Slowboat Brewery

What Slowboat Brewery does

Slowboat Brewery (悠航SLOWBOAT) is a Beijing-headquartered craft brewery founded in 2011 by two foreign founders with 35+ years of China experience. The company operates a dual-line model combining scaled production at an independent Tianjin Wuqing brewery (operational since August 2022, with national food production license certification) and on-site brewing at five Beijing taproom/brewpub locations: the Sanlitun flagship (2016), Dengshikou (2019), Maizidian (2020), Baitasi (2022), and Shichahai (2024). The product portfolio spans four series — Signature (year-round core), Pilot (international collaborations launched in 2024), Tidal (seasonal limited releases), and Festive (custom gift boxes) — producing 70+ distinct beers annually, including proprietary techniques such as house-cultivated lactobacillus, thiol yeast fermentation and DDH/TDH dry-hopping.

The brewing team comprises 12 senior brewers led by Brewmaster Baylor and Director of Brewing Alex. Revenue is generated through four streams: in-venue draft beer and food service at the 5 Beijing taprooms (the Sanlitun flagship features a 750 sqm on-site brewery and three dining floors); canned-beer retail across four national e-commerce platforms (Tmall, Taobao, JD self-operated, Douyin); the Dahui Club subscription membership program with 15 annual benefits; and Festive Series corporate gift boxes. Distribution is exclusively domestic, with brand reach extended via tap-takeover events at partner bars in Qingdao, Ningbo and Xi'an, and a 2025 partnership with LAS MUSAS at the China Tennis Open.

The company has accumulated 46 international beer awards across competitions in Europe, Australia, China, Japan and Brazil, and its burger program has won the Burger Cup Championship 7 times. Slowboat is privately held (legal entity 北京悠航华科技有限公司), with no disclosed funding rounds and no revenue disclosure in source material.

Name

Slowboat Brewery

Legal name

北京悠航华科技有限公司

Website

https://slowboatbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Slowboat Brewery is a Beijing-based craft brewery founded in 2011, operating five taprooms and a Tianjin production facility. It produces 70+ craft beers annually across signature, collaboration, seasonal, and gift-box lines for premium domestic consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

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

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Craft brewery
• Brewpub operations
• Craft beer retail
• Beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 线下门店餐饮及啤酒销售: 5家线下门店提供现场酿造啤酒及美式餐饮（汉堡等），顾客在门店消费是核心收入来源之一。门店配备酿造工坊，实现现场酿造体验。
2. 听装/瓶装啤酒零售: 通过天猫、淘宝、京东、抖音四大电商平台销售罐装核心款啤酒，通过线上渠道触达全国消费者。
3. 会员及私域社群订阅: 大悠会会员体系（12个月15项权益），通过会员费/积分体系增强用户粘性与复购。
4. 礼盒定制（悠航典藏系列）: 每年根据重要节点推出定制礼盒（龙年、蛇年、十周年限定等），满足送礼、商务、宴请需求。

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Slowboat Brewery is a craft beer manufacturer and brewpub operator in China that produces 70+ beer styles annually across four product series (Signature, Pilot, Tidal, Festive) at its Tianjin Wuqing independent production facility. The company operates five taproom/brewpub locations in Beijing that combine on-site brewing with American-style dining service, while distributing canned beer products nationwide through Tmall, Taobao, JD.com, and Douyin e-commerce channels. Its burger program has won the Burger Cup Championship 7 times.

