprooms, producing community-inspired beer, wine, and coffee for consumers, corporate groups, and homebrewing competitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AFAFABAK), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Craft taproom beverages
• Homebrew competition
• Craft wine production
• Specialty coffee roasting

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Premise Taproom Sales: Barebottle's primary revenue stream is on-tap beer, wine, and beverage sales across five Bay Area taprooms. Beer prices range $7-9/glass, wine $12-14/glass. Additional offerings include non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, kombucha, and soda. They also sell tasting flights (5 pours of 5oz).
2. Packaged Beer Sales: Canned and bottled beer sold for off-premise consumption. Includes 4-packs, growler fills, and crowler fills. Their flagship Muir Woods IPA is available in cans. Beer prices $7-9 each.
3. Wine Sales: Since 2019, Barebottle has produced and sold its own wines (Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Blanc De Noir, Cab Franc, Albariño) from Anderson Valley, Livermore/Amador, and Santa Barbara. Due to their Type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license, they can only serve their own beer and self-made wine.
4. Coffee Program: Barebottle roasts its own coffee beans with a rotating selection (Guatemalan HueHueTenango, Ethiopian Kayon Mountain, among others). Coffee is sold as a standalone retail product and used as an ingredient in some beers.
5. Private Event Reservations: Revenue from booking reserved private spaces at taprooms for groups of 10 to 500+ people. A reservation fee is charged to book the space (separate from food/beverage minimums). Spaces include picnic tables, high tops, lounges, outdoor patios, and full taproom buyouts.
6. Corporate Experience Packages: Three structured experience packages sold to corporate teams: Beer Happy Hour ($100/participant + optional $3,000 founder-led instruction), Deluxe Happy Hour ($250/participant, all-inclusive with beer/wine/coffee/merch/shipping), and Tasting & Homebrew Class ($300/participant + optional $1,500 guided instruction, includes brewing equipment shipped).
7. ProAm Homebrew Invitational Entry Fees: Homebrewers in the SF Bay Area's 9 counties pay $12 per entry to compete in the annual ProAm Invitational. Entries are judged in May and the winning beer is commercially brewed by Barebottle and entered at GABF 2026 in Denver. Drop-off and shipping logistics are managed across all five taproom locations.
8. Gift Cards: Barebottle sells gift cards redeemable at all locations through Square. This drives prepaid revenue and customer acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barebottle Brewing is a craft brewery that manufactures and sells beer, wine, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages through five owned Bay Area taprooms. Its signature process is crowd-inspired brewing: local homebrewers submit recipes to the annual ProAm Homebrew Invitational, finalist beers are pilot-brewed at the brewery, the public votes for the winner, and that beer is commercially produced and entered at the Great American Beer Festival. The company also produces native-fermentation wines from California AVAs, small-batch roasted coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages, and serves them alongside food at its taprooms.

