Border Brewing Company

What Border Brewing Company does

Border Brewing Company is a craft brewery and taproom founded in 2015 by chemical engineer Eric Martens, operating from a single location at 512 E 18th Street in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District. The company brews seven year-round flagship beers (Strawberry Blonde Ale, Lima Fresca Kölsch, Shiftie IPA, Patio Pale Ale, Stay Classy IPA, Backyard Lager, Rooftop Red Lager) plus 20+ rotating taps, complemented by the Baseline Non-Alcoholic Series (Kansas City's first locally-owned craft NA line, launched 2025), Pink Drink hard seltzer, rotating hard ciders, and a focused cocktail program. The visible brewhouse behind the bar supports a freshness-driven positioning, and the facility includes The Backyard private event patio and a food-truck program anchored by Brit Boy Street Food.

The business model is a hybrid of high-velocity direct-to-consumer taproom sales (primary), on-premise wholesale keg and packaged distribution through a regional distributor, and private event rentals ($150/hr weekday, $250/hr weekend). A free mobile app membership drives repeat visits through weekly free pours and monthly 6-packs, while weekly recurring events (Trivia Wednesday, Run Club Thursday, Live Music Friday, Brewery Tour Saturday, Patio Brunch Sunday) and tentpole programming (First Friday art walks with 30,000+ foot traffic, 2026 World Cup watch parties) drive acquisition and retention. The customer base spans local KC residents, wholesale bar and restaurant accounts, private event bookers, soccer fans, and arts and culture visitors.

Strategically, Border Brewing is pursuing controlled product and channel expansion rather than aggressive scaling: the NA series opens a high-growth category, the distributor partnership enables wholesale reach without fixed cost growth, retail distribution is flagged as "coming soon," and World Cup 2026 represents a defined demand catalyst. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, operating in a single physical location with 11-50 employees.

Name

Border Brewing Company

Legal name

Border Brewing Company

Website

https://borderbrewco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Border Brewing Company is a privately-held Kansas City craft brewery and taproom founded in 2015, brewing seven flagship beers plus a craft non-alcoholic series on-site for local residents, wholesale accounts, private events, and World Cup watch party crowds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewery
• Taproom beverages
• Non-alcoholic craft beer
• Private event venue
• Wholesale beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Draft Sales: On-premise draft sales at the 512 E 18th Street taproom. The taproom features 20+ rotating taps with seven flagship beers always available plus seasonals and brewer's specials. Hours: Mon-Thu 4-9 PM, Fri-Sat 12 PM-11 PM, Sun 12-8 PM. Draft sales represent the primary revenue stream.
2. Packaged Beer (Cans and Crowlers): Canned beer sales in 12 oz 6-packs for on-premise retail and distribution. Also available in crowlers for take-home. Flagship lineup includes Strawberry Blonde Ale, Lima Fresca Kölsch, Shiftie IPA, Patio Pale Ale, Stay Classy IPA, Backyard Lager, and Rooftop Red Lager. Non-alcoholic Baseline series also available in 4-packs and crowlers.
3. Keg Distribution: Wholesale keg sales through regional distribution partner. Formats include ½ barrel kegs (15.5 gal) for restaurants, taprooms, and large events; ⅙ barrel sixtels (5.16 gal) for smaller bars and kegerators. Distribution covers Kansas City and the broader region.
4. Private Event Rental (The Backyard): Patio rental revenue from private events including bachelor/bachelorette parties, wedding showers, corporate events, baby showers, birthdays, and pop-ups. Pricing: $150/hr weekdays, $250/hr weekends with 4-hour minimum. Bar packages (cash or hosted) add incremental revenue. Catering is external, bringing in additional guest spending.
5. Border Brew Membership: Free membership program accessed through the mobile app. Members receive one free pour weekly, one 6-pack monthly, members-only events, and early access to limited beer drops. While the membership itself is free, it drives repeat visits, increased consumption, and brand loyalty.
6. Cocktail Program: Full bar sales including handcrafted cocktails, hard cider, and hard seltzer beyond the beer lineup. Cocktail menu includes classics (margaritas, palomas, old fashioneds), beer cocktails (micheladas, beermosas, shandies), Pink Drink seltzer cocktails, and N/A mocktails using the Baseline series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Border Brewing Company brews and serves a lineup of seven year-round flagship craft beers (Strawberry Blonde Ale, Lima Fresca Kölsch, Shiftie IPA, Patio Pale Ale, Stay Classy IPA, Backyard Lager, and Rooftop Red Lager) at its Crossroads Arts District taproom in Kansas City, complemented by 20+ rotating taps, Kansas City's first craft non-alcoholic Baseline series, hard seltzer, hard cider, and a small cocktail program. The company also operates The Backyard private event space and offers limited wholesale distribution through a regional partner for on-premise accounts.