Product overview

Slowboat Brewery operates as a craft beer company with four distinct product series: the Signature Series (旗舰系列) for core year-round beers, The Pilot Series (领航者系列) for international collaboration brews, the Tidal Series (浪潮系列) for seasonal limited releases, and the Festive Series (典藏系列) for holiday gift boxes. The company runs five physical taproom/brewpub locations in Beijing (Sanlitun, Dengshikou, Maizidian, Baitasi, and Shichahai), maintains an independent production facility in Tianjin Wuqing, and sells canned products through major Chinese e-commerce platforms (Tmall, Taobao, JD.com, Douyin). Additionally, the brand is known for its award-winning burger program that has won the Burger Cup Championship 7 times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Series (旗舰系列) Core year-round beer lineup from Slowboat Brewery featuring award-winning classics such as Monkey's Fist IPA, Drink Like a Fish Pilsner, and Moon Jelly DDH Double IPA. Produced using stable brewing processes to maintain consistent high quality throughout the year.
• Pilot Series (领航者系列) International collaboration brew series launched from 2024 with renowned global breweries, featuring innovative brewing techniques and premium imported ingredients. Limited in production and distinctive in character.
• Tidal Series (浪潮系列) Seasonal limited-release beer series with creative branding and complex flavor profiles, typically available only during specific seasons and frequently selling out quickly upon release.
• Festive Series (典藏系列) Custom gift box product line released annually for important occasions such as Chinese New Year, brewery anniversary milestones, and corporate events. Fulfills gifting, business, banqueting, and gathering needs with premium packaging and selected beer varieties.
• Monkey's Fist IPA (猴拳IPA) West Coast IPA with double Citra hops delivering tropical fruit and mango aroma, orange-red color, medium body with citrus and fresh grain notes, finishing with smooth resinous bitterness. ABV 6.2%, bitterness 3.5, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs.
• Drink Like a Fish Pilsner (鱼得水皮尔森) Clean, bright Pilsner with elegant floral notes and grapefruit aroma, crafted with imported European Pilsner malt and Talus hops. ABV 4.8%, bitterness 1.5, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs.
• Moon Jelly DDH Double IPA (橘儿踪DDH双倍IPA) Award-winning DDH Double IPA blending hazy and West Coast IPA styles with intense hop aroma, silky texture, low bitterness and clear body. ABV 7.5%, bitterness 3.5, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs.
• Refined State Cucumber Sea Salt Gose (醍一杯!黄瓜海盐古斯) Refreshing Gose brewed with house-cultured lactic acid, fresh cucumber juice and lemon, featuring balanced acidity and crisp finish. ABV 4.0%, bitterness 0.5, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs. Multiple international award winner.
• Grandma Ding Dandelion Lager (丁婆婆蒲公英拉格) Herbaceous lager incorporating dandelion and white chrysanthemum, delivering subtle bitterness with floral and earthy notes. ABV 4.8%, bitterness 2.5, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs.
• Sea of Clouds DDH Session Hazy IPA (云鲲DDH社交浑浊IPA) Session Hazy IPA inspired by the mythical Kun fish, featuring dual dry-hopped Citra, Nelson Sauvin and Rakau hops with thiol yeast for tropical fruit aromatics. ABV 5.0%, available in 330ml cans and 20L kegs.
• Burger Series (汉堡系列) Authentic American-style burger lineup developed in-house by Slowboat Brewery, winning the Burger Cup Championship 7 times and forming a core brand element paired with craft beer service.
• Sanlitun Brewpub (三里屯酿酒坊) Flagship brewpub venue opened September 2016 in Beijing's Sanlitun district, featuring on-site 10hL brewery, three dining floors, and 7 consecutive years on Dianping's must-eat list. Serves Slowboat craft beers alongside the signature Burger Series.
• Dengshikou Taproom (灯市口门店) Taproom opened June 2019 near Dengshikou Subway Station with nearly 50 indoor seats and additional room '106' with 20 taps opened mid-2022. Serves all Slowboat craft beers, signature burgers, and specialty cocktails.
• Maizidian Brewpub (麦子店酿酒坊) Brewpub opened May 2020 serving as Slowboat's second beer production facility in Beijing, with 3-meter-tall brewing tanks twice the size of Sanlitun's, located 200m from Zaoying Station. Capacity for approximately 150 people.
• Baitasi Taproom (白塔寺门店) Taproom opened December 2022 near the Miaoying White Pagoda Temple with panoramic views across two floors, featuring 40 taps and seating for 160 guests.
• Shichahai Taproom (什刹海门店) Two-story restaurant opened February 2024 at Qianhai Lake with rooftop terrace and outdoor seating, featuring 45 taps and popular for tap takeover events. TimeOut Craft Beer Bar of the Year award winner.
• Dahenghui Membership Program (大悠会会员) Annual membership subscription program offering 15 distinct benefits including exclusive events, tap takeover priority access, new product previews, and private community participation for high-loyalty craft beer consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46项国际啤酒奖项，覆盖欧洲、澳大利亚、中国、日本、巴西等主要赛事
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LAS MUSAScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025悠航与旗下潮流墨西哥餐吧LAS MUSAS联合入驻2025年中国网球公开赛，在场馆内设立专属摊位，共同提供22款餐品和29款饮品，扩大品牌在高端消费群体中的影响力。
• 挪威乐威酒厂（Lervig）minorStrategic or Co-development Partner悠航首席酿酒师远赴挪威斯塔万格，与当地知名酒厂乐威合作，采用挪威稀有株科维克酵母发酵，共同酿造悠悠盘古双倍浑浊IPA，全程冷链空运至中国。
• 山西怡园酒庄minorStrategic or Co-development Partner悠航与山西怡园酒庄合作，采用怡园酒庄黄金丰收季采摘的赤霞珠葡萄与麦汁混合发酵，推出赤霞仙子葡萄帝国皮尔森。
• 香港CarbonBrewsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner悠航与香港厂牌CarbonBrews合作，以港式冻柠茶为灵感，采用悠航自制乳酸菌基底、锡兰红茶和柠檬皮，酿造飲杯啦港式冻柠茶DDH酸浑浊IPA。
• 去哪儿旅行minorGTM or Marketing Partner悠航与去哪儿旅行联合推出定制罐活动，品牌跨界合作，扩大双方品牌曝光度。
• NESTminorGTM or Marketing Partner悠航与NEST联合举办品牌活动，增强在年轻消费者群体中的影响力。
• 酵杯茶minorStrategic or Co-development Partner悠航与坚持纯茶发酵的酵杯茶合作，选用优质白茶慢发酵的康普茶为基底，共同打造甜水园硬苏打：桃子康普茶。
• 邪恶双子（Evil Twin）minorStrategic or Co-development Partner灵感源自邪恶双子创始人Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø对川菜的狂热，与悠航对酸嘢的喜爱间的合作，共同酿造双子舵手芒果菠萝大椒酸艾尔。

