Brewery Running Series

What Brewery Running Series does

Brewery Running Series (legal entity: Apple Adventure Racing, LLC) operates a distributed network of organized running events held at partner craft breweries across more than 20 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico. Founded in 2012 from a single event, the company now runs 300+ live events and virtual challenges per year, primarily 5K distances with some 10K and half-marathon options, and has accumulated 1,375,474 participant miles, 411,443 finish-line craft beverages, and $740,598 in donations to local nonprofits. The product is built on a decentralized "local event director" model in which regional co-founders and event directors (30+ named across the footprint) manage territory operations, partnerships, and community engagement; the Minnesota team serves as the operational hub.

The technology stack is intentionally lightweight: registration and ticketing run through Eventbrite as a third-party platform, the marketing site is built on Webflow, and merchandise is sold via a separate Shopify-style storefront at breweryrun.store. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile app, and no API surface. Revenue is generated through three principal streams: per-registration transaction fees (which bundle a craft beverage, a collector's pint glass or swag item, and access to event entertainment), direct-to-consumer merchandise sales, and sponsorship/partnership fees from breweries and consumer brands (Liquid Death, Clif Bar, Stretch Lab, Natural Grocers, Woodsman Axe, among others). Approximately 10% of proceeds are routed to local nonprofits, with select events donating 100%.

The business is privately held under Apple Adventure Racing, LLC, has 11–50 employees, has never raised institutional capital, and is led by co-founders Morgan (Jappe) Portz (Executive Director) and Nate Herrington. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with growth dependent on regional event directors, volunteer/ambassador programs, and word-of-mouth within running and craft-beer communities.

Name

Brewery Running Series

Legal name

Apple Adventure Racing, LLC

Website

https://breweryrunningseries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brewery Running Series operates 300+ annual 5K running events at 100+ partner craft breweries across 20+ U.S. states, monetizing via registration fees, merchandise, and sponsorships while donating ~10% of proceeds to local nonprofits under a decentralized event-director franchise model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organized Running Events

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAGAE

Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

Keywords

• 5K fun runs
• Brewery running events
• Craft beer events
• Community running series
• Charity running events

Headquarters

HQ city

Mankato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Participants pay to register for running events. Each registration includes a craft beverage, collector's pint glass or swag item, and access to event entertainment. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, pint glasses, running socks, water bottles, and bottle openers through breweryrun.store and at events.
3. Sponsorship and Partnership Fees: Local breweries pay to host events. Series partners and sponsors pay for branding and marketing exposure at events.
4. Donation Program: 10% of proceeds donated to local nonprofits. Select events (Arbor Day 5k, Root Beer Run) donate 100% of proceeds back to community. Over $740,598 donated to date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brewery Running Series organizes and operates group running events — primarily 5K races, with select 10K and half-marathon distances — held at partner craft breweries across 20+ U.S. states. Each registration includes a free craft beverage, a collector's pint glass or series swag item, and access to event entertainment. The company also sells branded merchandise through its own e-commerce store and runs virtual challenges and special initiatives such as the BRS X America relay.