Product overview

Border Brewing Company is a Kansas City craft brewery operating since 2015 from the Crossroads Arts District. The core product is a lineup of seven year-round flagship craft beers brewed on-site: Strawberry Blonde Ale, Lima Fresca Kölsch, Shiftie IPA, Patio Pale Ale, Stay Classy IPA, Backyard Lager, and Rooftop Red Lager. Complementing the beer lineup are the Baseline Non-Alcoholic Series (Kansas City's first craft NA beers — Amber and Pale Ale), Pink Drink Hard Seltzer, rotating Hard Ciders, and a Cocktail Program. The company also operates a taproom with 20+ rotating taps and The Backyard private event space. Distribution is available via regional partner for on-premise accounts in keg and can formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baseline: Kansas City's first craft non-alcoholic beer series featuring Baseline Amber (NA Amber Ale) and Baseline Pale (NA Pale Ale), both under 0.5% ABV.

Products and services

• Strawberry Blonde Ale A 4% ABV fruit blonde ale brewed with real strawberry, with light pink-blushed pour, fresh strawberry aromatics, low bitterness, and a clean finish; serves as a year-round flagship and taproom favorite aimed at newcomers to craft beer.
• Lima Fresca Kölsch A 5% ABV German Kölsch-style ale finished with culinary sea salt and real lime, crisp and sessionable with citrus character; positioned as a year-round flagship popular for summer patio drinking.
• Shiftie IPA An 8% ABV Imperial/Double IPA brewed with multiple hop varieties and dry-hopping, with subtle citrus, pine, and spice on a rich malt backbone; the flagship IPA that established Border Brewing's reputation with strong Untappd engagement.
• Patio Pale Ale A 5.4% ABV American Pale Ale generously hopped with Cascade and Simcoe, producing notable citrus character on a smooth, balanced malt body; described as a bartender favorite at the taproom.
• Stay Classy IPA A 6% ABV American IPA with a clean grain bill and bright hop punch, offering citrus, gentle pine, and a touch of stone fruit with a crisp, dry finish without haze or gimmicks.
• Backyard Lager A 4.4% ABV American-style lager with a soft malt body, gentle bitterness, and a bone-dry finish; clean and sessionable, brewed cold with long conditioning, and the most ordered pour for casual drinking occasions.
• Rooftop Red Lager A 5.5% ABV amber/red lager built on rich Munich and caramel malts, copper-red in color with toasty, smooth character and a clean finish; positioned as the after-work deck beer companion to Backyard Lager.
• Baseline Non-Alcoholic Series (Baseline Amber and Baseline Pale Ale) Two craft non-alcoholic beers — Baseline Amber (NA Amber Ale, rich malt-forward with caramel character) and Baseline Pale Ale (hop-forward with bright citrus aromatics) — brewed with the same standards as flagship beers but at under 0.5% ABV; targeted at designated drivers, sober-curious drinkers, and health-conscious consumers.
• Pink Drink Hard Seltzer A 6% ABV hard seltzer made with real fruit (no artificial flavoring), naturally gluten-free with a pink hue from real fruit; positioned as a higher-ABV alternative to mainstream shelf seltzers for patio drinking.
• Hard Ciders (Rotating) Rotating lineup of crisp, off-dry hard ciders made with real apple and seasonal fruit, never artificially flavored, naturally gluten-free and balanced for Kansas City drinkers; includes peach, ginger, dry, and hopped varieties on the tap rotation.
• The Backyard (Private Event Space) Private outdoor patio event space at the Crossroads taproom with brick walls, mural backdrop, and string lighting; rental rates of $150/hour weekdays and $250/hour weekends with a 4-hour minimum, suited for bachelor/bachelorette parties, wedding showers, corporate events, birthdays, and pop-ups with capacity of 50–60 standing or 35–40 seated.
