Wasserhund Brewing Company

What Wasserhund Brewing Company does

Wasserhund Brewing Company is a family-owned craft beer brewery and brewpub operator founded in August 2015 by Aaron and Christine Holley, both Virginia Tech chemical engineering graduates. The company operates three taprooms in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, Virginia, each serving house-brewed German-inspired craft beer (Hefeweizen, German Pilsners, IPAs, Lagers, Sours, and seasonals) alongside a full in-house kitchen menu featuring creative dog-themed pizzas, German fare, salads, kids' options, and weekend brunch. Founders' chemical engineering expertise supports the brewing program, while engineering-inspired authenticity is a recurring brand and product theme (e.g., German Shepheweizen Hefeweizen, Doggy Paddle West Coast IPA).

Name

Wasserhund Brewing Company

Legal name

Wasserhund Brewing Company LLC

Website

https://wasserhundbrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wasserhund Brewing Company operates three family-owned craft beer taprooms in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk, VA, serving German-inspired house-brewed beer, in-house food, and merchandise to local residents, families, and dog owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• German-style beer
• Brewery taproom
• House-made pizza
• Craft beer hall

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Premise Beer and Food Sales: Primary revenue stream from taproom sales of craft beers and full food menu including pizza, German-inspired dishes, appetizers, and desserts. Serves beer in various sizes (pints, flights, crowlers, growlers) and packages (cans, 4-packs, 6-packs).
2. Package Sales (To-Go): Off-premise sales of packaged beer including 12oz cans, 19.2oz cans, 32oz crowlers, and 64oz growler fills. Beer flights available for on-premise tasting.
3. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, glassware (pint glasses, tulip/IPA glasses), dog accessories (plush toys, bowls, leashes, collars), and promotional items (stickers, pins, taphandles). Available for purchase in-store or via email order with shipping.
4. Gift Cards: Gift card sales through Toasttab platform for use at any of the three Virginia locations.
5. Loyalty Program Participation: Indirect revenue benefit from loyalty program driving repeat visits and increased spending. Alpha Dog tier at 100 challenges includes 10% off visits and monthly perks (free pizza, new beer releases).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wasserhund Brewing Company is a craft brewery and taproom operator that brews and serves German-inspired craft beer (including Hefeweizen, German Pilsners, IPAs, Lagers, Sours, and seasonal specialties) alongside a house-made food program featuring German fare, creative pizzas, brunch, and kids' items across three Virginia locations. Operations center on direct-to-consumer on-premise consumption with supplemental packaged to-go beer, merchandise, and gift card sales.

Product overview

Wasserhund Brewing Company is a craft beer brewery and restaurant with three taproom locations in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. The company operates as a single unified offering combining house-brewed craft beer (IPAs, lagers, wheat beers, sours, and seasonal specialties) with a German-inspired food menu featuring homemade pizzas, salads, and creative entrees. Supporting services include a Top Dog Loyalty Program with gamified challenges and reward tiers, an online merchandise shop, and online ordering through Toast Tab integration. The company was founded in August 2015 and expanded with a second location in August 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Craft Beer House-brewed craft beers including IPAs, Lagers, wheat beers, Sours, stouts, and seasonal releases such as Dolphin Days Beach Helles, Unleashed Boysenberry Gose, Doggy Paddle West Coast IPA, German Shepheweizen, and Pick of the Litter Lager. Available on draft and in cans for on-premise consumption and to-go packaging across three Virginia locations.
• German-Inspired Food Menu Homemade pizzas (including signature mustard creme sauce varieties with dog-themed names), German-inspired fare, fresh salads, appetizers, sandwiches, kids' menu items, and weekly brunch specials. All prepared in-house with locally sourced ingredients when seasonally available.
• Top Dog Loyalty Program Free gamified loyalty program featuring 100+ challenges across Eat, Drink, Come, Share, and Buy categories. Members progress through tiered rewards (Prost Pup through Alpha Dog) including discounts, free merchandise, free pizza, specialty glassware, early beer release access, and ultimately the chance to brew their own custom beer at the Alpha Dog tier (100 challenges).
• Merchandise Shop Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, long sleeves, crewnecks), glassware (pint glasses, Belgian tulip glasses, IPA glasses), dog accessories (plush toys, bowls, leashes, collars), and promotional items (stickers, pins, taphandles). Available for purchase in-store at all three taproom locations or via email order with shipping.
• Taproom Experience Family-friendly craft beer hall experience with table service at three Virginia locations (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk). Includes dog-friendly patios, private events, weekly entertainment such as trivia nights and live music, charity nights, themed events (Oktoberfest, Christmas in July, Fantasy Fest, Princess Brunch), and military appreciation discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• $292,972 contributed to local charities since opening