Product overview

Brewery Running Series is a single-product event company offering organized running events (primarily 5K, with some 10K and Half Marathon distances) held at partner breweries across 20+ U.S. states. The core product combines a group run with a free craft beverage at the finish line. The company operates as Apple Adventure Racing, LLC and has expanded from one event in 2012 to over 300 live events and virtual challenges per year. The offering includes: the core running event product (registration via Eventbrite, with free craft beverage and collector's pint glass or series swag item included), a merchandise shop (breweryrun.store), special ticket package sales, virtual challenges, and the 'BRS X America' cross-country relay initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brewery Running Series Events (5K/10K/Half Marathon) Organized group running events held at partner breweries, primarily 5K distance (approximately 3.1 miles) with select 10K and half-marathon options. Each registration includes a free craft beverage, a collector's pint glass or series swag item, and access to event entertainment. Open to runners, joggers, and walkers of all skill levels.
• Virtual Challenges Virtual running challenges allowing participants to complete runs remotely and engage with the Brewery Running Series community without attending in-person events.
• Brewery Running Series Shop (Branded Merchandise) Direct-to-consumer online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, pint glasses, running socks, water bottles, bottle openers, swag points cards, and commemorative items for event participants and fans.
• Ticket Pack Sales (Multi-Event Bundles) Bundle ticket packages offering discounted or bundled access to multiple Brewery Running Series events within a region, sold via the Eventbrite platform (e.g., 2026 CA Brewery Running Series ticket packs).
• BRS X America (Cross-Country Pint-to-Pint Relay) Special cross-country relay initiative inviting participants to join a pint-to-pint running journey across the United States, created to celebrate the company's 10th anniversary season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,375,474 collective miles travelled by participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partner BreweriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor100+ breweries across 20+ states host BRS events. Breweries provide venue, promote to their customers, and receive foot traffic and brand exposure in exchange.
• Local Nonprofit OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRS donates 10% of proceeds to local nonprofits, with select events (Arbor Day 5k, Root Beer Run) donating 100%. Over $740,598 donated to date across all locations.
• EventbritecoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party event registration platform used for all event ticketing and registration management.
• Series Sponsors (Various)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors receive branding and marketing exposure at events. Includes brands like Liquid Death, Cliff Bar, WoodsmanAxe, Stretch Lab, Natural Grocers, and various local businesses.
• Adaptive AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner providing adaptive sports opportunities; receives donations and promotes events to their community.
• Run-MinnesotaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner promoting running events and community engagement in Minnesota markets.
• Race2AdventureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for destination events like the Budapest to Oktoberfest Danube River Cruise 2027.
• Apple Adventure Racing, LLCcoreOthersParent company that owns Brewery Running Series. © 2026 Apple Adventure Racing, LLC.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Spartan Race: Large obstacle-racing brand operating events across the U.S. with substantial sponsorship and merchandise revenue. Comparable as a multi-city paid endurance event series, though more competitive/obstacle-focused than BRS's casual format.
• Tough Mudder: Large-scale obstacle and endurance event company with branded festivals and post-event beer/food village culture. Comparable to BRS in operating paid mass-participation fitness events with post-race beverage culture, though at much larger scale and obstacle-race format.

Direct peers

• Hash House Harriers: Global network of social running clubs ('hashes') that combine a run/walk with post-run drinks and community rituals. Closely comparable to BRS in the explicit combination of running + beer + community, though organized as decentralized volunteer clubs rather than paid registration events.
• Ragnar Relay Series: Multi-day team relay running events held across multiple U.S. regions with strong community/social positioning. Comparable to BRS in operating model (multi-state running event series with hospitality/community angle) and target market (social/fitness consumers).
• Warrior Dash: Multi-city obstacle 5K series with post-race party and craft beer culture. Directly comparable to BRS in product (themed fun run with social/beer reward), target participant (casual, social runners), and revenue model (paid registration + on-site brand sponsorships).
• Hot Chocolate Run Series: National series of 5K/15K events marketed around a chocolate-themed post-race experience. Comparable to BRS as a themed, multi-city fun-run series where the 'reward at the finish line' is the core product hook.
• Rock 'n' Roll Running Series: Operates a national series of themed running events (5K, 10K, half marathon) with entertainment and post-race festivals. Closely comparable to BRS as a multi-city, paid themed-run series built around community and lifestyle branding.
• Color Run: Organizes mass-participation 5K 'fun runs' across multiple U.S. cities emphasizing inclusivity and a celebratory, non-competitive experience. Directly comparable to BRS in product format (themed 5K), pricing tier (~$30–50 registration), and target participant (casual runners seeking a social event).

Others

• Fleet Feet: National running specialty retail chain that also organizes local training groups, races, and community running events. Comparable to BRS as a community-driven running brand and potential channel/partner, though its primary business is retail rather than event organization.
• Strava: Subscription fitness social platform used by millions of runners and cyclists. Comparable to BRS as a community-driven fitness engagement layer; could serve as a future marketing/distribution channel for BRS events, though Strava is a software platform rather than an event operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mnbreweryrun
• Facebookfacebook.com/ORBreweryRun
• Instagraminstagram.com/usbreweryrun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brewery-running-series

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Brewery Running Series