Product overview

Barebottle Brewing is a San Francisco-based craft brewery founded in 2016 by Lester Koga, Michael Seitz, and Ben Sterling. The company operates a portfolio of products including flagship beers (Muir Woods Hazy IPA, Hella Hetchy Pilsner), seasonal rotating beers (Galaxy Dust, The Unsinkable Tartanic, West Coast Splash, Very Best Bad Things, Unicorn Dust, Wonder Dust, Working 9 to Stein), wines produced via native fermentation since 2019, and non-alcoholic beverages including coffee and kombucha. The company offers taproom experiences with food (Detroit-style pizzas, empanadas) across 5 Bay Area locations (Bernal Heights, Salesforce Park, Santa Clara, Menlo Park, Walnut Creek). Services include homebrew recipe sharing, Beer Happy Hour experiences, Deluxe Happy Hour packages, Tasting & Homebrew Classes, and the annual ProAm Homebrew Invitational competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Muir Woods Hazy IPA Flagship hazy IPA brewed with Citra, Centennial, Falconers Flight, Azacca, and Amarillo hops. Notes of piney hops, citrus zest, and earthy undertones. Named after Muir Woods National Monument. Sold year-round on tap and in cans across all five taprooms.
• Hella Hetchy Pilsner Flagship Yosemite-style Pilsner brewed with Hetch Hetchy water from Yosemite reservoir. Smooth, crisp flavor profile with golden hue. Sold year-round across Barebottle taprooms.
• Galaxy Dust Hazy IPA Seasonal hazy IPA brewed with Galaxy and Strata hops at 6.80% ABV, featuring tropical and fruity hop characteristics.
• The Unsinkable Tartanic Sour Ale Seasonal fruited kettle sour ale brewed with passionfruit puree, black currant puree, and vanilla bean at 6.0% ABV using Lallemand Sourvisiae and East Coast yeast.
• West Coast Splash IPA Seasonal West Coast IPA featuring Strata and Simcoe hops at 7.1% ABV with classic West Coast IPA characteristics.
• Very Best Bad Things Hazy DIPA Seasonal hazy double IPA brewed with Idaho 7, El Dorado, Chinook, Motueka, Simcoe, and Sabro hops at 8.4% ABV.
• Unicorn Dust Hazy IPA Seasonal hazy IPA brewed with Mosaic, Citra, Huell Melon, and Azacca hops at 6.40% ABV, including lactose for sweetness.
• Wonder Dust Hazy IPA Seasonal hazy IPA brewed with Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, and Nelson Sauvin hops at 6.90% ABV.
• Working 9 to Stein German Pilsner Seasonal German-style Pilsner brewed with Weyermann Pilsner Malt and Callista hops at 5.5% ABV using SafLager Lager 34/70 yeast.
• Barebottle Wine Program Self-produced wines made via native fermentation (no added yeast) with no sulfites added during production, sourced from California AVAs (Anderson Valley, Livermore/Amador, Santa Barbara). Varietals include Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Blanc De Noir, Cab Franc, and Albariño. Sold on tap and by the glass ($12-14) at Barebottle taprooms under the Type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license.
• Barebottle Coffee Roasted coffee beans sold at Barebottle taprooms, with a rotating selection of single-origin coffees including Guatemalan HueHueTenango and Ethiopian Kayon Mountain. Also used as an ingredient in some of Barebottle's beers.
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages Non-alcoholic beverage lineup including year-round Hop Water brewed with rotating hops, kombucha, and specialty sodas such as hibiscus ginger, root beer, and Koga Kola. Sold at all Barebottle taproom locations.
• Beer Happy Hour Experience Self-directed tasting experience with 6 Barebottle beers across various styles plus detailed tasting notes, priced at $100 per participant in-person or $100 plus shipping virtually. Optional 2-hour founder-led instruction with Michael Seitz and/or Lester Koga available for an additional $3,000 flat fee. Shipping available to continental U.S.
• Deluxe Happy Hour Experience All-inclusive premium tasting experience at $250 per participant including 6 beers, kombucha, hibiscus soda, one bottle of Barebottle wine (Chardonnay or Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley), one bag of Barebottle coffee, two custom-branded glasses, and $250 of merchandise. Shipping and tax to continental U.S. included.
• Tasting & Homebrew Class Guided tasting and homebrewing class at $300 per participant including 6 beers, brewing equipment and supplies for a one-bottle batch (32oz growler, 16oz swing-top bottle, malts, extract, hops, yeast, funnel), and reusable custom tasting materials. Optional 45-60 minute guided instruction from an award-winning brewer for an additional $1,500. Shipping and tax to continental U.S. included.
• ProAm Homebrew Invitational Annual homebrewing competition open to SF Bay Area residents across 9 counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma). Entries cost $12 each across 9 specified beer styles. The winning entry is commercially brewed at Barebottle and entered as a ProAm entry at the Great American Beer Festival.
• Barebottle Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable at all five Barebottle Bay Area locations for beer, wine, coffee, and other taproom purchases. Sold online via Squareup and in-person at each taproom.
• Private Event Reservations Reservations for private taproom spaces across all five Bay Area locations, accommodating groups of 10 to 500+ guests. Reservation spaces include picnic tables, high tops, lounges, outdoor patios, beer halls, half-taprooms, full-taprooms, and The Loft. Standard reservation is 2 hours with additional hours available at checkout. A non-refundable space fee is charged, separate from food and beverage spend, with free rescheduling via email.

