Big Ugly Brewing
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersChesapeake, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Big Ugly Brewing does
Big Ugly Brewing Company LLC is a privately held craft microbrewery founded in 2015 by co-founder Shawn Childers and his business partner in Chesapeake, Virginia, where it operates as the city's first microbrewery from a single 6,000-square-foot facility at 845 South Battlefield Boulevard. The company brews and sells a rotating lineup of more than 20 in-house beers anchored by flagship offerings Rockers IPA (West Coast IPA), Sunbeam Blonde (Blonde Ale), Lite B.U.B. (light American lager), and Peake Lager (dry-hopped lager), supplemented by seasonal Big Bold Barrel Aged Beer releases and packaged 16oz cans and crowlers for off-premise consumption. On-site brewing operations are led by brewers Jack Ferris and Mark Fiscus, and the facility features a mezzanine, large outdoor patio (currently being expanded), and a front yard designed for events with exposed equipment as a deliberate experiential element.
The business model combines direct-to-consumer taproom sales with regional wholesale distribution, event venue rental, merchandise, and ancillary monetization. On-premise revenue is generated through pint, growler, and crowler sales at the taproom, complemented by Happy Hour promotions Tuesday-Thursday from 3-6pm and a Tapwyse mobile loyalty app for repeat visits. Off-premise revenue flows through Pretty Ugly Distribution, an independent craft brewery distributor sharing the same address and servicing retail accounts across Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the Outer Banks. Additional revenue streams include private event bookings (weddings, birthdays, corporate parties), $200 commemorative patio plaques permanently displayed on the patio brick wall, digital gift cards via Arryved, Printful-based branded merchandise, and food truck vendor fees.
The company has no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and operates with a headcount of 1-10. The customer base is fundamentally local and long-tail, serving craft beer enthusiasts, community-focused locals, and event celebrators in the Chesapeake and greater Hampton Roads area. The brewery has accumulated more than 40 documented awards across state, regional, and national competitions from 2015-2025, including Virginia Craft Beer Awards, GABF medals, US Open Beer Championship medals, Veer Awards, and a 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards Gold for 'Coolest Taproom'. A strategic co-location partnership with Taxus Street Coffee operates inside the taproom Tuesday-Saturday, extending daytime foot traffic and cross-selling beverage occasions.
Big Ugly Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Ugly Brewing
- Legal name
- Big Ugly Brewing
- Website
- https://biguglybrewing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Ugly Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)
Keywords
Where Big Ugly Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chesapeake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Ugly Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- On-site Beer Sales: Taproom sales of craft beers by the pint, growlers, and crowlers. Primary revenue stream from walk-in customers enjoying beers at the facility.
- Package Sales: Take-home beer sales in 16oz cans and crowlers for off-premise consumption. Distributed through retail locations via Pretty Ugly Distribution.
- Merchandise: Online shop selling branded merchandise including mens clothing items.
- Private Events: Venue rental for celebrations including retirement parties, holiday parties, birthdays, weddings, and baby showers.
- Patio Plaques: Sale of commemorative 3x8 inch plaques permanently displayed on the brick wall of the outdoor patio expansion. Priced at $200 per plaque with 4 lines of text (25 characters each).
- Food Truck Events: Hosting food truck vendors at taproom events generates vendor fees and drives beer sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Patio Plaque - $200 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Big Ugly Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Ugly Brewing operates Chesapeake Virginia's first microbrewery, producing and selling a rotating lineup of more than 20 craft beers including flagship offerings (Rockers West Coast IPA, Sunbeam Blonde Ale, Lite B.U.B. light lager, Peake dry-hopped lager) and seasonal Big Bold Barrel Aged Beer releases. Beers are served on draft in the taproom and packaged in 16oz cans and crowlers for off-premise consumption, with distribution through Pretty Ugly Distribution. The 6,000 sq ft facility also functions as an event venue hosting private parties, food truck gatherings, and live music.
Product overview
Big Ugly Brewing is Chesapeake, Virginia's first microbrewery, operating since 2015 as a single-location craft brewery with a taproom, outdoor patio, and event space. Its core product portfolio centers on a rotating lineup of more than 20 in-house brewed beers — anchored by flagship offerings Rockers IPA (West Coast IPA), Sunbeam Blonde (Blonde Ale), Lite B.U.B. (Light American lager), and Peake Lager (dry-hopped lager) — supplemented by seasonal Big Bold Barrel Aged Beer releases available in 16oz cans and crowlers. The brewery's taproom also houses Taxus Street Coffee, a partnered small-batch coffee roasting business, and offers venue rental services for private events. Additional revenue streams include a merchandise shop, digital gift cards, and live music/taproom events programming. Pretty Ugly Distribution, a craft beer distribution company, operates from the same address, servicing independent breweries across Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the OBX.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rockers IPA Flagship West Coast IPA brewed in-house at Big Ugly Brewing and regularly featured among the brewery's award-winning lineup. Available on tap at the Chesapeake taproom.
- Sunbeam Blonde Flagship Blonde Ale and one of the brewery's most recognized and award-winning offerings, served on draft at the Chesapeake taproom.
- Lite B.U.B. Light American lager offering a lower-alcohol, sessionable option among the brewery's flagship lineup, served on draft.
