Shipyard Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing, Soft drink production |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Gordon Hurtubise, Fred Forsley |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
Area served | United States (42 states as of 2017), United Kingdom |
| Products | Beer, soft drinks (Capt'n Eli's) |
Shipyard Brewing Company operates as both a brewery and soft drink producer, with its main office located in Portland, Maine. Established in 1994, it holds the distinction of being the largest brewing entity in Maine and owns the brands Sea Dog Brewing Company and Capt'n Eli's soft drinks. Within New England, Shipyard is recognized as the fourth-largest microbrewery, trailing behind Boston Beer Company, Harpoon Brewery, and Magic Hat Brewing Company.
The company's prominent seasonal brew, Pumpkinhead, introduced in 1997, accounts for roughly 40% of Shipyard's output during its limited three-month release period. Additionally, Shipyard produces an American adaptation of Old Thumper under a licensing agreement with Ringwood Brewery.
History
Shipyard Brewing Company originated in 1994 as an extension of Kennebunkport Brewing Company (KBC), which was founded by Gordon Hurtubise and Fred Forsley. The brewery initially operated out of Federal Jack’s Brew Pub in Kennebunk, Maine, before relocating to Portland’s waterfront later that year to accommodate increased demand.
In 1995, Miller Brewing Company purchased a 50% ownership share, granting Shipyard access to Miller’s research facilities and distribution channels; however, a downturn in production from 1996 to 1998 prompted Miller to divest its stake back to Shipyard.
The distribution of Capt'n Eli's soft drinks—created by Eli Forsley, father of co-founder Fred Forsley—began in 1996. By the year 2000, during a slowdown in the microbrewery sector, 75% of Shipyard’s sales were concentrated within New England.
Annual production rose from 81,641 barrels in 2008 to over 166,000 barrels by 2013 but then decreased to about 93,000 barrels by 2018. By 2017, Shipyard's beers reached consumers across 42 states. In 2011, the brewery offered seventeen different beer styles and was ranked as the nation’s 19th-largest craft brewery.
Compared to other breweries in Maine, Shipyard led with a production volume of 3.6 million gallons in 2016 but experienced a 29% reduction from its highest output recorded in 2013.
In 2018, Shipyard announced plans for a $36 million co-packing facility located in Hooksett, New Hampshire, designed to serve up to sixty companies. Its operational footprint includes locations in Maine, Vermont, Florida, and New York. The Portland site features a tasting room alongside a five-barrel brewing system; by 2023, additional tasting rooms had been established in Florida.
Shipyard extended its international reach through a beer exchange partnership with Rocks Brewing Company based in Sydney in 2019 and renewed a fifteen-year trade agreement with Marston's in the United Kingdom. Although it dropped from the Brewers Association's top craft brewers list between 2016 and 2019—falling from 28th to 42nd place—by 2023 Shipyard had become the leading American craft beer brand by volume within the UK market.
In 2020, Shipyard entered into a licensing deal with Brew Theory Brewery of Orlando to serve Florida consumers and launched a limited-edition Chamberlain Pale Ale celebrating Maine’s bicentennial anniversary.