Cisco Brewers

Cisco Brewers is a beverage producer based on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, United States. Its business combines beer brewing with distilling and winemaking, giving it a broader portfolio than a conventional single-category craft brewery. The company is associated with Nantucket’s visitor economy and presents itself as a distinctly island-based producer, with products and experiences tied to the local setting. The brewery began in 1992, when Randy and Wendy Hudson moved into a loft above Nantucket Vineyard, a winery founded by Dean and Melissa Long in 1981. The Hudsons started making beer at the winery site in an improvised outdoor brewing area described as a nanobrewery. This early arrangement helped establish Cisco Brewers as a small, hands-on operation rather than a large industrial producer. A later move to the Mortan Building temporarily prevented the company from selling beer during July and August 1996. The disruption became part of the brand’s identity through the slogan “Nice beer, if you can get it.” Cisco Brewers developed alongside related Nantucket alcohol businesses. Nantucket Vineyard had originally attempted to cultivate grapes on the island but shifted to importing grapes from California, Washington, and New York after local growing conditions proved unsuitable. In 2000, after a Massachusetts license application initiated in 1997 was approved, the associated distilling operation began producing high-proof spirits. Triple Eight Distillery took its name from Nantucket well number 888, whose water was used for its vodka. The distilling program also included Notch Whiskey, which was intended to mature for five years; vodka provided an earlier source of revenue while the whiskey aged. The company expanded its commercial reach through a relationship with Craft Brew Alliance. Craft Brew Alliance acquired a minority interest in Cisco Brewers in 2015, arranged for production at its Portsmouth, New Hampshire, facility, and became the brand’s master distributor. In 2018, Craft Brew Alliance acquired Cisco Brewers outright for $23 million. Craft Brew Alliance was subsequently acquired by AB InBev in 2020, placing Cisco Brewers within the global brewer’s portfolio while retaining its association with Nantucket and its local-origin positioning. Cisco Brewers’ portfolio includes beer, distilled spirits, and wine. Its beer range includes craft-style offerings such as light lager, while its spirits activity is represented by Triple Eight Distillery and products including vodka and whiskey. The brand has also used partnerships to connect products with environmental and marine causes. Its support for OCEARCH’s shark research led to a great white shark tagged near Nantucket in 2016 being named Cisco, and the company produces Shark Tracker Light Lager in support of that relationship. The brand’s core appeal is a combination of regional authenticity, destination-based hospitality, and category breadth. It is not positioned primarily as a mass-market global label; instead, its identity depends on Nantucket provenance, seasonal tourism, craft production, and links to local or maritime culture. Its current corporate ownership gives it access to a larger distribution and production system, but the available reference material continues to describe Cisco Brewers through its Nantucket roots and its integrated brewery, distillery, and winery model.

Cisco Brewers’ history is closely connected with the development of Nantucket’s small-scale wine, beer, and spirits businesses. Nantucket Vineyard, a related winery, was established in 1981 by Dean and Melissa Long. The Longs initially attempted to grow grapes on Nantucket, but the island’s climate and soil were not suitable for commercial grape cultivation. They therefore began importing grapes from California, Washington, and New York for winemaking. In 1992, Randy and Wendy Hudson moved into a loft above the winery and began producing beer at the site. Brewing took place almost entirely outdoors, apart from the cold-room facilities. This informal production arrangement was characterized as a nanobrewery and became the foundation for Cisco Brewers. The company later moved to the Mortan Building in 1996. Construction-related restrictions meant that Cisco could not sell beer during July and August of that year, an especially significant interruption for a Nantucket business dependent on seasonal activity. The episode inspired the slogan “Nice beer, if you can get it,” which became part of the brand’s early character. The operation expanded into distilled spirits during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Dean Long applied to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1997 for a license to manufacture high-proof spirits. Approval arrived in the fall of 2000. The distilling plan included Notch Whiskey, designed to mature for five years. Because whiskey would not immediately generate saleable inventory, the business also produced vodka. The vodka operation was named Triple Eight Distillery after Nantucket well number 888, whose water was used in its production. The company also raised capital for the whiskey program by allowing customers to purchase futures on barrels of Notch Whiskey. Cisco Brewers subsequently developed a relationship with Craft Brew Alliance. In 2015, Craft Brew Alliance purchased a minority stake and took on a larger role in manufacturing and distribution. Cisco beer began to be produced at Craft Brew Alliance’s facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Craft Brew Alliance became Cisco’s master distributor. This arrangement gave the Nantucket brand access to a more scalable production and distribution infrastructure while preserving its island-based identity. In 2018, Craft Brew Alliance completed the acquisition of Cisco Brewers for $23 million. Two years later, in 2020, AB InBev acquired Craft Brew Alliance. As a result, Cisco Brewers became part of AB InBev through the ownership chain, although the brand continued to be identified with Nantucket and with its combined brewery, distillery, and winery model. The company’s partnership with OCEARCH added an environmental and marine dimension to its public identity. Cisco Brewers supported OCEARCH’s shark research work, and a great white shark tagged near Nantucket in October 2016 was named Cisco. The brewery also produces Shark Tracker Light Lager in support of that relationship. This activity illustrates how Cisco has connected product marketing with Nantucket’s maritime setting and conservation-related themes. Across its development, Cisco Brewers has remained a multi-category craft beverage brand. Its product scope includes beer, spirits, and wine, while its positioning emphasizes local provenance, seasonal destination culture, and a hands-on production heritage. The company’s ownership and distribution structure have changed substantially since its nanobrewery beginnings, but its public identity remains anchored in Nantucket.

