Buck Creek Hops

What Buck Creek Hops does

Buck Creek Hops, LLC, operating as Buck Creek Distributing, is an Iowa-headquartered hops farming and brewing-ingredient distribution company founded in 2013 by Mark Pattison. Originally a pure-play hop farm, the company pivoted in 2019 into a broader distribution business under the Buck Creek Distributing brand, now serving craft breweries and distilleries across the Midwest from a Solon, Iowa headquarters with additional warehouses in Cedar Rapids (IA), Chicago (IL), and Sheboygan (WI). The firm cultivates more than 100 acres of hops in Iowa, including proprietary blends such as BCH CITRUS, Geode, Mackinac, Emerald Spire, Bergamot, and Michigan Copper, alongside a 13-variety commodity catalog.

The product portfolio spans hops (pelleted and wet), malt (Briess and Maltwerks), yeast and bacteria (Lallemand, Angel Yeast, White Labs), aseptic fruit purees in roughly 15 varieties, aluminum cans and ends via Ardagh, Sweetwater Innovative Solutions cleaning products, spices and botanicals, flaked grains, and fermentables. Core processing technology includes a Wolf harvester, multiple drying bays, a pelletizer, and mylar-bag nitrogen-flush vacuum-seal packaging, enabling a 24-hour field-to-freezer turnaround intended to preserve lupulin and essential oils. The company also offers tiered hops processing services (2-Part at $2.50/lb, 3-Part at $3.00/lb, 4-Part at $4.00/lb) to third-party growers, plus contract growing (10-acre minimum), farm start-up consulting, and a $100 lifetime Alliance membership.

Revenue is generated through ingredient resale, processing and packaging services, packaging materials, Alliance membership fees, and consulting. Distribution is direct-to-buyer through an account-gated e-commerce storefront, supplemented by an in-house transportation fleet for scheduled regional deliveries and a profile on the Lupulin Exchange marketplace. The company is privately held by founder Mark Pattison with no disclosed institutional funding, operates with a small named team of approximately eight personnel, and pursues a vertical-segmentation strategy focused on craft breweries as the primary segment, with craft distilleries, hop growers, and food manufacturers as secondary segments.

Name

Buck Creek Hops

Legal name

Buck Creek Hops, LLC

Website

https://buckcreekhops.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Buck Creek Hops, LLC (dba Buck Creek Distributing) is an Iowa-based hops farm and Midwest craft brewing-ingredient distributor supplying hops, malt, yeast, fruit purees, packaging, and cleaning solutions to craft breweries and distilleries from warehouses in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brewing Ingredients Supply

NAICS

Malt Manufacturing (311213), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Peanut (Groundnut) Farming (AFAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA)

Keywords

• Hops farming
• Brewing ingredients distribution
• Hops processing services
• Craft brewing supplies
• Malt and yeast supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Solon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ingredient Sales: Sales of hops, malt, yeast, fruit purees, adjuncts, fermentables, spices, botanicals, and brewing supplies to breweries and distilleries.
2. Hop Processing Services: Processing and packaging services for third-party hop growers at $2.50-$4.00 per pelleted pound depending on service package (2-Part, 3-Part, or 4-Part).
3. Packaging Materials Sales: Sales of aluminum cans, can ends/lids, and packaging materials including Brite cans, sleeved cans, and printed cans in 12oz and 16oz formats.
4. Alliance Membership: One-time lifetime membership fee of $100 providing access to processing facility, educational resources, networking, and marketing opportunities.
5. Consulting Services: Farm startup consultations and hops growing consulting services for prospective and existing hop growers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Buck Creek Hops grows, processes, and packages hops on more than 100 acres in Iowa and distributes a comprehensive line of brewing ingredients to craft breweries and distilleries in the Midwest. The catalog spans its own hops and proprietary blends, malt (Briess and Maltwerks), yeast (Lallemand, Angel, White Labs, WildBrew), aseptic fruit purees, spices and botanicals, raw and flaked grains, fermentables, aluminum cans and packaging, and brewery cleaning solutions. The company also offers hops processing and packaging services to third-party growers, contract growing programs, hops growing and farm start-up consulting, and a Hop Growers Alliance membership.