• Sales and Distribution (Wholesale) Wholesale draft and packaged distribution for on-premise bars, restaurants, and retailers in Kansas City and the broader region through a regional distribution partner; available formats include ½ barrel kegs (15.5 gal), ⅙ barrel sixtels (5.16 gal), and 12 oz 6-pack cans, with retail distribution described as coming soon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kansas City's first craft non-alcoholic beer — Baseline Amber and Baseline Pale launched 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regional Distribution PartnercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBorder Brewing partnered with a regional distributor to handle fulfillment, delivery, and account servicing for wholesale accounts across Kansas City and the region. The company no longer works directly with wholesale accounts, instead connecting interested accounts (bars, restaurants, retailers) with the distribution partner who handles pricing, ordering, delivery, and ongoing service.
• Brit Boy Street FoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrit Boy Street Food is the primary food truck partner for First Fridays at Border Brewing. They park outside the taproom on the first Friday of every month, serving British-inspired street food (fish and chips, scotch eggs, bangers) that pairs with flagship beers. The partnership has built significant word-of-mouth, with some customers discovering Border through the food truck.
• Preferred Catering PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBorder Brewing maintains a list of preferred catering partners across BBQ, pizza, taco, and full-service caterers for private events. The company does not have an on-site kitchen and welcomes outside food, making these partnerships valuable for event hosts seeking turnkey catering solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Casual Animal Brewing Company: KC craft brewery with on-site taproom and a similar year-round and seasonal SKU mix. Direct peer competing for tap handles and taproom visits in the same metro.
• Cinder Block Brewery: KC Northland craft brewery with taproom and a comparable flagship-and-seasonal approach. Direct competitor for KC craft drinkers and on-premise accounts.
• Kansas City Bier Company: KC craft brewery specializing in German-style lagers with taproom in the Crossroads/Westport area. Direct peer sharing the Crossroads Arts District neighborhood and the craft lager/Kölsch customer.
• Torn Label Brewing Co. Kansas City craft brewery with taproom and a focus on bold, hop-forward styles plus community events. Direct peer in the KC craft scene, competing for similar customer occasions.
• Martin City Brewing Company: Kansas City-based craft brewery with multiple taproom locations and a flagship lineup of year-round beers. Direct peer sharing the same KC metro footprint, on-premise taproom model, and neighborhood community positioning.

Broad incumbents

• BrewDog: Global craft brewery chain with taproom-forward model, NA beer offerings, and an app-based membership (BrewDog Equity / Bar Rewards). Comparable as a multi-taproom craft operator pushing NA and digital engagement at scale.
• Athletic Brewing Company: Category-defining U.S. craft non-alcoholic beer brand. Broad incumbent in the exact NA craft segment Border's Baseline series is targeting, representing both the proof point for the segment and the dominant national competitor.
• Guinness Open Gate Brewery: Diageo's U.S. taproom brewery concept (Baltimore and Chicago). Broad incumbent illustrating the corporate-owned 'brewery + taproom + event' format Border operates, useful for benchmarking on-premise programming.
• Boulevard Brewing Company: KC's largest and most established craft brewery (now part of Duvel Moortgat), with broad distribution and a taproom. Larger incumbent that defines the local craft category and sets wholesale norms Border must meet.

Emerging players

• Hop Butcher for the World: Chicago-based small-batch craft brewery focused on IPAs and hop-forward styles with growing regional distribution. Emerging peer in the same craft/hop-forward segment Border's IPA flagships compete in, and a model for distribution-led growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BorderBrewCo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGbhmMTxeb7DmCoL6BFxb9w/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/borderbrewco
• Instagraminstagram.com/borderbrewco
• TikToktiktok.com/@borderbrewco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/border-brewing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Border Brewing Company