1. 2020Cisco Brewers enters the AB InBev portfolio

   AB InBev acquires Craft Brew Alliance, indirectly bringing Cisco Brewers under AB InBev ownership.

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2. 2018Craft Brew Alliance completes acquisition

   Craft Brew Alliance wholly acquires Cisco Brewers for $23 million.

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3. 2016OCEARCH partnership gains a named shark

   A great white shark tagged near Nantucket is named Cisco in recognition of the brewery’s support for OCEARCH research.

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4. 2015Craft Brew Alliance takes a minority stake

   Craft Brew Alliance invests in Cisco Brewers and assumes manufacturing and distribution responsibilities for the beer brand.

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5. 2000Triple Eight Distillery begins production

   After receiving approval in the fall, the distilling operation begins producing vodka and developing Notch Whiskey.

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6. 1997Application for a high-proof spirits license

   Dean Long applies to Massachusetts authorities for a license to manufacture high-proof spirits.

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7. 1996Move to the Mortan Building

   Cisco Brewers moves to a new building and temporarily loses the ability to sell beer during July and August because of construction.

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8. 1992Cisco Brewers begins brewing on Nantucket

   Randy and Wendy Hudson begin producing beer at the Nantucket Vineyard site in an outdoor nanobrewery.

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9. 1981Nantucket Vineyard is founded

   Dean and Melissa Long establish Nantucket Vineyard, the winery associated with the later development of Cisco Brewers.

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A Nantucket-rooted craft beverage brand combining beer, spirits, and wine with destination hospitality and maritime environmental associations.

• Cisco beerBeer1992

  Cisco Brewers’ original and central product category, developed from the outdoor Nantucket nanobrewery established in 1992. The beer portfolio represents the brand’s craft-brewing heritage and is associated with the island setting, seasonal tourism, and a locally rooted identity. Production later expanded through Craft Brew Alliance’s Portsmouth, New Hampshire, facility.

• Shark Tracker Light LagerBeer

  A light lager associated with Cisco Brewers’ support for OCEARCH shark research. The product links the brewery’s beer business with marine conservation and Nantucket’s coastal identity, and takes its name from shark-tracking activity supported by the partnership.

• Triple Eight vodkaVodka2000

  Vodka produced through the company’s distilling operation, which became known as Triple Eight Distillery. The name refers to Nantucket well number 888, whose water was used in production. Vodka was introduced as an immediately saleable spirit while the company’s whiskey matured.

• Notch WhiskeyWhiskey2000

  A single-malt whiskey developed by the distilling operation associated with Cisco Brewers. The original plan called for the whiskey to age for five years. Because maturation delayed revenue, the company supplemented the program with vodka and offered barrel futures to help raise capital.

• Nantucket wineWine1981

  Wine produced through the Nantucket Vineyard operation associated with Cisco Brewers. Because local conditions were unsuitable for growing grapes at commercial scale, the winery used grapes imported from California, Washington, and New York.

• 2016OCEARCH shark research partnership

  United States

  Cisco Brewers supported OCEARCH’s research into sharks and helped connect the brand with marine conservation. A great white shark tagged near Nantucket in October 2016 was named Cisco.

  Outcome. The partnership produced a direct connection between the Cisco name and a tracked great white shark, and supported the Shark Tracker Light Lager product.

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• 2020Become part of AB InBev through Craft Brew AllianceM&A

  AB InBev acquired Craft Brew Alliance, Cisco Brewers’ corporate parent at the time.

  What changed. Cisco Brewers entered AB InBev’s portfolio through the acquisition of Craft Brew Alliance.

  Aftermath. The ownership chain connected the Nantucket brand to a global brewing group while its public identity remained centered on local beer, spirits, and wine production.

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• 2018Sell Cisco Brewers to Craft Brew AllianceM&A

  After the minority-investment and distribution relationship established in 2015, Craft Brew Alliance moved to acquire the entire business.

  What changed. Craft Brew Alliance completed the acquisition of Cisco Brewers for $23 million.

  Aftermath. Cisco Brewers became part of Craft Brew Alliance and later entered AB InBev’s portfolio when AB InBev acquired Craft Brew Alliance in 2020.

  Acquisition price. $23 million (2018)

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• 2015Accept minority investment from Craft Brew AllianceM&A

  Cisco Brewers sought a broader production and distribution platform while maintaining its Nantucket-rooted brand.

  What changed. Craft Brew Alliance purchased a minority stake, began producing Cisco beers at its Portsmouth facility, and became the master distributor.

  Aftermath. The relationship led to Craft Brew Alliance’s full acquisition of Cisco Brewers in 2018.

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• 2020AB InBev acquires Craft Brew Alliance

  AB InBev acquired Craft Brew Alliance, bringing Cisco Brewers into AB InBev’s broader beverage portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2018Craft Brew Alliance acquires Cisco Brewers outright

  Craft Brew Alliance completed the purchase of Cisco Brewers for $23 million, moving the Nantucket producer from minority-investment status to full ownership.

  M&A
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• 2016Cisco Brewers supports OCEARCH shark research

  Cisco Brewers supported OCEARCH’s shark research activities. A great white shark tagged near Nantucket in October 2016 was named Cisco after the brewery.

  CampaignOther
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• 2015Craft Brew Alliance acquires a minority stake in Cisco Brewers

  Craft Brew Alliance took a minority interest in Cisco Brewers, added production of Cisco beers at its Portsmouth, New Hampshire, facility, and became the brand’s master distributor.

  M&A
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1. Cisco Brewers
2. Cisco Brewers official website