Product overview

Buck Creek Hops operates as a dual entity: a midwestern hops farm founded after 6 years of hop production, and Buck Creek Distributing, established in 2019 as a brewing ingredients distributor. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of brewing supplies including Iowa-produced hops (freshly pelletized and packaged within 24 hours), malts from Briess and Maltwerks, yeast from Lallemand/Angel/White Labs, aseptic fruit purees in 15 varieties, aluminum cans and packaging materials, brewery cleaning solutions, spices and botanicals, adjunct grains, and fermentables. The product portfolio is complemented by value-added services including hops processing/packaging (2-Part, 3-Part, and 4-Part service tiers), contract growing programs, farm start-up consulting, an Alliance membership program, and general business consulting. The company serves breweries and distilleries throughout the Midwest with professionally managed warehousing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and proprietary transportation assets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hops (Pelleted and Wet) Iowa-grown hops freshly harvested, processed, and packaged within 24 hours; sold as proprietary blends (BCH Citrus, Geode, Mackinac, Emerald Spire, Bergamot, Michigan Copper) and commodity varieties in T-90 pellet form for craft breweries and distilleries.
• Malt Brewing malts from Briess (base malts like Synergy Select Pilsen, specialty malts such as Midnight Wheat and Carapils) and Maltwerks (craft malt from Detroit Lakes, MN); includes base, specialty, Munich, roasted malts, and malt extracts for craft brewers.
• Yeast and Bacteria Brewing yeast and bacteria products from Lallemand (LalBrew line), Angel Yeast, White Labs, and WildBrew (Philly Sour, Sour Pitch, Helveticus Pitch), plus SOURVISIAE, for use by craft breweries.
• Aseptic Fruit Puree High-quality aseptic fruit purees that are shelf-stable, free of additives or preservatives, and packed at peak ripeness; available in 15 varieties (Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Dark Sweet Cherry, Pink Guava, Pineapple, Peach, Passion Fruit, Orange, Mango, Cloudy Lemon, Blood Orange, Tangerine, Lime, Blackberry) in 44 lb bag-in-box or 440 lb drums for brewers, distillers, and food manufacturers.
• Aluminum Packaging (Cans and Ends) Brite cans, printed cans (digital and plate), sleeved cans in 12 oz, 16 oz, and 12 oz Sleek formats from Ardagh, plus can ends; stocked at the Iowa warehouse with delivery via Buck Creek trucks, with no order minimum and half-pallet or full-pallet quantities.
• Cleaning and Sanitation Products Full portfolio of brewery cleaning solutions from Sweetwater Innovative Solutions, tailored to facility needs and continuously monitored for improvement.
• Spices and Botanicals Brewing spices and botanicals including Coriander, Chamomile, Cardamom Seed, Hibiscus, Rose Hips, Lavender Flowers, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Juniper Berries, Vanilla Pods, Grains of Paradise, Chillies Anchos and Moritas, and Coconut, for use by brewers, distillers, and food manufacturers.
• Raw and Flaked Grains Brewing adjuncts including Barley Flaked, Corn Blue, Oats Flaked, Corn Flaked, Rice Hulls, Rice Flaked, Rye, Rye Flaked, and White Wheat Flaked, including the Buck Creek Rolled/Flaked Oats brand.
• Fermentables Fermentation adjuncts including Dextrose, Lactose, Maltodextrin, and Cane Sugar (Sucrose) in various packaging sizes.
• Hops Processing and Packaging Services Commercial hops processing from field to freezer in 24 hours or less, offered as 2-Part, 3-Part, and 4-Part packages priced per pelleted pound; services include drying, pelletizing, mylar bag packaging, nitrogen flush, and vacuum sealing for third-party hop growers.
• Contract Growing Program Multi-year contract growing arrangement where farmers grow hops varieties with a 10-acre minimum; Buck Creek processes, packages, and purchases the hops, providing horticulturalist assistance, growing oversight, and removing the marketing burden from the grower.
• Hops Growing and Farm Start-Up Consulting Consultations covering budgeting, labor expectations, trellis designs, hop variety selection, hop yard supplies, and marketing and sales options for prospective and existing hop growers; fees vary case-by-case.
• Hop Growers Alliance Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Hops processed from field to freezer in 24 hours or less