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Point2 Running CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 March 2024Partner for Run Club events at Chesapeake location. $1 off draft pints and 20% off appetizers for all runners. Community fitness partnership driving foot traffic to Chesapeake taproom.
• Dogs on DeploymentcoreOthersCharity partner receiving 25% of taproom revenue on designated charity nights. 501(c)(3) organization supporting military pet owners. Based in and providing direct support to those in the Virginia region.
• Connect with a WishcoreOthersCharity partner organization. 501(c)(3) nonprofit with local chapter fulfilling wishes for individuals in need.
• Beach AmbassadorscoreOthersCharity partner supported through charity nights. Local organization serving Virginia Beach community.
• Here for the GirlscoreOthersBreast cancer support organization charity partner. 501(c)(3) providing direct support to those in the local region.
• BBNWRS (Brewer's National Network for Women's Rehabilitation and Sustainability)coreOthersBrewer association charity partner supporting women in the brewing industry.
• Virginia Disaster Recovery Fund (VDRF)coreOthersCharity partner providing disaster relief support. 501(c)(3) organization with Virginia focus.
• Vanguard LandingcoreOthersCharity partner supporting veterans. 501(c)(3) organization providing direct support to veterans in the Virginia region.
• Samaritan HousecoreOthersLocal homeless shelter and support services charity partner. 501(c)(3) organization serving the Virginia Beach community.
• AidNowminorOthersCharity partner organization with local chapter. 501(c)(3) providing community support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Back Bay Brewing Company: Virginia Beach craft brewery with on-site taproom; comparable local competitor in the same Virginia Beach sub-market targeting similar craft beer and casual food customers.
• Coastal Fermentory: Virginia Beach craft brewery with taproom focus; comparable scale and direct local competitor for on-premise craft beer occasions in the same coastal Virginia market.
• Smartmouth Brewing Company: Norfolk, VA-based independent craft brewery operating a tasting room plus satellite locations, competing directly with Wasserhund for Hampton Roads craft beer traffic with a similarly broad IPA/lager/sour portfolio.
• Young Veterans Brewing Company: Virginia Beach-based veteran-founded craft brewery with taproom and community-event programming, directly comparable in scale, hometown, and community-led GTM motion.
• Alewerks Brewing Company: Williamsburg, VA craft brewery with taproom and broader distribution across Virginia; comparable regional craft peer at slightly larger scale than Wasserhund.

Broad incumbents

• Port City Brewing Company: Alexandria, VA-based established craft brewery with packaged distribution and taproom; a larger Virginia craft incumbent competing for similar German-style and lager drinkers in the broader mid-Atlantic.
• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery: Richmond, VA craft brewery with flagship brewery, taproom, and packaged distribution; a more mature Virginia craft incumbent demonstrating the scaled trajectory from brewpub to regional brand.
• Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Roseland, VA craft brewery (now part of Anheuser-Busch) with flagship brewpub and packaged distribution; comparable German-inspired lager specialty alongside broader portfolio.
• Starr Hill Brewery: One of Virginia's largest and longest-running craft breweries, with multiple taprooms and broad distribution; serves as a larger-scaled template for what a Virginia craft brand can become.

Emerging players

• Triple Crossing Beer: Richmond, VA-based craft brewery with multiple taproom locations; comparable multi-location growth playbook in Virginia though in a different metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wasserhundbrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/wasserhundbrew
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasserhund-brewing-company-llc

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 Wasserhund Brewing Company