Fort Point Beer

Fort Point Beer Company is an independent craft brewery based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2014 by brothers Justin and Tyler Catalana, the company grew out of their earlier homebrewing project and Mill Valley Beerworks, a brewery and restaurant they opened in Mill Valley, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Fort Point was launched with Mike Schnebeck as Head Brewer and Dina Dobkin as Creative Director, and it quickly distinguished itself through a combination of approachable, well-made beers and a distinctive visual identity. The brewery's flagship beer, KSA Kölsch Style Ale, was the first beer it ever produced and remains its best seller. Inspired by Cologne's classic Kölsch, KSA blends American hops with traditional German malts to create a crisp, balanced ale. Fort Point's portfolio has expanded to include a range of core beers, seasonal and limited releases, and a line of dry ciders such as Super Dry and Super Natural. The company is known for its art deco-inspired can designs, which have become a recognizable part of its brand. Fort Point operates taprooms and a beer hall in San Francisco, including a location in the iconic Ferry Building and a boldly designed beer hall on Valencia Street. It distributes throughout California and offers direct-to-consumer shipping, with one-hour delivery in San Francisco and next-day delivery across California. In 2018, Fort Point became San Francisco's largest independent craft brewery. The company has also expanded into non-alcoholic offerings, releasing NA versions of KSA and Villager. As an independent producer, Fort Point emphasizes accessibility and quality, aiming to make craft beer approachable for a wide audience. Its branding and packaging have earned it recognition as one of the city's coolest indie breweries, and its KSA was voted into the SF Chronicle's Northern California Beer Hall of Fame in 2020.

Fort Point Beer Company's origins trace back to 2009, when brothers Justin and Tyler Catalana began homebrewing and developed a plan to open their first brewery and restaurant in their hometown of Mill Valley, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Within a year, they opened Mill Valley Beerworks, which became a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike. In 2014, eager to make a mark on San Francisco's craft brewing tradition, the brothers launched Fort Point Beer Company with Mike Schnebeck as Head Brewer and Dina Dobkin as Creative Director. The brewery was named after the historic Fort Point in San Francisco, reflecting its deep connection to the city. After developing a following with draft beer, Fort Point debuted its can line-up in 2015, quickly gaining attention for its unique approach to beer packaging. The art deco-inspired can designs became a signature element of the brand. In 2016, San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building became home to Fort Point's first taproom. This location helped solidify the brewery's presence in the city and attracted both locals and tourists. By 2018, Fort Point had grown to become San Francisco's largest independent craft brewery and expanded distribution throughout California. This growth was driven by its core lineup, particularly KSA Kölsch Style Ale, which was the first beer the company ever made and remains its best seller. In 2019, Fort Point debuted its second location, a boldly-designed beer hall on San Francisco's Valencia Street. This expansion allowed the brewery to offer a more immersive experience for its customers. In 2020, Fort Point's flagship KSA Kölsch Style Ale was voted into the SF Chronicle's Northern California Beer Hall of Fame, a significant recognition of its quality and popularity. In 2021, with the food and beverage industry coming back to life after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fort Point focused on refining its lineup of six core beers and releasing monthly limited offerings. The company also continued to operate its taprooms and expand its distribution. More recently, Fort Point has expanded into non-alcoholic offerings, releasing NA versions of its time-tested favorites, KSA and Villager. These NA beers are brewed in the Bay Area and aim to capture the flavor, feeling, and aroma of the originals. The company also produces a line of dry ciders, including Super Dry and Super Natural, made with 100% West Coast apples. Throughout its history, Fort Point has remained independent and committed to its hometown of San Francisco, drawing inspiration from the city's history of breaking with tradition.

• 2021

  Fort Point focuses on refining its six core beers and releasing monthly limited offerings as the industry recovers.

• 2020

  KSA Kölsch Style Ale is voted into the SF Chronicle's Northern California Beer Hall of Fame.

• 2019

  Fort Point debuts its second location, a beer hall on Valencia Street in San Francisco.

• 2018

  Fort Point becomes San Francisco's largest independent craft brewery and expands distribution throughout California.

• 2016

  Fort Point's first taproom opens in San Francisco's iconic Ferry Building.

• 2015

  Fort Point debuts its can line-up, gaining attention for unique beer packaging.

• 2014

  Fort Point Beer Company is launched in San Francisco with Mike Schnebeck as Head Brewer and Dina Dobkin as Creative Director.

• 2010

  The brothers open Mill Valley Beerworks, which becomes a beloved destination.

• 2009

  Justin and Tyler Catalana start homebrewing and plan to open their first brewery and restaurant in Mill Valley.

Independent San Francisco craft brewery focused on making familiar styles taste unusually delicious, with a balance between interesting and easy to love.

• KSA Kölsch Style Ale

  Light and crisp Kölsch style ale, 4.6% ABV, the brewery's first beer and best seller.

• Villager San Francisco Style IPA

  San Francisco style IPA, available in 6-packs and non-alcoholic version.

• Super Dry Cider

  Perfectly balanced dry cider made with 100% West Coast apples, 6.4% ABV.

• Super Natural Cider

  Rosé inspired dry cider, 6.4% ABV.

• Sfizio Italian Style Pilsner

  Italian style pilsner, 4.9% ABV.

• Non-Alcoholic KSA

  Non-alcoholic version of KSA Kölsch Style Ale.

• Non-Alcoholic Villager

  Non-alcoholic version of Villager San Francisco Style IPA.

1. 1Fort Point Beer Company | Beer from San Franciscofortpointbeer.com
2. 2Our Story – Fort Point Beer Companyfortpointbeer.com
3. 3KSA Kölsch Style Ale — Fort Point Beer Co.fortpointbeer.com
4. 4Super Dry Cider — Fort Point Beer Co.fortpointbeer.com