• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

Current price of oil as of August 21, 2026

3

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

Current price of oil as of August 21, 2026

3

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune
Retail

IPO for IPA: California craft brewer Ballast Point to go public

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 19, 2015, 2:14 PM ET
Beer taps in San Diego micro brewery
Among others, taps with Pale Ale, Koelsch Style Ale and Longfin Lager, Helles Lager in tasting room of the Ballast Point Brewing Company, in August 2014. Photo by: Frank Duenzl/picture-alliance/dpa/AP ImagesPhotograph by Frank Duenzl — picture-alliance/AP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

At a time when many craft brewers are opting to sell their businesses, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits has an unconventional plan for the brewer’s future: it’s going public.

The San Diego-based craft brewery, the nation’s 31st largest craft brewer, has officially filed plans to go public with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The brewer would be one of the few publicly traded craft beer companies, joining a small club with Sam Adams maker Boston Beer (SAM) and Redhook and Kona brewer Craft Brew Alliance (BREW). There were also reports over the summer that SweetWater could go public, but that deal hasn’t occurred yet.

The craft beer space is a hot sub-segment of the $101.5 billion U.S. beer industry. Though volume for the total beer industry has been generally flat, the craft beer segment’s market share has jumped from 5% in 2010 to 11% last year. The hot growth has led some craft brewers to sell their businesses to larger rivals or private equity firms that see great potential in the smaller brewer’s growth prospects. The pace of those deals for the past few years has led to some controversy in the craft beer industry. An IPO filing is another way for founders and investors to cash out, though this route hasn’t been nearly as popular.

Ballast Point is a tiny, yet fast growing brewer. Net revenue surged to $48.9 million in 2014 from $26.4 million the year before. Already for the first six months of 2015, net revenue stands at $51.7 million. The brewery is profitable – it generated nearly $6 million in net income in the first six months of this year.

Ballast Point produces 15 different styles of beer throughout the year. The company’s most popular beer is Sculpin, an IPA which was first released in 2005. Other popular beers from Ballast Point include a Pale Ale, Calico Amber Ale and Longfin Lager. It sold a total of 122,890 barrels of beer last year.

It also has a sense of humor. Ballast Point intends to list the company’s shares on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PINT. That would join Boston Beer’s SAM (SAM) (after Samuel Adams beer) and similarly recognizable tickers from Budweiser maker Anheuser-Busch (BUD) and Molson Coors (TAP).

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Retail


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.