Quantifiable outcome

• ProAm Invitational winner's beer is commercially brewed by Barebottle and entered at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), providing national industry exposure for the winning homebrewer and exclusive bragging rights.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joyride PizzacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyride Pizza provides the food menu at Santa Clara, Salesforce Park, Menlo Park, and Walnut Creek taprooms. Barebottle refers customers to Joyride for Detroit-style pizzas, wings, salads, and more, with pre-ordering available through Barebottle's website. At Bernal Heights, food trucks are featured daily instead.
• Pampa BBQminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPampa BBQ provides empanadas at the Menlo Park taproom location, complementing Barebottle's beverage offerings.
• Canteen (Wine Bar)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanteen is a neighboring wine bar near the Menlo Park taproom that delivers food directly to Barebottle customers' tables. Barebottle promotes Canteen's menu to taproom visitors seeking food options.
• TacoliciousminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarebottle has a preferred catering relationship with Tacolicious for the Menlo Park taproom. Barebottle customers receive a 10% discount on Tacolicious catering orders via a direct booking link, with catering for large party reservations.
• UC Davis Continuing and Professional EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarebottle partners with UC Davis CPE's Brewing Programs to support the UC Davis Professional Brewing Scholarships, which provide financial support for students attending UC Davis' world-renowned in-person and online Brewing Programs including the Master Brewers Certificate Program. Scholarships are designed to recognize academic and professional excellence and increase diversity and cross-cultural understanding in the brewing industry.
• Great American Beer Festival (GABF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ProAm Homebrew Invitational's winning entry is brewed at Barebottle and entered as a ProAm entry at the 2026 GABF in Denver. This partnership gives winning homebrewers a path to national-level competition and positions Barebottle as a gateway for amateur brewers into professional competition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 21st Amendment Brewery: San Francisco brewpub and production brewery operating taproom/restaurant locations. Directly comparable as an SF-based craft brewpub with food partnership and on-premise-first distribution.
• Russian River Brewing Company: Iconic Northern California craft brewery with cult-favorite IPAs and sours. Comparable as a destination-style Bay Area craft brewery whose taproom demand and brand cachet shape the same consumer segment.
• Pizza Port Brewing Company: California brewpub chain pairing craft beer with pizza across multiple San Diego-area locations. Closely comparable as a multi-location brewpub model with food partner and family-friendly taproom experience.
• Fort Point Beer Company: San Francisco craft brewery with multiple owned taprooms and a similar DTC, neighborhood-focused model. Comparable scale, geography, and taproom-led growth strategy.
• Drake's Brewing Company: Bay Area craft brewery with taproom operations across the East Bay. Comparable regional footprint, multi-location taproom model, and similar beer portfolio breadth (IPAs, sours, lagers).
• Cellarmaker Brewing Co. San Francisco craft brewery with multiple taprooms focused on fresh, hop-forward and barrel-aged beers. Directly comparable as a Bay Area multi-taproom craft brewer competing for the same craft-enthusiast consumer.
• Magnolia Brewing Company: Long-running San Francisco brewpub with original Dogpatch location. Comparable as a craft brewpub operating in the same Bay Area market with similar taproom-led model and style experimentation.
• Standard Deviant Brewing: San Francisco Mission-based craft brewery with its own taproom. Comparable as a similarly sized Bay Area craft brewery competing for taproom traffic and craft-enthusiast mindshare.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing: Established California craft brewery with taprooms and broader distribution. Relevant as a larger incumbent showing how a craft brand can scale beyond a single region, providing a competitive reference point.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pioneering U.S. craft brewery with national distribution and taprooms. Comparable as a craft brewery whose taproom and experiential brand building informs industry benchmarks Barebottle aspires to.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/barebottlebeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/Barebottle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barebottle-brewing-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/barebottle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Barebottle Brewing