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Updated: March 23, 2023

Portland non-alcoholic brewery looks to expand

Courtesy / Kit NA Rob Barrett, left, and Will Fisher
By Ann Fisher

Maine's first nonalcoholic brewery is looking to expand. 

Kit NA Brewing, founded by Maine entrepreneurs Rob Barrett and Will Fisher, is looking to expand sales and marketing teams, build inventory and increase product awareness.

The idea for the brewery was born In 2019, when Barrett, the principal at Barrett Made Architecture & Construction in Portland, partnered in early 2020 with Will Fisher, co-founder of Austin Street Brewery in Portland. Fisher and Barrett said they began Kit NA, based at 52 Alder St., to create "a premium non-alcoholic beer that delivered a traditional craft beer taste."

Launched in 2021, the shelves at Kit NA Brewing now feature beers that include On Your Mark Blondie and Here We Go Hazy in a bid to "redefine what it means to have a beer" by offering alternative beverages at bars and barbecues, with "options for everyone and every occasion."

Riding on a trend that's still rising, Kit NA was distributed in six Northeast states within months of its launch and secured spots in coolers and shelves in Hannaford, Whole Foods, Market Basket and Walmart. The beers have also been featured in restaurants, retail stores, event venues and tasting rooms, although Kit NA does not have a tasting room of its own.

In addition, Kit NA has reached consumers in more than 30 states through its e-commerce platforms and a direct-to-retail channel, which has spread as far as the Netherlands.

It may be a matter of the right place at the right time for Kit NA, as the nonalcoholic beer-adjacent beverage segment grew 21% to $364 million in 2022, according to the release, while regular beer was stagnant.

Kit NA is establishing its place in the lineup of new NA beers. Its flagship brew, On Your Mark, took home silver in the non-alcoholic malt beverage category at the 2022 US Open Beer Championships, nudging out Athletic Brewing and other established brands.

“We’re humbled that Kit has been received so positively from the start,” said Fisher. “When people are engaged with us and excited about our beers, asking where they can find them, and what we’re up to, it lets us know that we’re on the right track to meeting their expectations and exceeding our goals for Kit.”

For more information email Barrett at rob.barrett@kit-na.com

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