Right Brain Brewery
Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub in Traverse City, Michigan, founded in 2007, producing culinary-inspired beers and serving them alongside Neapolitan pizza, 40+ pinball machines, and weekly events, with statewide distribution of canned and kegged beer across Michigan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersTraverse City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Right Brain Brewery does
Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub founded in 2007 by Russell Springsteen, operating from a renovated 75+ year-old warehouse at 225 East 16th Street in Traverse City's Fernwood District, Michigan. The company produces and serves culinary-inspired craft beers made with whole, often unconventional natural ingredients (including asparagus, cherry pie, cucumber, mint, and real Mangalitsa pig), maintaining 30-40 craft beers on tap at the brewpub alongside wine, cider, seltzer, cocktails, mocktails, soda pops, and a Neapolitan pizza-led food menu. Award credentials include 2009 World Beer Expo Bronze, 2011 Great American Beer Festival Gold (Mangalitsa Pig Porter, Experimental Beer), and 2015 World Expo of Beer Best of Show plus three Gold medals.
The business operates two primary revenue streams: direct-to-consumer on-premise sales at the Traverse City brewpub (which attracts 150,000+ visitors annually and hosts over 40 vintage pinball/arcade machines with weekly IFPA-sanctioned tournaments) and statewide distribution of canned and kegged beer to hundreds of retail accounts across Michigan. Secondary monetization includes a $225 lifetime RBB Mug Club membership with tiered pricing and Happy Hour discounts, gift cards and branded merchandise, private event rentals (free pub events with food/drink minimums plus a brewhouse space for up to 100 guests), and recurring entertainment such as Kamikaze Comedy nights and pinball leagues.
Right Brain employs 40+ staff spanning full- and part-time bartenders and cooks, is privately held with no external investors or parent entities disclosed, and positions itself as a community-rooted destination combining craft brewing, food, and entertainment rather than a scale-focused distribution brand. Customer concentration is diffuse across the on-premise visitor base and long-tail SMB retail accounts, with Michigan Brewer's Guild membership and partnerships with Grand Traverse Vending, IFPA, PinballMap.com, and Koegel Meats supporting its operating model.
Right Brain Brewery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Right Brain Brewery
- Legal name
- Right Brain Brewery
- Website
- https://rightbrainbrewery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub in Traverse City, Michigan, founded in 2007, producing culinary-inspired beers and serving them alongside Neapolitan pizza, 40+ pinball machines, and weekly events, with statewide distribution of canned and kegged beer across Michigan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Right Brain Brewery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Brewery & Brewpub
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)
Keywords
Where Right Brain Brewery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Traverse City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Right Brain Brewery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Brewpub On-Site Sales: Direct sales of craft beer, food, and beverages at the Traverse City brewpub location. Serves 30-40 beers on tap plus wine, cider, seltzer, and food items including Neapolitan pizza.
- Statewide Distribution: Distribution of canned and kegged beer to hundreds of retail accounts throughout the entire state of Michigan
- Event Space Rental: Private event space rental in the brewhouse (up to 100 people, equipped with stage, lighting, tables, chairs) available for rent for larger groups and events
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mug Club Lifetime Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food Menu Items |
| Other | Monthly | Happy Hour Discounts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Right Brain Brewery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub founded in 2007 in Traverse City, Michigan. The company produces culinary-inspired craft beers using whole natural ingredients (asparagus, cherry pie, cucumber, mint, Mangalitsa pig), distributes them in cans, kegs, and on draft across Michigan, and sells them alongside Neapolitan pizza, wine, cider, and seltzers at its 225 East 16th Street brewpub, which also hosts 40+ vintage pinball machines and recurring live events.
Product overview
Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub founded in 2007, located in Traverse City's Fernwood District at 225 East 16th Street. The company operates as a single unified offering centered on craft beer production and pub hospitality. Core products include award-winning craft beers (Ambers, Pales, Stouts, IPAs, and innovative varieties featuring unconventional ingredients like cucumber, asparagus, mint, and Mangalitsa pig), distributed statewide in Michigan. The brewpub experience offers 30-40 beers on tap plus wine, cider, seltzer, and cocktails alongside Neapolitan pizza and bar snacks. Supporting offerings include a Mug Club membership program, gift cards and merchandise, pinball/arcade entertainment (40+ vintage machines), and private event space rental. The brewery also hosts recurring entertainment including Kamikaze Comedy Nights and weekly Pinball Wars tournaments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Craft Beer Award-winning craft beer portfolio including Ambers, Pales, Stouts, IPAs, and unconventional varieties brewed with whole natural ingredients such as cucumber, asparagus, mint, cherry pie, and Mangalitsa pig. Produced at the Traverse City facility and sold statewide in Michigan via cans, kegs, and on draft to hundreds of retail accounts.
- Neapolitan Pizza and Food Menu Kitchen menu featuring Neapolitan-style pizzas (Cheese, Pepperoni, Sweet & Spicy Pepperoni, Pesto, BBQ Chicken, (R)BB, BBQ Sting, Beer Cheese, Tetrazzini, AJ's Delight, Buffalo Chicken), plus cheesy garlic bread, nachos with beer cheese, soft pretzels, and Koegel hot dogs, with gluten-free crust option. Sold to brewpub guests.
