Buffalo Bill's Brewery

What Buffalo Bill's Brewery does

Buffalo Bill's Brewery is a craft brewery and brewpub operator founded in 1983 by Bill Owens in Hayward, California. It is recognized as America's first brewpub, established shortly after California law changed to permit brewpubs to operate. The company produces a portfolio of approximately seven craft beer varieties, including America's Original Pumpkin Ale (a proprietary seasonal product), Orange Blossom Cream Ale, Blood Orange Imperial Ale, Black Pumpkin Oatmeal Stout, Everlasting Blueberry Oatmeal Stout, Alimony IPA West Coast Rye, and Tasmanian Devil Imperial Ale. It also publishes the BBB Book, a title chronicling its brewing history and recipes.

The business operates through two channels: a direct-to-consumer brewpub restaurant at 1082 B St, Hayward, and a wholesale distribution portal for registered retailers and distributors. Revenue is generated from on-site food and beverage sales alongside wholesale packaged beer transactions. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and employs 11-50 people. Its founder, Bill Owens, was instrumental in advocating for California Assembly Bill 3610, which created the legal framework for brewpubs in the United States, and authored influential brewing publications including 'How to Build A Small Brewery' and multiple industry magazines. The brewery was featured in the Smithsonian's 'Beer, A Connoisseur's Guide to the World's Best' in 1989, lending it historical credibility in the U.S. craft beer movement.

Name

Buffalo Bill's Brewery

Legal name

Buffalo Bill's Brewery

Website

https://buffalobillsbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Buffalo Bill's Brewery is America's first brewpub, founded in 1983 in Hayward, California, producing craft beer and operating on-site dining alongside wholesale distribution to retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Beer, Wine, Spirits) (AFAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewpub restaurant services
• Wholesale beer distribution
• Seasonal ale production
• Small batch brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayward

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brewpub food and beverage sales: On-site restaurant and bar sales at the brewpub location in Hayward, California, serving food alongside freshly brewed craft beers.
2. Wholesale beer distribution: Wholesale distribution of packaged and draft beer to retailers and distributors through a registered wholesale portal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Buffalo Bill's Brewery operates America's first brewpub, founded in 1983 in Hayward, California. The company produces and serves a portfolio of seven craft beer varieties on-site alongside food service, and distributes packaged and draft beer to retailers and distributors through a registered wholesale portal. Operations combine an on-site brewery, brewpub restaurant, and B2B wholesale distribution.

Product overview

Buffalo Bill's Brewery is America's first brewpub, established in 1983 in Hayward, California. The company operates as a craft brewery and restaurant offering a portfolio of seven distinct beer varieties, including seasonal specialties like America's Original Pumpkin Ale and year-round favorites such as Orange Blossom Cream Ale, Blood Orange Imperial Ale, and various stouts and IPAs. In addition to its core brewing operations, the company publishes the BBB Book chronicling its brewing history, and maintains a wholesale distribution program for its beer products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orange Blossom Cream Ale
• Ruby in the Sky Blood Orange Imperial Ale
• America's Original Pumpkin Ale
• Black Pumpkin Oatmeal Stout
• Everlasting Blueberry Oatmeal Stout
• Alimony IPA West Coast Rye
• Tasmanian Devil Imperial Ale
• Brewpub Restaurant Services
• BBB Book

Quantifiable outcome

• Pioneered the U.S. brewpub industry starting in 1983

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Russell City DistilleryminorOthersGeoff Harries, who was General Manager and Brewmaster at Buffalo Bill's and co-authored 'How to Build a Small Brewery' with Bill Owens, has embarked on his newest venture Russell City Distillery. Harries is associated with Buffalo Bill's legacy and represents a continuation of the brewing expertise that originated at the brewery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Russian River Brewing Company: Iconic Northern California brewpub and packaging brewery known for Pliny the Elder IPAs and sour beer programs. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a craft brewery with both on-premise brewpub service and significant wholesale distribution, sharing the Bay Area/California craft market.
• Drake's Brewing Company: Bay Area craft brewery operating a brewpub in San Leandro with broad packaged distribution across the West Coast. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a regional Bay Area brewery combining on-premise taproom service with packaged beer distribution.
• 21st Amendment Brewery: San Francisco-based brewpub and craft brewery founded in 2000 with a taproom and broad packaged distribution. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a Northern California brewpub producing seasonal and year-round craft beers for both on-premise and wholesale channels.
• Triple Rock Brewing Co. Berkeley, California brewpub operating since 1986, one of the early Bay Area brewpubs that predates the craft beer boom. Directly comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a Bay Area brewpub combining on-site food service with in-house brewing of craft beers for both taproom and wholesale distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing Co. Large California craft brewery founded in 1996 in San Diego, known for IPAs and aggressive distribution. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a California craft brewery with seasonal specialties and a broad packaged wholesale business.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. One of the largest U.S. craft breweries, founded in 1979 in Chico, California, and a foundational player in the American craft beer movement. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a California craft pioneer, though at significantly larger scale and with national distribution.
• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Major California craft brewery founded in 1993 in Petaluma, now part of Heineken, with national distribution. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a California craft brewery with both flagship and seasonal/IPA-focused lineups and broad U.S. wholesale reach.
• Anchor Brewing Company: Historic San Francisco craft brewery and pioneer of the American craft beer movement, founded in 1896. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a California craft beer pioneer with deep brand heritage, though operating at substantially larger scale as a national craft brand.

Emerging players

• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: National restaurant chain with in-house brewpubs operating across the U.S., producing proprietary craft beers alongside food service. Comparable to Buffalo Bill's as a brewpub-format operator combining on-premise food and in-house brewing, though at much larger multi-unit scale.

Others

• Russell City Distillery: New distillery venture founded by Geoff Harries, the long-time Brewmaster of Buffalo Bill's. Included as an adjacent/related party given the shared founder and direct talent lineage from Buffalo Bill's; not a competitor but a strategic relationship and potential brand-extension opportunity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/buffalobrewery
• Facebookfacebook.com/BuffaloBillsBrewery
• Instagraminstagram.com/buffalobillsbrewery

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 Buffalo Bill's Brewery