What Capital Brewery does

Capital Brewery Company, Inc. is a publicly held craft brewery founded on March 14, 1984, and headquartered in a former egg factory at 7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton, Wisconsin. The company brews traditional German-style lagers and American-style craft beers using original copper kettles sourced from the Krekeler Brewery in Hoxter, Germany in 1986, a mid-century German brewhouse, and a 7 BBL pilot system for recipe development, producing approximately 15 brands annually including the flagship Wisconsin Amber (canned since 1999), Special Pilsner, Munich Dark, Mutiny IPA, hard seltzers, and a recently launched non-alcoholic Wisconsin Amber NA. The brewery operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model: on-site sales through its taproom, Bier Garten (May-October, 1,500+ patrons on Fridays), Bier Stube (November-April), and Grain Room; statewide retail distribution through Wisconsin grocery and specialty beer stores via a Beer Finder locator; venue rental for weddings, corporate events, and fundraisers; ticketed events through FareHarbor including the annual Bockfest (since 1997) and Oktoberfest; and recurring food truck and community programming such as the Capital Brewery Bike Club (100+ riders since 2009). The company has accumulated over 240 awards at competitions including the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Championships. Sustainability is embedded operationally, with solar panels installed in April 2014, water usage reduced from 12 to 7 pints per pint of beer, and nearly 1,000,000 lbs. of spent grain annually diverted to local cattle feed.

Name

Capital Brewery

Legal name

Capital Brewery Company, Inc.

Website

https://capitalbrewery.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capital Brewery is a Middleton, Wisconsin craft brewery founded in 1984 that produces traditional German-style lagers and American craft beers across approximately 15 brands, selling through statewide retail, its on-site taproom, Bier Garten, and venue spaces to Wisconsin craft beer enthusiasts and event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• German-style lagers
• Brewery venue events
• Craft beer distribution
• Taproom operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Middleton

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

Revenue model

1. On-site Beer Sales: Direct sales of draft and packaged beer through taproom, Bier Garten, Bier Stube, and Grain Room venues. Includes special events, live music nights, and seasonal releases.
2. Venue Rental: Rental of Grain Room, Bier Stube, and Bier Garten for private events including weddings, rehearsal dinners, business meetings, holiday parties, and fundraisers.
3. Retail Distribution: Distribution of canned and bottled beer through retailers statewide, including major accounts and specialty beer stores.
4. Food Truck and Event Partnerships: Revenue from food truck partnerships and event collaborations at the brewery venue.
5. Ticket Sales and Cover Charges: Sales of tickets for special events like Bockfest and cover charges for live music performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Capital Brewery is a craft brewery that manufactures and sells traditional German-style lagers and American-style ales (including Wisconsin Amber, Special Pilsner, Munich Dark, Mutiny IPA, hard seltzers) brewed in original copper kettles sourced from Hoxter, Germany. The brewery operates an on-site taproom, Bier Garten, Bier Stube, and Grain Room venue in Middleton, WI for direct-to-consumer sales, and distributes canned and bottled beer throughout Wisconsin via retail channels.

