Spike Brewing is up for sale

[Willy]

Just saw this on the Spike FB page. Ben is looking to sell Spike Brewing. Read the details here.

 

[Kickass]

I don’t think that FB page is linked any longer.

 

[matt_m]

The gist is the leadership team he put in place a couple years back when he stepped out of the day to day operations really screwed the company up. He's looking for someone to buy in this time so they have some skin in the game. Of course we all know homebrewing is in the toilet right now too.

Spike Is For Sale! (kinda)
​

Hey all! Ben, Owner of Spike here. (This photo is and always will be my favorite picture we've ever taken at Spike)

After 15 incredible years of Spike, I’ve started thinking about what the future holds for the company. I’m excited to begin some early succession planning to ensure Spike continues to grow and thrive. To me, the perfect person to carry on the Spike legacy isn’t necessarily a family member or friend, but rather a fellow brewer—someone who truly understands and loves what Spike stands for. And what better place to find that passion than in the brewing community that helped shape us.

What many of you may not know is that I started another business about 2.5 years ago—and over the past year, it’s really taken off in a big way. As that momentum builds, I’ve found myself at an exciting crossroads. It’s become clear that in order to give each business the attention it deserves, I need to focus my energy where it’s needed most.

This decision hasn’t come out of nowhere—I’ve been thinking about what it might look like to one day hand off Spike for quite some time. And recently, the right timing has started to come into focus.

This new venture is still in its early stages and demands a lot of hands-on time, while on the other hand, Spike has grown into a more mature, well-oiled machine—thanks in large part to the incredible team we have in place. It practically runs itself…
So, what am I looking for? I’m not exactly sure to be honest. Handing your baby off is extremely difficult, but I can unequivocally say that I do not plan to sell to a private equity firm or anyone who will put profits ahead of our brand, our quality and our brewing community.

What I’m really looking for is someone (or a company) with true skin in the game. Someone who will treat Spike and our customers with the same care and commitment I have over the past 15 years. Through experience, I’ve learned that this kind of dedication doesn’t come from a typical salaried role. It has to come from ownership—from someone who’s fully invested and genuinely believes in what Spike stands for.

My goal is to sell a meaningful stake in Spike to someone who’s ready to invest in its future. To be transparent, this will be a multi-seven-figure buy-in, and I’m sharing that upfront so serious candidates can determine if this is the right opportunity for them. And yes, our financials support it—even with conservative SBA financing guidelines.

At this point, I’m sure a lot of you are asking yourselves, “So how does this affect Spike in the short term?” Frankly, it doesn’t. We’ve got a solid team running day-to-day operations, and we’ve tackled long-standing quality and inventory challenges head-on over the last 6 months. Today, our quality metrics are at an all-time high, and out of stock issues that plagued us for years are a thing of the past. As I said before, Spike practically runs itself.

If you—or someone you know—might be the right fit to take the reins, let’s talk. I’m committed to finding the perfect person to carry on the Spike legacy and lead us into the next chapter of Spike 2.0 be it 2 months from now or 2 years from now!


Ben Caya
Founder | SPIKE
[email protected]

 

[MaxStout]

Be interesting to see if Spike can make it as a standalone company, with the decline in homebrewing.

Might be an opportunity as a bolt-on addition for some company in a related industry, like food service or dairy equipment.

 

[Willy]

If you are curious - here is the new business that Ben Caya is starting - a portable propane powered fire pit that can go on boats, camping trips etc. Called - Floating Flame
Floating Flame | The Only Fire Pit For Boats! https://share.google/qZt3CPiG8APdDE9MJ

 

[Imhoppy]

Floating Flame | The Only Fire Pit For Boats!

That's a great way for a business that will sure go up in smoke. Later to be renamed "Sinking Flameout' Lol

 

[mac_1103]

Called - Floating Flame

That's what we used to call the Cuyahoga River back in the 1970s.

 

[MaxStout]

 

[Willy]

View attachment 880462

Surprised the new company wasn't called "Spark". The idea was mixed by a marketing guy who had a prototype that had leaky glycol connections.

 

[shoengine]

Design language sure is consistent.

 

[shoengine]

Be interesting to see if Spike can make it as a standalone company, with the decline in homebrewing.

Might be an opportunity as a bolt-on addition for some company in a related industry, like food service or dairy equipment.

We're definitely in a period of consolidation. I think the brand is probably strong enough to be a part of a larger group, similar to how Stout Tanks was merged into the Lotus Alliance. Possibly by someone only in the commercial space that wants to add home brewing or nano.

