We recently announced the inaugural Beer Selfie Brewery of the Year competition. After combing through hundreds of @beerselfie Instagram posts featuring more than four hundred breweries, we announced the sixteen breweries that appeared the most in 2024. These breweries included breweries from four countries including heavy hitters like Trillium, Monkish, and Treehouse Brewing. From this group, four semifinalists were selected through fan-driven voting: Sierra Nevada, Beer Zombies, Solaris, and Green Cheek, with Beer Zombies and Solaris moving on to the final round. Things heated up with over five hundred votes, comments, and shares, with Beer Zombies gaining 55% of the votes.
From Social Media to Craft Beer Success
Beer Zombies Brewery founder Chris Jacobs reflected on the brand’s origins and journey to success. The project began in 2013 as a social media outlet to showcase and review beer. With a unique logo and strong community engagement, Beer Zombies quickly gained a loyal following. Early ventures into merchandise, festivals, and pop-ups helped the brand establish its presence.
The turning point came in 2016 when Jacobs collaborated with Kings Brewing for Beer Zombies’ first official beer release. Since then, the brand has been involved in over 150 collaborations. In 2019, Jacobs opened the first Beer Zombies draft room and bottle shop, focusing on curating beers from breweries nationwide and fostering connections with fellow craft beer creators. What started as a single location now includes five Beer Zombies draft rooms and a dedicated brewery in Las Vegas.
A Big Year for Beer Zombies
2024 was a milestone year for the brand. Jacobs opened the first Beer Zombies brewery in Las Vegas, a long-held dream that allowed the team to craft and showcase their beers on their terms. In addition, Beer Zombies acquired Tenaya Creek Brewery, another Las Vegas-based brewery, celebrating its 25th anniversary. Jacobs is committed to preserving Tenaya Creek’s legacy while giving it a fresh identity.
Cultivating Community
One key to Beer Zombies’ success lies in its deeply personal connection with its audience. Jacobs has managed Beer Zombies’ social media since its inception, ensuring a direct line of communication with fans. This authenticity, combined with Jacobs’ frequent travel to festivals and events, has helped humanize the brand and turn it into a vibrant community.
“I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that BZ was created as a social media-based company and the socials have been run by myself only since day one,” Jacobs explained. “Once there is a face established, it becomes more of a community over a random company.”
Looking Ahead
Jacobs has big plans for the future of Beer Zombies. The brand is gearing up for its 11th-anniversary celebration in December 2024, featuring 11 new collaborations. In 2025, Jacobs plans to continue releasing innovative beers, explore new location opportunities, and ensure Beer Zombies remains a place for beer lovers to gather and connect.
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