Drakes Brewing

Drake's Brewing Company is a California craft brewery headquartered in San Leandro. The business began in 1989 under the name Lind Brewing, founded by Roger Lind, initially operating as a wholesale-only producer focused on kegged beer. Its early model placed the brewery within California's developing craft-beer distribution network rather than centering the business on a public-facing brewpub or taproom. The brewery operates from a former Caterpillar Inc. production facility in San Leandro. Over time, Drake's expanded beyond production into direct hospitality, beer-focused dining, events, and specialty releases. This venue strategy has helped the company present its beers in multiple settings while maintaining the brewery as the core of the business. The company is associated with the East Bay craft-beer scene and has developed a portfolio that includes standard brewery production as well as barrel-aged and specialty beers. A significant ownership transition took place in 2008, when Drake's was sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, a Berkeley brewpub. The available reference material does not identify those owners by name or specify the resulting corporate structure, but the transaction connected Drake's with an established Bay Area brewpub operation. Drake's subsequently developed a broader hospitality footprint. In 2015, it opened Drake's Dealership in a former automobile dealership building in Oakland. The venue combined a taproom and restaurant concept with the brewery's beer offering. In 2018, the company opened The Barn in West Sacramento, described as a taproom, restaurant, and events center. Drake's also operates Drake's Barrel House inside its barrel-aging warehouse in San Leandro. The venue is particularly associated with beers aged in barrels, many of which are made in limited quantities and are primarily available at the taproom rather than through ordinary growler or keg fills. The brewery's first bottling of a barrel-aged beer was Reunion Barley Wine Ale in 2013, marking a notable step in packaging and presenting one of its specialty aging projects. In 2023, Drake's acquired the formulas, recipes, and intellectual property of Bear Republic Brewing. The available material does not state whether the acquisition included facilities, employees, or the Bear Republic trademark as a broader operating business. The transaction nevertheless expanded Drake's access to brewing formulas and brand-related brewing assets from another California craft brewery. Drake's therefore combines regional craft brewing with destination taprooms, restaurants, events, and experimental or barrel-aged production. Its documented history reflects the evolution of a wholesale keg producer into a multi-venue California beer company. Detailed information about current executives, production volumes, distribution geography, ownership after the 2008 sale, and current product availability is not established by the supplied reference material.

Drake's Brewing Company began in 1989 as Lind Brewing, a wholesale-only kegged beer business founded by Roger Lind. The company's initial focus was production and wholesale supply rather than a consumer-facing taproom. It later became known as Drake's Brewing Company and operated from a former Caterpillar Inc. production facility in San Leandro, California. In 2008, the business was sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, a Berkeley brewpub. The supplied reference does not identify the purchasers individually or provide details about the transaction's financial terms. Following the sale, Drake's continued developing as a regional craft brewery while increasing its emphasis on taprooms and hospitality venues. The brewery's barrel-aging program became an identifiable part of its specialty production. Drake's operates Drake's Barrel House within its San Leandro barrel-aging warehouse. Many beers associated with the facility are limited or venue-specific releases and are not generally offered through standard growler or keg fills. In 2013, Drake's bottled Reunion Barley Wine Ale, described as its first bottled barrel-aged beer. In 2015, Drake's opened Drake's Dealership in Oakland in a former car dealership building. The site added a taproom and restaurant setting to the company's operating model. In 2018, Drake's expanded into West Sacramento with The Barn, a venue comprising a taproom, restaurant, and events center. In 2023, Drake's acquired Bear Republic Brewing's formulas, recipes, and intellectual property. The available source does not establish the full legal scope of the transaction, whether Bear Republic's facilities or workforce were included, or how the acquired assets were subsequently used. The documented history presents Drake's as a California craft brewery that evolved from a wholesale keg producer into a multi-location beer and hospitality company. Its business includes brewery production, taprooms, restaurants, events, and barrel-aged specialty beer. Current executive leadership, precise ownership arrangements, distribution markets, production scale, and a current official website are not identified in the supplied material.