 

[Skeeter686]

If you are curious - here is the new business that Ben Caya is starting - a portable propane powered fire pit that can go on boats, camping trips etc. Called - Floating Flame
Floating Flame | The Only Fire Pit For Boats! https://share.google/qZt3CPiG8APdDE9MJ

This seems like a very specific and small demographic.

 

[matt_m]

You must not live near a lake

 

[Imhoppy]

a portable propane powered fire pit that can go on boats, camping trips etc. Called - Floating Flame

You just might be able to use this heat source to brew a batch of beer in your Spike kettle on future camping trips and/or boat rides.

 

[Bobby_M]

This seems like a very specific and small demographic.

Not so fast...

"pontoon boats are estimated to produce 52,000 to 55,000 new unit sales in 2024,"

Wisconsin alone has an annual boat and accessory revenue of $1B

No one really knows how many active homebrewers there are but I can guarantee there are more people sitting in a pontoon boat right now than are brewing a batch of beer.

 

[mac_1103]

But how many people are brewing a batch of beer in a pontoon boat right now?

 

[Agent]

But how many people are brewing a batch of beer in a pontoon boat right now?

Hold my beer.

 

[Skeeter686]

Not so fast...

"pontoon boats are estimated to produce 52,000 to 55,000 new unit sales in 2024,"

Wisconsin alone has an annual boat and accessory revenue of $1B

No one really knows how many active homebrewers there are but I can guarantee there are more people sitting in a pontoon boat right now than are brewing a batch of beer.

Admittedly, I don't live near a lake. However, we used to vacation at a lake and I do live near a river.

I've never actually seen someone on a lake or river with a fire pit on their boat. I guess that's the enormous untapped market, because they all want them but no one had made them available before.

 

[Yooper]

Admittedly, I don't live near a lake. However, we used to vacation at a lake and I do live near a river.

I've never actually seen someone on a lake or river with a fire pit on their boat. I guess that's the enormous untapped market, because they all want them but no one had made them available before.

I have! I sold my lake house in the UP (private large lake so not many owners), but the neighbors had pontoon boats with charcoal grills, gas grills, propane fire pits, etc. At my house on the water in Florida, I see the same even on airboats. Granted, that's still a small demographic but don't underestimate Florida Man and his quests for even more outrageous gear on his big ass boat. If you can have 4 300HP motors on a boat in a river entirely no-wake, why not have firepits and more?

 

[mashdar]

Never under estimate how much money people will spend on a boat.

 

[MaxStout]

The two happiest days of a boater's life:
The day they buy the boat.
The day they sell the boat.

 

[Yooper]

The two happiest days of a boater's life:
The day they buy the boat.
The day they sell the boat.

WAY off topic (already there, but dragging it further). For those of you who don't know, I spent the winter in Florida working on a boat. It was an eco tourboat, only 32 feet long. I was the first mate and narrator. Best job ever- and I got brand new muscles by being first mate. A 32 foot boat shallow draft boat in high winds with 20 passengers is HEAVY in case you didn't know that...... We did manatee and dolphin spotting, pointed out alligators, sharks, birds, native vegetarion, etc, and interspersed with stories of the characters who inhabit the area, along with the human history that goes back 12,000 years. We did Christmas parties, birthday parties, drunken parties, regular tourist stuff, private tours, sunset tours, and more. Putting the boat on the lift every night, and getting out every morning was not the fun part, though.

But I don't own the boat. Would not own the boat. That's why I love the boat!

 

[Bobby_M]

I don't want to own a boat but I need tips on making friends with people who own boats.

 

[SkyPilot]

I don't want to own a boat but I need tips on making friends with people who own boats.

I would expect that once they know you make award winning beer, and know how to transport it you will be a friend for life…

 

[Jim R]

The word BOAT stands for "Bring Out Another Thousand"

 

[Conehead]

I keep reading that homebrewing is going down the toilet. Well, not to me. Living in Canada is really expensive now. So is the beer. I personally don't care how much it costs, I just like making beer and have no plans to stop. I simply enjoy making beer.

 

[MaxStout]

I don't want to own a boat but I need tips on making friends with people who own boats.

I know just the place.

 

[BrewZer]

I don't want to own a boat but I need tips on making friends with people who own boats.

You already have one of the best...

HOMEBREW!

 

[mashdar]

I know just the place.

View attachment 880632

That is one surprised eagle.

 

[Yooper]

I know just the place.

View attachment 880632

Boat? Navy? My son, who dislikes boats, joined the Navy in 2017.

He gave me a ride once, in 2023.

It was LONG ride! Pearl Harbor to San Diego on the USS Nimitz (aircraft carrier). It took 6 days.
Food was terrible, bunks were worse. Bathrooms smelled horrible. They have 0 chairs on the entire ship. (They are either working or sleeping or eating I guess). It was awesome!