In the case of Dad Strength Brewing on the Shark Tank on Season 17, episode 1, their founders brought not just a drink but a change in the culture of the world, a moderate, flavored, and still craft beer in the world of deep-pour drinks.
Craig Carey, a long-time friend and co-founder of Ryan Kutscher, was getting tired of the habit of putting nonalcoholic beers with full-strength brews to take the sting out of this. They were into craft beer, but only their bodies and mornings would not cooperate any longer. Their concept was very basic but ambitious: to develop a low alcohol craft beer in the mid-strength area with the ABV of approximately 2.5 to 2.9 percent and retain the strong flavor and experience desired by craft beer consumers.
They presented their brand Tank, which is already in operation in the distribution of the Washington DC area and asked $250k investment in exchange for 5% equity in their company. It was aimed at distributing more and producing more, and introducing Dad Strength beer to new markets.
When the pitch was going on, they stressed that their beers were less than 100 calories, that they offer a full hop personality even with low ABV, and that they have worked with award-winning brewers at Atlas Brew Works to perfect their recipes.
The air was light yet serious: they talked of five-beer Fridays coming back, happy hours that can go on indefinitely and a beer that you can drink without regretting the next day. The Sharks responded with both intrigue and amusement and indecision. Eventually, several offers were made by the Sharks and Dad Strength was able to negotiate a deal that saw three Sharks come together. Their status was raised at once to that of the national spotlight.
Dad Strength Brewing Net Worth Shark Tank Update
Dad Strength Brewing asked for a $250k investment in exchange for 5% equity in their company. This meant they valued their company at $5 million. They made a deal with Lori Greiner, Rashaun Williams, and Kevin O’Leary for $300k in exchange for 12% of their company. This new deal valued their company at $2.5 million. After the show aired, Dad Strength Brewing saw a big increase in website traffic, sales, and social media exposure. With an estimated 10% yearly growth rate (typical business growth), the current net worth of Dad Strength Brewing is about $3.7 million.
What Happened to Dad Strength Brewing After Shark Tank?
Dad Strength Brewing is not dormant since it is still going after Shark Tank. They refer to themselves as the first low alcohol craft brewery in America, which focuses on mid-strength beers on their site. According to their About page, they were formed when Craig and Ryan took years to combine beers to have moderate effects but found out that no created product was filling that gap, so they constructed their own through cooperating with the brewers at Atlas Brew Works.
They officially introduced the brand in 2024 with the promise of producing craft beers with less than 3 percent ABV. Their brand is the Dad Strength IPA with 2.9 per cent of alcohol by volume and approximately 94 calories in a can. They also list Juicy IPA and Hazy IPA products on their site, which cost approximately $11.99 per pack. They have increased distribution: they are sold in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Michigan. Their site has a Beer Finder that indicates that they are expanding their retail presence.
Dad Strength Brewing is in the local news; it will be operating under the Atlas Brew Works plant (to do a contract brew) and intends to have an independent facility in the area of Anacostia in DC. Their marketing also stretches into community building: they use a program called Dadbassador, have pop-ups and tasting events and products on their site. So they will still be in business as of 2025 but in growth mode with increased reach but still keeping their niche as a moderate craft beer brand.
Did Dad Strength Brewing Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, Dad Strength Brewing has indeed closed a multi-Shark deal on Shark Tank. Three Sharks collaborated in helping the founders Craig Carey and Ryan Kutscher walk out. Even though the detailed breakdown of the equity where the founder’s Craig countered with $300,000 for 12% in equity and the dollar amounts are not described in the public recaps, several sources prove that a three-Shark deal was achieved. The company was being valued at $2.5 million at the time of the deal
| Shark’s name | Offer & Demand | Accepted? |
| Lori + Rashaun + Kevin | Part of group deal $100,000 for 4% equity | Yes |
| Robert Herjavec | Out | No |
| Rashaun Williams | Out | No |
| Kendra Scott | Out | No |
Dad Strength Brewing Shark Tank Pitch
Craig Carey and Ryan Kutscher have been friends for more than twenty years, both of whom were enthusiastic about craft beer but had to confront the facts of aging metabolism and lifestyle. Craig had been in the restaurant and hospitality industry and Ryan in creative and marketing.
At the age of their early forties, they were combining nonalcoholic beers with standard ones in an effort to reduce the alcohol content level in order to ensure that mornings would not be harmed. This dad issue, adoring taste, detesting fullness, was made their slogan.
They went to Atlas Brew Works, which has award-winning recipes, and took one year to develop pilot batches. To produce bold hop, low residual alcohol, a fine balance of fermentation, residual sugars, and even stability of flavors, they experimented with dozens of formulations. Dad Strength is their mission statement: make beer strong enough to taste, but light enough to use every day.
Instead of establishing their own brewing plant immediately, they released the brand in 2023 and started distribution in 2024. They instead contracted brewed with Atlas and DC Brau and aimed at securing brand presence in the first place. Issues in the initial stages included technical brewing difficulties (to achieve flavor with low ABV) and finding retailers to take a new idea, regulatory and licensing problems with alcoholic beverage production, and consumer education (low ABV does not mean low taste).
Initial Pitch
Dad Strength presented by Craig and Ryan on the stage of the Shark Tank became the solution to one of the most widespread issues: no more intolerance to high levels of alcohol, slow mornings, and wasted evenings by craft beer lovers. They positioned their business as a way of reviving happy hour without remorse. They emphasized that their beers remained less than 100 calories and provided a strong taste of hops despite the low alcohol content of 2.9 percent.