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Briess Malt & IngredientscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBuck Creek Distributing is a proud partner with Briess Malt & Ingredients, distributing their full portfolio of base malts and specialty malts including Synergy Select Pilsen, Midnight Wheat, and Carapils. Briess is recognized for quality and consistency in brewing ingredients.
• Lallemand BrewingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLallemand Brewing is Buck Creek's yeast and nutrient partner, offering an extensive range of brewing yeast products with strong technical expertise and industry experience spanning decades.
• Sweetwater Innovative Solutions (SIS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to bring a full portfolio of brewery cleaning solutions tailored to unique facility needs and monitored for continuous improvement.
• MaltwerksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium craft malt supplier from Detroit Lakes, MN focused on quality, locally produced, traceable malt for craft brewers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
• Iowa Brewers GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to benefit hops purchasing for members only of the Iowa Brewers Guild, working together to build better beer in Iowa.
• Angel YeastminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYeast supplier offering multiple yeast varieties including American Ale, Swiss Lager, German Lager, Belgian Ale, English Ale, Norwegian Farmhouse Kveik, Kolsch, Tropical/Hazy, Belgian Wheat, and Munich Wheat strains.
• ArdaghminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of aluminum cans and can ends supplied through Buck Creek for 12oz and 16oz formats.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yakima Chief Hops: Yakima Chief Hops is a 100% grower-owned hop supplier specializing in proprietary hop varieties and pelletizing for craft brewers. It is the leading direct peer to Buck Creek's hop farming and proprietary variety strategy, with comparable focus on branded hop IP and brewery-direct sales.
• Crosby Hops: Crosby Hops is an Oregon-based hop grower and pelletizer focused on craft brewers with branded hop products and proprietary blends. It directly competes with Buck Creek's farm-to-pellet model and proprietary Midwest hop positioning, though in the Pacific Northwest growing region.
• Country Malt Group: Country Malt Group is a major nationwide distributor of brewing ingredients including malt, hops, yeast, and adjuncts. It is a direct competitor to Buck Creek's distribution business, with broader geographic coverage and a similarly broad catalog across brewing inputs.
• Brewers Supply Group (BSG): Brewers Supply Group is one of the largest U.S. specialty brewing ingredient distributors, offering hops, malt, yeast, and adjuncts to craft breweries nationwide. It is the most direct national competitor to Buck Creek Distributing, with overlapping product categories, B2B pricing model, and brewery customer base.
• John I. Haas (BarthHaas Group): John I. Haas is a major U.S. hop processor, breeder, and supplier serving large and craft brewers globally. It is directly comparable to Buck Creek on hop processing, proprietary varieties, and brewery supply, but at significantly greater scale.
• Hopsteiner: Hopsteiner is a global hop breeder, grower, and processor with proprietary hop varieties and pellet products sold to brewers worldwide. It directly competes with Buck Creek on the farming, proprietary variety, and pelletized hop processing dimensions.

Broad incumbents

• Briess Malt & Ingredients: Briess is a large U.S. malt manufacturer and ingredient supplier whose malt portfolio Buck Creek distributes. It is a broad incumbent in the brewing ingredient supply chain and a partner/distributor upstream of Buck Creek, with overlapping customer access to Midwest craft breweries.
• Lallemand Brewing: Lallemand is a global yeast manufacturer whose brewing yeast portfolio Buck Creek distributes. It is a broad incumbent in brewing ingredients and a key partner upstream of Buck Creek, comparable through the shared craft brewery customer base.
• Ardagh Metal Packaging: Ardagh is a global aluminum can manufacturer whose cans and ends Buck Creek distributes. It is a broad incumbent supplying the brewing industry and a distribution partner upstream of Buck Creek with similar brewery customer exposure.

Emerging players

• Lupulin Exchange: Lupulin Exchange is an online marketplace for buying and selling hops directly between growers and brewers. Buck Creek maintains a marketplace profile there, making Lupulin Exchange an emerging channel that competes with and complements Buck Creek's direct ingredient sales model.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Buck Creek Hops