Who Owns Garage Beer?

Garage Beer is independently owned, with NFL stars Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce holding a majority stake since June 2024. The Columbus, Ohio-based light beer brand operates without affiliation to major brewing conglomerates, distinguishing itself from competitors owned by companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev or Molson Coors Brewing.

The brand has experienced remarkable growth, becoming the fastest-growing beer in the United States with 252% sales growth in 2023. Garage Beer CEO Andy Sauer recently launched Roxberry, a children’s soda brand that debuted at over 2,200 Walmart stores and 450 Kroger locations in January 2026. The company continues expanding its production network through partnerships with breweries including Founders Brewing in Michigan, BrewDog Brewing in Ohio, and City Brewing in California.

Who Owns Garage Beer?

Garage Beer operates as an independently owned light beer company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The ownership structure centers on several key stakeholders who have invested in the brand’s rapid expansion across the American beer market.

Primary Ownership Structure

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce acquired a majority stake in Garage Beer in June 2024, making them the largest investors in the company. The brothers announced their partnership on their popular podcast, emphasizing their appreciation for quality light beer. Andy Sauer serves as CEO and retains an ownership position, having led the brand since its spin-off from Braxton Brewing in 2023.

Investment Backing

Durational Capital Management made a significant investment in September 2025, providing additional capital for nationwide expansion. The Angel Group and Braxton Brewing Company, which retains a minority stake following the 2023 spin-off, round out the investor roster. This ownership model differs substantially from brands like Budweiser or Coors Light, which are controlled by multinational corporations.

Largest Shareholders of Garage Beer

The shareholder structure of Garage Beer reflects a blend of celebrity investors, private equity, and founding stakeholders who have guided the brand’s transformation from a regional craft offering to a nationally distributed product.

Travis and Jason Kelce

The Kelce brothers emerged as the largest shareholders following their June 2024 investment. Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jason Kelce, a retired Philadelphia Eagles center, both have strong connections to Ohio through their time at the University of Cincinnati. Their involvement extends beyond financial investment, as they actively participate in marketing efforts and appear prominently on company materials.

Travis previously invested in Casa Azul Tequila Soda, demonstrating his interest in the beverage sector. The brothers have stated publicly that their investment stems from genuine enthusiasm for the product, with Jason calling Garage Beer the best light beer available.

Andy Sauer

Sauer became the primary owner when Garage Beer spun off from Braxton Brewing in 2023. His background includes positions at major consumer brands including Jim Beam, Abbott, ScottsMiracle-Gro, and J.M. Smucker. Sauer identified an opportunity in the craft light beer segment after independently developing the concept before discovering Braxton had already trademarked the Garage Beer name. This led to his partnership with the original founders.

Durational Capital Management

This New York-based asset management firm invested in Garage Beer during September 2025, providing growth capital for continued expansion. The investment arrived as the brand achieved triple-digit year-over-year sales growth and secured national distribution. Durational Capital specializes in consumer-focused investments, making Garage Beer a strategic addition to their portfolio.

Braxton Brewing Company

The Covington, Kentucky brewery that originally created Garage Beer in 2018 maintains a minority ownership position. Braxton initially served as the production facility for Garage Beer before the brand expanded to multiple contract brewing partners. The arrangement represents a successful model where a craft brewery spins off a high-performing product while retaining equity upside.

The Angel Group

This New York-based angel investor group participated in earlier funding rounds, contributing to the brand’s initial expansion beyond Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Their involvement helped establish the distribution infrastructure necessary for broader market penetration before the Kelce brothers’ majority acquisition.

History of Garage Beer Co-Founders

The story of Garage Beer begins in Kentucky, where two brothers built a craft brewery that would eventually spawn one of America’s fastest-growing beer brands.

Evan and Jake Rouse

Brothers Evan and Jake Rouse founded Braxton Brewing Company and introduced Garage Beer in 2018 in Covington, Kentucky. The name derives from their origin story, as they started their brewing operation in the garage of their childhood home. They designed Garage Beer as a lighter, more refreshing complement to their core craft beer products.

The beer quickly gained popularity, eventually overtaking the majority of Braxton’s portfolio. Recognizing the growth potential, the Rouse brothers made a strategic decision to spin off Garage Beer as its own entity in 2023. Jake Rouse, serving as Braxton’s CEO and co-founder, acknowledged that scaling a brand nationally requires specialized skills, leading them to bring in Andy Sauer as a partner.

Andy Sauer’s Role in the Relaunch

Sauer joined as co-owner and became the primary stakeholder when Garage Beer became independent. His experience at companies like Beam Suntory provided insights into scaling beverage brands nationally. He relocated the company headquarters from Kentucky to Columbus, Ohio, while maintaining production partnerships with the original Braxton facility.

Under his leadership, the brand reformulated slightly to appeal to a broader audience, emphasizing its 95-calorie count and positioning it directly against established light beers from Anheuser-Busch. The slogan “beer-flavored beer” became central to marketing efforts, distinguishing Garage Beer in a segment dominated by legacy players. This approach mirrors how other independent food and beverage companies have competed against industry giants like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.

Who Is on the Board of Directors for Garage Beer?

As a privately held independent company, Garage Beer maintains a lean leadership structure compared to publicly traded beverage corporations.

Executive Leadership

Andy Sauer serves as Chief Executive Officer and Owner, directing company strategy and operations. His previous roles at HiLo Nutrition, Abbott, ScottsMiracle-Gro, Beam Suntory, and J.M. Smucker provided extensive experience in consumer product management and brand development. Sauer has emphasized building a team comfortable with unconventional marketing approaches necessary for competing against established light beer brands with substantial advertising budgets.

Ownership Representatives

While specific board composition remains undisclosed, the Kelce brothers’ majority ownership suggests involvement in major strategic decisions. Their public appearances promoting the brand, including sponsoring events and creating viral social media content, indicate active engagement beyond passive investment. Travis Kelce had an existing relationship with Sauer before the acquisition, facilitating their business partnership.

Advisory and Investment Stakeholders

Representatives from Durational Capital likely participate in governance discussions following their September 2025 investment. Investment firms typically secure board observation rights or seats as part of significant funding agreements. The firm’s focus on consumer brands suggests they provide strategic guidance on scaling operations and distribution networks.

Braxton Brewing’s minority position may include some oversight involvement, though their primary role has transitioned to contract production partner. The company’s evolution from brewery subsidiary to independent entity required establishing new governance frameworks distinct from the original parent structure, unlike the hierarchical structures seen at companies such as Whole Foods Market following major acquisitions.

Operational Team

According to available records, Garage Beer employs three executives in its management team. The lean structure aligns with Sauer’s stated philosophy of maintaining a small, agile organization capable of rapid decision-making and creative marketing initiatives. This contrasts sharply with the extensive corporate hierarchies at multinational brewers, allowing Garage Beer to respond quickly to market opportunities.