They demonstrated that they already possessed local distribution and partnership, that they had developed several brews (IPA, Juicy IPA, Hazy IPA), and that the demand was increasing. They requested that they fund production scaling, expansion of distribution and brand building. They asked for $250k investment in exchange for 5% equity in their company. Kevin O’Leary first offered $250,000 for 33.3% equity. Craig and Ryan countered with $300,000 for 12% equity. Eventually, Lori Greiner, Rashaun Williams, and Kevin O’Leary teamed up to accept the counteroffer.
But it was evident that they wanted to expedite their growth beyond the Mid-Atlantic region. The founders did not just sell flavor, but lifestyle: moderation as the fresh paradigm of craft beer.
Queries About the Product
The Sharks possessed several questions. They asked themselves what market could be addressed: how many consumers would be satisfied with a mid-strength beer as opposed to full-strength or non-alcoholic beer. They also enquired about the economics of it, how it compares to the low ABV when it comes to margins, the cost of producing, the shelf life, and whether the retailers would take the low margin product.
They challenged the flavor profile, whether it was bold enough to compete with full-strength craft brews. Some said they were doubtful: would the customers consider the product to be a thinned-down version instead of a real beer? Other people asked about regulatory heavy load and licensing, classification, and complexity of distribution in the beer industry.
The founders retorted by referencing their pilot success, their collaborations with reputable brewers, local movement, and the rising trend in moderation and wellness in drinking. The story of the brand, like dads desiring to have fun but without sacrifices, was appealing, even though technical information on cost structure was not as clear in the coverage.
Sharks’ Responses and Final Deal
At the end of the pitch, three Sharks (Lori Greiner, Rashaun Williams, and Kevin O’Leary) had made the choice of supporting Dad Strength Brewing, investing $300,000 for 12% equity. Craig and Ryan accepted the collective deal. Other Sharks, such as Robert Herjavec, Rashaun Williams and Kendra Scott turned down an investment.
It also ensured greater demand, given that the exposure made the ticketed viewers and beer fans know about the brand. The Shark deal probably provided them with the leverage in negotiations with distributors and retailers, but the details of the said post-deal deals are confidential.
What Went Wrong With Dad Strength Brewing on the Show?
Due to the fact that Dad Strength has made a deal, the section on what went wrong is rather about risks and vulnerabilities that they managed to overcome or are still battling. To start with, it was an unprecedented idea:
The low alcohol beer is usually characterized by its ABV, and the process of persuading the doubtful ones that the product will provide an environmental experience is a branding challenge. The market might have been skeptical of the existence of the category of mid-strength by some of the Sharks.
Second, it may be economically difficult to produce low ABV and maintain hop intensity levels – bitterness, residual sugars, and fermentation dynamics are difficult trade-offs.
Third, the alcoholic beverage industry is infamously hard to reach through distribution, and there are gatekeepers, licensing, and geographic limitations, as well as rival brands.
Fourth, the expansion of contract brewing to facilities brings about capital risk, regulatory compliance, uniformity of quality, and margin pressures.
Lastly, due to the disclosure of a few details of the deal, the misalignment between founders and investors may occur in terms of strategy, margins, growth, and equity dilution. Nevertheless, they developed these risks in a convincing way, which is indicated by the fact that several Sharks supported them.
Product Availability
The Dad Strength Brewing is sold on their site and in local stores. The product lines are IPA, Juicy IPA, and Hazy IPA, which cost around $11.99 per pack. On their homepage, they do have a Beer Finder that assists customers in finding local retailers. They now serve their beers in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Michigan.
The firm intends on additional expand and deliver in some areas. Merchandise (shirts, caps) is also sold through their website by Dad Strength. Besides that, the company is present at the local events, taprooms, pop-ups, and community markets to enable sampling and brand experience.
Since alcoholic beverage shipping regulation is a complex issue, its direct shipping is probably restricted by state regulations and location. The brand focuses on the idea that it is an average-strength drink, not nonalcoholic, but much softer than standard craft IPA.
Conclusion
The experience of Dad Strength Brewing on Shark Tank is not a pitch but a change of perspective about adult drinks. Craig Carey and Ryan Kutscher were in front of the Sharks with moderation and not sacrifice. They have sold a beer that maintains the hop character, low calories, and low alcohol, a brand that they have developed themselves due to their personal experience. A Tank deal with a handful of Multi-Shark deals highlights the confidence in their vision and the dangers of alcoholic beverage startups.
Since that time, Dad Strength has not just managed to survive, but to grow: new markets, new brews, local following, and brand recognition. The way forward is very tough: it involves adjusting contract production into facilities, distribution legislation, fatten survival margins and still finding a way to convince drinkers that less is equally good. However, the narrative has yet to be told.
In the next few months and years, we can expect Dad Strength to become a household name in the moderate beer industry, push the company-wide, possibly create other flavor brands, or even become an inspiration to competitors. I will be happy to monitor the progress of the press in 2026 and later update you on the changes.
Hey there, I’m Fatima Muhammad, an International Relations student, with a focus on the strategic dynamics of global relations, One of my favorite shows is Shark Tank. I love it because it showcases the creativity, determination, and strategic thinking of entrepreneurs, which I find inspiring. The show also teaches valuable lessons about innovation, business dynamics, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Read more About me.
