Hair of the Dog
Hair of the Dog is a family-owned Portland craft brewery, founded in 1993, specializing in barrel-aged and bottle-conditioned high-alcohol ales. It serves craft beer enthusiasts worldwide via an online bottle shop and prior on-premises tasting room, producing approximately 600 barrels per year.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hair of the Dog does
Hair of the Dog is a family-owned craft brewery founded in 1993 by Alan Sprints in Portland, Oregon. The brewery specializes in new and unusual beer styles, with particular focus on strong ales (up to 14% ABV), high-alcohol bottle-conditioned ales, barrel-aged varieties, dense IPAs, and historic lagers. Its flagship beers, Adam (Old Ale, since 1994) and Fred (American Strong Ale, since 1997), are internationally recognized and supported by vintage guides documenting every batch. The brewery was the first in the United States to use a concrete fermenter ("from the stone" technique) and operates an extensive barrel-aging program using 160 oak barrels, with aging durations ranging from 6 months to 8 years in new oak, spirit, and wine barrels. Annual production capacity is approximately 600 barrels in a four-barrel (120-gallon) brewhouse, with 99% of ingredients sourced from within a 350-mile radius.
The business historically operated through a combination of an on-premises tasting room (closed in 2022 after 29 years), draft sales to select accounts in Oregon and beyond, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via an online bottle shop. Product pricing ranges from $5.25 per 12oz bottle to $75 per vintage release, supporting a premium positioning. The brewery is 100% family-owned and operated by a three-brewer team (Alan Sprints, Quinton Bradley, Isaac Sprints) with no external institutional capital, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Its customer base is craft beer enthusiasts seeking unique, high-quality, and collectible beers.
The company maintains a global profile through numerous international collaboration brews with partners including Nøgne Ø (Norway), Omnipollo (Sweden), De Molen (Netherlands), Shiga Kogen (Japan), Struise (Belgium), De Proef (Belgium), Toccalmatto (Italy), Firestone Walker, and Deschutes Brewery. Industry affiliations include membership in the Brewers Association and the Oregon Brewers Guild, and long-standing creative partnerships with The Felt Hat (design) and Rose City Label (label printing). Branded merchandise (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, glassware, collectibles) provides ancillary revenue anchored by the Roswell Barker bulldog mascot.
Hair of the Dog firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hair of the Dog
- Legal name
- Hair of the Dog
- Website
- https://hairofthedog.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hair of the Dog is a family-owned Portland craft brewery, founded in 1993, specializing in barrel-aged and bottle-conditioned high-alcohol ales. It serves craft beer enthusiasts worldwide via an online bottle shop and prior on-premises tasting room, producing approximately 600 barrels per year.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Hair of the Dog is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hair of the Dog business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Draft Beer Sales: Most beer sold on draft in tasting room and select accounts in Oregon and elsewhere. Sold in various sizes including 4oz, 6oz, and 12oz pours.
- Bottle and Can Sales: Bottled and canned beers sold to-go through online bottle shop. Prices range from $5.25 to $75.00 for various formats including 12oz bottles, 1-liter bottles, and magnums.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, glassware, and collectibles through the online store.
- Food and Wine Service: Food menu and wine service (now closed with tasting room). Wine includes Cotes du Rhone Blanc from France and Rosé of Pinot Noir from Oregon.
- Growler Fills: Growler fills available: Non-B.A. fill $19.00, B.A. fill $35.00, Hage fill $15.00.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Draft Beer - 4oz pours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Draft Beer - 6oz pours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Draft Beer - 12oz pours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bottles and Cans - To Go |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bottles and Cans - Here (Tasting Room) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Growler Fills |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wine |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Hair of the Dog product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hair of the Dog is a craft brewery that produces specialty and barrel-aged beers — most notably the flagship Adam (Old Ale) and Fred (American Strong Ale) — using a four-barrel brewhouse, 160 oak barrels for extended aging, and the first U.S. concrete fermenter. The company also produces IPAs, lagers, fruit-aged and bottle conditioned high-alcohol ales, and offers branded merchandise (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, glassware, collectibles) via its online bottle shop and select draft accounts.