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brooklyn Brewery: Established US craft brewery with international expansion and a strong brewpub/taproom heritage. Comparable in craft pedigree and brewpub-style retail model, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Tsingtao Brewery (青岛啤酒): China's largest mainstream brewery, with extensive national distribution and a portfolio spanning premium and craft-style extensions. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same end-category (beer) but at mass scale and across all price tiers.

Direct peers

• Jing-A Brewing (京A): Beijing-founded craft brewery (2012) operating multiple brewpubs and producing a hop-forward, internationally awarded beer range. Comparable in Beijing origin, premium positioning, and brewpub-led retail format.
• Panda Brew (熊猫精酿): One of China's leading independent craft beer brands, founded 2013, with multiple taprooms and nationwide retail distribution. Directly comparable as a Chinese craft pioneer competing for the same premium urban consumer and on-premise venue mindshare.
• Great Leap Brewing (大跃啤酒): Beijing-founded craft brewery (2010) with brewpub venues and an emphasis on locally inspired recipes incorporating Chinese ingredients. Closely comparable in Beijing brewpub heritage, ingredient-driven storytelling, and small-batch craft positioning.
• NBeer (牛啤堂): Beijing-based craft brewery founded in 2012 with multiple brewpubs, an in-house brewing program, and an emphasis on hop-forward styles (IPA/Hazy IPA). Highly comparable in geography (Beijing-headquartered), product range, and brewpub-taproom operating model.
• Master Gao Brewery (高大师酿酒): One of China's earliest craft breweries (founded 2008 in Nanjing), with taproom and packaged retail operations across multiple cities. Comparable as a heritage Chinese craft pioneer competing for the same national craft consumer.
• Boxing Cat Brewing (拳击猫): Shanghai-founded craft brewery (2008) with brewpubs across Tier-1 Chinese cities and an award-winning portfolio. Closely comparable in brewpub-led retail model, IPA-focused range, and international award pedigree.

Others

• Evil Twin Brewing: Globally recognized gypsy/specialty craft brewery known for experimental IPAs and sours. Comparable as a Slowboat collaboration partner (Twin Helmsman Mango Pineapple Chili Sour Ale) and as a benchmark for the experimental, globally distributed craft category.
• Lervig Brewery: Norwegian craft brewery known for hop-forward IPAs and specialty fermentation techniques. Comparable as an international collaboration partner (Slowboat has co-brewed with Lervig using their Kölsch yeast) and as a benchmark for the kind of internationally recognized craft pedigree Slowboat is pursuing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slow-boat-brewery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Slowboat Brewery