1. 2023Bear Republic brewing assets acquired

   Drake's acquires Bear Republic Brewing's formulas, recipes, and intellectual property.

   Source
2. 2018The Barn opens in West Sacramento

   Drake's opens The Barn, a West Sacramento taproom, restaurant, and events center.

   Source
3. 2015Drake's Dealership opens in Oakland

   The company opens a taproom in a former automobile dealership building in Oakland.

   Source
4. 2013First bottled barrel-aged beer

   Drake's bottles Reunion Barley Wine Ale, identified as the brewery's first bottled barrel-aged beer.

   Source
5. 2008Ownership changes

   Drake's is sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse in Berkeley.

   Source
6. 1989Lind Brewing begins operations

   Roger Lind starts the business as a wholesale-only producer of kegged beer under the name Lind Brewing.

   Source

A California craft brewery combining wholesale beer production with taproom-led hospitality, restaurant, events, and specialty barrel-aged releases.

• Reunion Barley Wine AleBarrel-aged beer2013

  A barley wine ale associated with Drake's barrel-aging program. It was the brewery's first barrel-aged beer to be bottled, in 2013, and represents the company's specialty-release work beyond its regular kegged beer production.

• Barrel-aged beersSpecialty craft beer

  Drake's produces beers aged in barrels at its San Leandro barrel-aging warehouse. Many of these releases are distinctive to the program and primarily available through Drake's Barrel House rather than ordinary growler or keg fills.

• Kegged craft beerCraft beer1989

  The company's original business centered on wholesale-only kegged beer. The supplied material does not provide a complete list of current beer styles, labels, or seasonal products.

• 2023Acquisition of Bear Republic brewing intellectual propertyM&A

  Bear Republic Brewing had developed its own brewing formulas and recipes within California's craft-beer sector.

  What changed. Drake's acquired Bear Republic Brewing's formulas, recipes, and intellectual property.

  Aftermath. The supplied source does not specify the later commercialization, branding, or operational treatment of the acquired assets.

  Source
• 2018Opening of The Barn in West SacramentoStrategy

  The company continued developing destination venues alongside its brewery and taproom operations.

  What changed. Drake's opened The Barn as a taproom, restaurant, and events center.

  Aftermath. The move extended Drake's hospitality model into West Sacramento.

  Source
• 2015Expansion into an Oakland taproom and restaurantStrategy

  Drake's broadened beyond brewery production and wholesale beer through consumer-facing venues.

  What changed. The company opened Drake's Dealership in a former car dealership building in Oakland.

  Aftermath. The opening added a direct hospitality and restaurant location to Drake's operating footprint.

  Source
• 2008Sale to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and AlehouseM&A

  Drake's had operated as a California craft brewery after beginning as Lind Brewing, a wholesale keg business.

  What changed. The company was sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse in Berkeley.

  Aftermath. Drake's subsequently expanded its taproom and hospitality presence, although the supplied source does not explicitly attribute those later developments to the transaction.

  Source

• 2023Drake's acquires Bear Republic brewing formulas, recipes, and intellectual property

  Drake's acquired Bear Republic Brewing's formulas, recipes, and intellectual property. The available reference does not specify whether other assets or operations were included.

  M&A
  Source
• 2018Drake's opens The Barn in West Sacramento

  Drake's opened The Barn, a West Sacramento venue combining a taproom, restaurant, and events center.

  Other
  Source
• 2015Drake's opens Drake's Dealership in Oakland

  The brewery opened a taproom in a former automobile dealership building in Oakland, expanding its direct-to-consumer hospitality presence.

  Other
  Source
• 2008Drake's Brewing Company sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse

  Drake's Brewing Company changed ownership when it was sold to the owners of Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse in Berkeley, California.

  M&A
  Source

1. Drake's Brewing Company