Product overview

Capital Brewery is a craft brewery founded in 1984 in Middleton, Wisconsin, brewing traditional German-style lagers (Special Pilsner, Munich Dark) alongside American-style offerings. The core portfolio centers on year-round beers including Wisconsin Amber (flagship, largest seller), Wisconsin Amber NA (non-alcoholic variant), Supper Club lager, Sticky Paw Honey Blonde, Mutiny IPA, Special Pilsner, and Munich Dark. Seasonal offerings include Maibock (spring), AweSummer Ale (summer), Oktoberfest (fall), and Winter Skal (winter). Limited and specialty releases include Blonde Doppelbock (featured at Bockfest), Fishin' In The Dark, and hard seltzers. Capital also operates venue spaces (Bier Garten, Bier Stube, Grain Room) for events, along with sustainability programs like the Steel Pint Cup program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wisconsin Amber Rich amber lager balancing roasted caramel malts with clean hop flavors. Capital's flagship beer and largest seller, available in cans since 1999.
• Wisconsin Amber NA Capital Brewery's first non-alcoholic beer, a rich amber lager with ABV below 0.5% that mirrors the flavor profile of Wisconsin Amber.
• Supper Club Classic Wisconsin lager honoring the state's supper club tradition, with an American malt profile, moderate mouthfeel and mild bittering for superb drinkability.
• Sticky Paw Honey Blonde Light, easy-drinking blonde ale brewed with clover honey, designed to appeal to both craft beer enthusiasts and those new to craft brewing.
• Mutiny IPA Approachable American IPA with fresh pine and citrus hop aroma from Cascade, Simcoe, Warrior, and Zythos hops, balanced by a caramel malt backbone.
• Special Pilsner German-style pilsner brewed with imported European malts and hops, featuring delicate sweetness balanced by clean, dry noble hop bitterness. One of Capital's original Garten Brau beers with over 25 medals.
• Munich Dark Traditional European Dunkel lager with deep brown color and light mouthfeel, finished smooth and dry. One of Capital's original Garten Brau beers with over 30 awards.
• Maibock Deep golden spring seasonal lager with a flavorful yet smooth malt presence, brewed with Liberty and Hallertau hops.
• AweSummer Ale Easy-drinking blonde ale available May–July, brewed with sweet and bitter orange peel and Mandarina Bavaria hops for a fresh burst of orange aroma and flavor.
• Oktoberfest Deep amber Oktoberfest beer available August–October, brewed since 1989 with rich toasty malts. Earned 11 gold medals and 8 silver medals.
• Winter Skal Malty, amber-hued winter lager available November–January, with Liberty hops lending floral and spice characteristics balanced against a caramel and Munich malt backbone.
• Blonde Doppelbock 7.8% ABV strong lager with intense yet personable malt character and subdued hop presence. 6-time Platinum Award winner and the centerpiece of Capital's annual Bockfest celebration.
• Fishin' In The Dark Platinum award-winning Imperial Schwarzbier at 7.5% ABV, featuring a roasted malt backbone with subtle coffee and chocolate notes that dissipate to a clean, dry finish. Created by Brewmaster Ashley Kinart-Short.
• Private Event Venue Rental (Grain Room, Bier Stube, Bier Garten) Rental of the Grain Room (50 seated / 75 standing), Bier Stube (winter indoor venue with genuine Brunswick Bar from Chicago speakeasy), and Bier Garten (outdoor 'Middleton's Backyard' with performance stage) for private events including weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, holiday parties, and fundraisers. Includes tables, chairs, buffet counter & sink, 75" Smart TV with HDMI, high-speed Wi-Fi, and trained bar staff.
• Steel Pint Cup Program $10 stainless steel pint cup with a punch card: purchase 12 beverages with the cup and receive the 13th free. Valid for On Tap beverages only; must be 21+ to purchase. Sustainability program to reduce single-use cup waste.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water efficiency improved from 12 pints to 7 pints of water per pint of beer brewed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bazil's Pub & ProvisionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2026Monthly brewery sampling events held at Bazil's Pub in downtown Appleton, WI. Features 4 Capital Brewery beers on draft plus additional canned/bottled options. Free tasting event for consumers to sample craft beers.
• Green Bay Packaging Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Green Bay Packaging Inc., a company at the forefront of sustainable practices, helping optimize the quality and services of Capital Brewery's packaging. Cardboard products contain a large percent of recycled materials sourced from sustainable forestry lands and urban tree recycling.
• FareHarborcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ticketing and booking platform used for online ticket purchases, cover charge payments, and event reservations at Capital Brewery.
• Tree-Ripe Fruit Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia Peach pop-up events held at Capital Brewery during summer months, featuring fresh peaches from Pearson Farm. Occurs every Tuesday afternoon June through July.
• Cousins Maine LobsterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood truck events at Capital Brewery featuring Maine lobster rolls, tacos, bisque, and tots. Partnered with Roll & Stroll Pancreatic Cancer Fundraiser events.
• Monona Terrace Community and Convention CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital Brewery serves Wisconsin Amber and Wisconsin Amber NA at Monona Terrace's Concerts on the Rooftop event series in Madison, WI.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lakefront Brewery: Milwaukee-based craft brewery operating a comparable taproom, event venue, and statewide Wisconsin distribution model. Closest geographic and operational analog to Capital's taproom-plus-wholesale hybrid.
• New Glarus Brewing Company: Wisconsin's largest craft brewery, also founded in the early 1990s and known for fruit-forward German-style beers. Most directly comparable peer in terms of geography, German-brewing heritage, and Midwest taproom culture.
• Octopi Brewing: Waunakee, WI-based craft brewery that also produces packaged beer for both its own brand and contract clients. Comparable in scale, Wisconsin footprint, and brewhouse size to Capital.
• Karben4 Brewing: Madison, WI craft brewery competing directly for craft enthusiasts in Capital's home market. Similar scale, focus on draft/taproom revenue, and regionally distributed packaged beer.
• Minhas Craft Brewery: Monroe, WI regional craft brewery with a comparable multi-SKU portfolio and Midwest distribution footprint. Useful benchmark for Wisconsin craft pricing and channel economics.

Regional players

• Ale Asylum: Madison, WI craft brewery historically competing head-to-head with Capital for Madison-area tap handles and taproom traffic. Closest same-city competitor even though its operational status has fluctuated.

Broad incumbents

• Bell's Brewery: Large Midwest craft brewery (Comstock, MI) with multi-state distribution and an Oberon-style seasonal lager franchise. Represents the scaled-up, multi-state version of Capital's regional craft model.
• Boston Beer Company: National craft-brewing incumbent (Samuel Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea) with a broad portfolio spanning beer, NA beer, and hard seltzers. Strategic reference for Capital's NA and seltzer diversification moves.
• Stone Brewing: Established West Coast craft brewery with multi-state distribution and a destination taproom similar in spirit to Capital's Bier Garten. Useful comparable for venue-as-revenue and beer-tourism economics.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. One of the largest U.S. craft breweries with national distribution and a flagship pale ale plus seasonal portfolio. Reference point for what scaled regional craft looks like after decades of brand building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapBrew
• Instagraminstagram.com/capitalbrewery
• Xx.com/capbrew
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capital-brewery-company-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Capital Brewery