Product overview
Hair of the Dog is a craft brewery offering a portfolio centered on specialty beers including the flagship Adam (Old Ale) and Fred (American Strong Ale), along with over 40 draft beer varieties, bottled/canned releases, and merchandise. The company operates a bottle shop for to-go sales and previously operated a tasting room (closed after 29 years). The beer portfolio includes barrel-aged ales, IPAs, lagers, and collaboration brews with international partners. Merchandise includes branded apparel (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats) and glassware. Historical brewing records are documented in Fred and Adam Vintage Guides.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Draft Beer Over 40 varieties of craft beer served on draft, including barrel-aged ales, IPAs, lagers, and seasonal specials, sold in 4oz, 6oz, and 12oz pours.
- Bottled and Canned Beer Bottled and canned craft beers sold to-go via the online bottle shop, including flagship Adam and Fred, vintage releases like Doggie Claws, MATT, and Cherry Adam from the Wood.
- Growler Fills Refillable 64oz growlers available for non-barrel-aged, barrel-aged, and Häge beer fills to-go.
- T-Shirts
Companies that use Hair of the Dog
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hair of the Dog technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hair of the Dog partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Great Western MaltingcorePrimary malt supplier providing Pilsner malt. Part of the 99% local ingredients sourced within 350 miles of the brewery.
- Oregon Brewers GuildcoreProud member of the Oregon Brewers Guild, the local craft brewing industry association.
- Brewers AssociationcoreProud member of the Brewers Association, the national trade organization for craft brewers.
- Nøgne Ø (Norway)minorCollaborative brewing partnership. Created Sunturn Blend - a Smoked Barleywine aged 6 years, described as a collab.
- Omnipollo (Sweden)minorCollaborative brewing partnership. Created Maja - a B.A. Barleywine with vanilla maple bourbon, collab with Omnipollo.
- Firestone WalkerminorCollaborative brewing partnership. Created Bourbon Chocolate Stout and Chocolate Stout, as well as Opia (Bourbon barrel Chocolate Cherry Stout).
- De Molen (Netherlands)minorInternational collaborative partnership. Created Side by Side collab and Cease & Desist (Russian Imperial Stout, ABV 10.4%).
- Shiga Kogen (Japan)minorInternational collaborative partnership. Created Side by Side beer together with De Molen.
- Deschutes BreweryminorCollaborative blending partnership. Created Collage 1 (blend of The Stoic, The Dissident, Fred, and Adam) and Collage 2 (blend of The Abyss, The Stoic, Fred, and Doggie Claws).
- Big Island Brewing (Hawaii)minorCollaborative partnership. Created Golden Sabbath - a Bourbon barrel golden strong ale.
- Struise Brouwers (Belgium)minorInternational collaborative partnership. Created Pannepeut - Fisherman's Ale from 2013.
- De Proef (Belgium)minorInternational collaborative partnership. Created Flanders Fred - Fred brewed in Belgium and blended with wild ale.
- Toccalmatto (Italy)minorInternational collaborative partnership. Created Matt2 - Matt brewed at Toccalmatto, aged in chianti riserva barrels.
- Moonstruck ChocolateminorCollaborative partnership. Created Kizuna - light bodied beer with caramel and toffee from Moonstruck Chocolate.
- Stonebarn BrandyworksminorSupplier of specialty barrels. Used Chocolate Rye barrels from Stonebarn Brandyworks for Chocolate Rye Fred.
- Yokuska BeerminorCollaborative partnership. Created Shitake Brown - light, malty ale with a hint of umami.
- The Felt HatcorePortland-based design and development agency. All graphic design has been produced by The Felt Hat since the brewery opened, featuring Roswell Barker, the iconic bulldog mascot.