- Peake Lager Dry-hopped lager with a crisp, hop-forward profile distinct from the brewery's ales, served on draft at the taproom.
- Big Bold Barrel Aged Beers Seasonal and special release program of barrel-aged beers offered throughout the year, featuring unique and experimental recipes including variants like 22 Vanilla Porter.
- 16oz Cans and Crowlers Packaged beer products available for take-home purchase in 16oz cans and crowler containers, complementing the on-tap selection and distributed through Pretty Ugly Distribution.
- Taproom Events and Live Music Hosted events at the taproom including food truck gatherings, live music performances by solo acts and full bands, and community programming for adult patrons.
- Private Event Booking Reservation of the 6,000 sq ft facility — including mezzanine, large outdoor patio, and front yard — for private celebrations such as retirement parties, holiday parties, birthdays, weddings, and baby showers.
- Digital Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase online that allow customers to give the gift of beer at Big Ugly Brewing's taproom.
- Merchandise Shop Online shop selling Big Ugly Brewing branded merchandise, including men's clothing items, operated via Printful.
Companies that use Big Ugly Brewing
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Ugly Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Big Ugly Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Taxus Street CoffeecoreSmall batch, locally owned coffee roasting company located inside Big Ugly Brewing taproom. Operates Tuesday-Saturday (Tue-Fri 8am-Noon, Sat 8am-11:30am). Partners to utilize and support each other. Also features Klassic Doughnuts every Friday from 6am-Noon.
- Pretty Ugly DistributioncoreDistribution company for independent craft breweries, servicing Hampton Roads, Richmond and the OBX (Outer Banks). Located at 845 S Battlefield Blvd. Handles distribution of Big Ugly Brewing packaged beers to retail locations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Ugly Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Three Notch'd Brewing Company: Charlottesville-headquartered Virginia craft brewery with brewpub and distribution — comparable independent craft model and Virginia retail footprint.
Regional players
- New Realm Brewing Company: Virginia Beach (Hampton Roads) outpost of a multi-state craft brewery with taproom — adjacent regional peer serving the same Hampton Roads consumer base.
- Hardywood Park Craft Brewery: Richmond, VA craft brewery with taproom, large distribution footprint, and national recognition — comparable model but larger scale than Big Ugly.
- Starr Hill Brewery: Charlottesville, VA craft brewery with statewide Virginia distribution and a taproom — broader geographic reach than Big Ugly but same Virginia craft brewery category.
Direct peers
- Wasserhund Brewing Company: Virginia Beach-based craft brewery with taproom and Chesapeake/Hampton Roads distribution — comparable size, single-region craft model similar to Big Ugly.
- Commonwealth Brewing Company: Virginia Beach craft brewery and taproom with active retail distribution throughout Hampton Roads — close geographic and operational peer to Big Ugly.
- O'Connor Brewing Co. Norfolk, VA craft brewery with a taproom and a broad year-round plus seasonal lineup, sharing Big Ugly's regional Hampton Roads consumer base and direct-to-consumer-plus-distribution model.
- Smartmouth Brewing Company: Independently owned Hampton Roads craft brewery (Norfolk, VA) operating a taproom and distributed packaged beer — directly overlapping Big Ugly's geography, model, and product breadth.
- Alewerks Brewing Company: Williamsburg, VA craft brewery with taproom and regional Virginia distribution; similar portfolio breadth and small-team operating profile.
Broad incumbents
- Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Virginia's largest craft brewery (Nelson County base, statewide distribution, brewpub plus production facility) — sets the competitive benchmark for regional Virginia craft and represents the scaled incumbent Big Ugly competes against on retail shelves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Ugly Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceBig Ugly Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Ugly Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Big Ugly Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Ugly Brewing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Ugly Brewing
What does Big Ugly Brewing do?
Big Ugly Brewing operates Chesapeake Virginia's first microbrewery, producing and selling a rotating lineup of more than 20 craft beers including flagship offerings (Rockers West Coast IPA, Sunbeam Blonde Ale, Lite B.U.B. light lager, Peake dry-hopped lager) and seasonal Big Bold Barrel Aged Beer releases. Beers are served on draft in the taproom and packaged in 16oz cans and crowlers for off-premise consumption, with distribution through Pretty Ugly Distribution. The 6,000 sq ft facility also functions as an event venue hosting private parties, food truck gatherings, and live music.
Is Big Ugly Brewing a public or private company?
Big Ugly Brewing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Ugly Brewing founded?
Big Ugly Brewing was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Ugly Brewing based?
Big Ugly Brewing is headquartered in Chesapeake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Ugly Brewing make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. On-site Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are package Sales, merchandise, private Events, patio Plaques and food Truck Events.
Who are Big Ugly Brewing's main competitors?
Three Notch'd Brewing Company is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are New Realm Brewing Company, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and Starr Hill Brewery. Direct peers are Wasserhund Brewing Company, Commonwealth Brewing Company, O'Connor Brewing Co., Smartmouth Brewing Company and Alewerks Brewing Company. Devils Backbone Brewing Company is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Big Ugly Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Ugly Brewing.
What industry is Big Ugly Brewing in?
Big Ugly Brewing's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAC, Microbreweries & Craft Breweries, with a secondary code of CRADAIAA, Beer Brewing & Brands. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.