- Brewpub Experience (On-Site Pub) Family-friendly brewpub at 225 East 16th Street in Traverse City offering 30-40 craft beers on tap alongside wine, cider, seltzer, cocktails, mocktails, soda pops, and lemonade, plus full food service. Open floor plan suitable for groups, hosting 150,000+ annual visitors.
- Pinball and Arcade Gaming 40+ vintage pinball machines and arcade games available seven days a week at the brewpub, maintained by Grand Traverse Vending. Includes weekly Pinball Leagues and 'Pinball Wars' IFPA-sanctioned tournaments for competitive players.
- RBB Mug Club Membership Lifetime membership program priced at $225 including a growler with non-premium fill, a customizable 22oz blank mug, a Right Brain Brewery hat, Member ID card, 25% off sample trays and merchandise, 10% off packaged products, discounted pints ($5.00+) and mug fills ($6.75+), select growler refills ($13.50+), and year-round Monday-Friday Happy Hour discounts (3-5:30pm).
- Private Event Space Rental Private event hosting in the pub (free with food and beverage minimum) plus rentable brewhouse space accommodating up to 100 guests and equipped with stage, lighting, tables, and chairs. Available for birthdays, corporate events, fundraisers, wedding rehearsals, and other celebrations.
- Gift Cards and Branded Merchandise Gift cards, clothing, stickers, and labels available for purchase online and at the brewpub.
Companies that use Right Brain Brewery
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Right Brain Brewery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Right Brain Brewery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Grand Traverse VendingcorePinball and arcade machine maintenance provided by Grand Traverse Vending (affiliated with All American Amusement Co). They maintain over 40 vintage pinball and arcade games at the Right Brain Brewery location, ensuring all machines are meticulously maintained for customers.
- Michigan Brewer's GuildminorRight Brain Brewery is a member of the Michigan Brewer's Guild, a trade organization supporting Michigan's craft brewing industry. Display their membership badge on website and at location.
- Koegel MeatsminorSource for Koegel frank hot dogs served at the brewpub, supporting local Michigan food producers.
- IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association)minorIFPA sanctioned pinball tournaments hosted at Right Brain, allowing players to earn world rankings through competition.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Right Brain Brewery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large national craft brewery with on-premise taproom. Represents the broader craft-brewing incumbent category relevant for valuation benchmarking and competitive context.
- Stone Brewing: Large craft brewery with on-premise gardens/taprooms. Comparable brewpub-anchored craft model but at national scale; useful for benchmarking what scaled craft looks like.
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Mid-Atlantic craft brewery known for off-centered, experimental beers (similar culinary-philosophy) and on-premise tasting room/brewpub. Closest analog for the experimental-craft positioning at larger scale.
Direct peers
- Short's Brewing Company: Bellaire, Michigan craft brewery known for unconventional, experimental beer recipes using non-standard ingredients. Highly comparable product philosophy to Right Brain's culinary-inspired approach.
- Bell's Brewery: Michigan-based craft brewery with broad distribution and on-premise hospitality (Eccentric Café). Most directly comparable peer given overlapping geography, distribution model, and pub/brewery hybrid operations.
- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Michigan-based craft producer famous for sour and wild ales and unconventional styles, with brewpub locations. Comparable niche positioning around differentiated, non-mainstream beer styles.
- New Holland Brewing: Holland, Michigan craft brewery with attached pub, statewide distribution, and award-winning experimental beers. Closely matches Right Brain's Michigan brewpub-and-distribution model.
- Founders Brewing Co. Largest Michigan craft brewery with a flagship taproom in Grand Rapids. Comparable on statewide distribution, brewpub operations, and craft beer awards, but at significantly larger scale.
- Stormcloud Brewing Company: Frankenmuth, MI craft brewery and brewpub distributing beer throughout Michigan. Direct regional peer at similar scale to Right Brain.
Regional players
- HopCat: Regional chain of brewpubs founded in Grand Rapids, MI, emphasizing craft beer and bar food. Comparable brewpub format and Michigan roots, though broader chain model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Right Brain Brewery social profiles
Digital presenceRight Brain Brewery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Right Brain Brewery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Right Brain Brewery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Right Brain Brewery 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 Right Brain Brewery
What does Right Brain Brewery do?
Right Brain Brewery is a family-owned craft brewery and brewpub founded in 2007 in Traverse City, Michigan. The company produces culinary-inspired craft beers using whole natural ingredients (asparagus, cherry pie, cucumber, mint, Mangalitsa pig), distributes them in cans, kegs, and on draft across Michigan, and sells them alongside Neapolitan pizza, wine, cider, and seltzers at its 225 East 16th Street brewpub, which also hosts 40+ vintage pinball machines and recurring live events.
Is Right Brain Brewery a public or private company?
Right Brain Brewery is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Right Brain Brewery founded?
Right Brain Brewery was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Right Brain Brewery based?
Right Brain Brewery is headquartered in Traverse City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Right Brain Brewery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brewpub On-Site Sales are the primary driver. The others are statewide Distribution and event Space Rental.
Who are Right Brain Brewery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Stone Brewing and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Direct peers are Short's Brewing Company, Bell's Brewery, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, New Holland Brewing, Founders Brewing Co. and Stormcloud Brewing Company. HopCat is listed as a regional player.
Does Right Brain Brewery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Right Brain Brewery.
What industry is Right Brain Brewery in?
Right Brain Brewery's product category is Craft Brewery & Brewpub. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAC, Microbreweries & Craft Breweries, with a secondary code of THAFALAA, Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service). Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.