- Rose City LabelminorLocal Portland printer for beer labels.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hair of the Dog competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Firestone Walker: California-based craft brewery known for barrel-aged and high-ABV specialty beers (Parabola, Sucaba). Direct comparable given shared focus on barrel aging programs and prior collaboration with Hair of the Dog, serving similar craft enthusiasts with similar production techniques.
- Deschutes Brewery: Portland, Oregon craft brewery with a strong barrel-aging program (The Dissident, The Stoic). Direct regional peer sharing the same hometown, comparable specialty beer portfolio, and a documented blending collaboration (Collage 1 and 2) with Hair of the Dog.
- Russian River Brewing: California craft brewery famous for high-ABV, barrel-aged, and specialty beers (Pliny the Elder, Consecration). Direct comparable in cult craft brand status, scarcity-driven demand, and focus on high-end specialty offerings to enthusiast customers.
- The Bruery: California craft brewery specializing in high-ABV, barrel-aged, and bottle-conditioned ales, with strong direct-to-consumer and reserve society programs. Direct comparable in product style (specialty high-ABV aged ales), premium pricing, and enthusiast customer base.
- Cascade Brewing: Portland, Oregon craft brewery specializing in barrel-aged sour and wild ales. Direct regional peer with overlapping barrel aging expertise, similar Portland craft enthusiast customer base, and comparable small-batch production model.
- Great Divide Brewing: Denver craft brewery recognized for barrel-aged stouts and strong ales (Yeti Imperial Stout series). Direct comparable in barrel-aging program, high-ABV specialty portfolio, and craft beer enthusiast customer base.
- Allagash Brewing: Portland, Maine craft brewery specializing in Belgian-style and barrel-aged beers, known for coolship and wild ales. Comparable in specialty craft positioning, dedication to barrel aging traditions, and reputation for innovation within the craft segment.
- Avery Brewing: Colorado craft brewery with a portfolio of high-ABV, barrel-aged, and specialty beers (Mephistopheles, Uncle Jacob's). Direct comparable in high-ABV specialty ales, barrel aging program, and cult craft brand status.
- De Molen: Dutch craft brewery specializing in high-ABV, barrel-aged, and specialty ales with an international reputation. Direct comparable in specialty craft style, barrel aging focus, and prior collaboration with Hair of the Dog, serving similar enthusiast customers globally.
Broad incumbents
- Dogfish Head Brewery: Larger Delaware-based craft brewery known for boundary-pushing, high-ABV, and specialty brews. Comparable in spirit of innovation and specialty beer focus, but operates at significantly greater scale and breadth, making it a broader incumbent rather than a direct small-batch competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hair of the Dog social profiles
Digital presenceHair of the Dog financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hair of the Dog leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hair of the Dog funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hair of the Dog 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 Hair of the Dog
What does Hair of the Dog do?
Hair of the Dog is a craft brewery that produces specialty and barrel-aged beers — most notably the flagship Adam (Old Ale) and Fred (American Strong Ale) — using a four-barrel brewhouse, 160 oak barrels for extended aging, and the first U.S. concrete fermenter. The company also produces IPAs, lagers, fruit-aged and bottle conditioned high-alcohol ales, and offers branded merchandise (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, glassware, collectibles) via its online bottle shop and select draft accounts.
Is Hair of the Dog a public or private company?
Hair of the Dog is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hair of the Dog founded?
Hair of the Dog was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hair of the Dog based?
Hair of the Dog is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hair of the Dog make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Draft Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are bottle and Can Sales, merchandise, food and Wine Service and growler Fills.
Who are Hair of the Dog's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Firestone Walker, Deschutes Brewery, Russian River Brewing, The Bruery, Cascade Brewing, Great Divide Brewing, Allagash Brewing, Avery Brewing and De Molen. Dogfish Head Brewery is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Hair of the Dog have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hair of the Dog.