In the last ten years, the American craft beer scene has flourished as one of the most competitive and fast-moving spaces in the country, fueled by small, varied businesses that create unique products and are immersed in their communities. According to the Brewers Association, the United States has 9,500 active craft breweries, generating $28 billion in retail sales as of 2024. Within this growing market, regional brands that have intertwined quality with good branding and storytelling have been successful. One of those brands is NoFo Brew Co., a craft brewery and distillery that has expanded from a start-up in Georgia into an established operation in several markets across the United States and parts of Europe.
In 2018, co-founded by Bryan and Shannon Miles and a friend, Joe Garcia, NoFo Brew Co. was a regional operation at the outset with a very simple premise: to form a community-oriented brewery which would blend local craftsmanship with scalable operations. Drawing on their previous business experience, the Miles knew that breweries could serve as places to enjoy beer and as gathering spaces that ignite connection and drive local economies. From the outset, NoFo Brew Co. emphasized atmosphere and accessibility, ensuring its taprooms reflected a sense of inclusivity while maintaining high product standards.
The brewery’s name, NoFo, stands for “North Forsyth,” reflecting its origins in the foothills of North Georgia. The company quickly earned a reputation as an active and recognizable small producer in that area. By 2024, the company had three physical locations in Georgia and distribution statewide in Georgia and in Florida, marking a significant milestone for what was once a single-location concept. That same year, NoFo Brew Co. announced international operations in Ireland and England, establishing itself as an independently owned American craft brewery with a physical presence in European markets.
The entrance of Bryan and Shannon Miles into the craft beverage space was not some random leap but a strategic continuation of their broader entrepreneurial journey. Before founding NoFo Brew Co., the couple had founded BELAY, a virtual staffing company and an early provider of remote administrative services, in which they sold a majority stake in 2021. That success gave them both capital and an operational framework for their new ventures, which they were organizing under their holding company, Miles AG. NoFo Brew Co. was one of the first and most visible ventures to come under that umbrella, showcasing the move from digital services to tangible, experience-driven industries.
The expansion of NoFo Brew Co. can be seen as a combination of market awareness and prudent growth. Entering the craft brewing market has not been easy as of late due to saturation and changing consumer tastes, but NoFo knew how to deliberately position itself with a model of brewing, distilling, and hospitality. Adding distilling to production gave NoFo access to new markets for brewing beer and producing craft cocktails.
From a structural perspective, NoFo Brew Co is part of the Miles AG portfolio, which also includes investments in sports team ownership and event hospitality. This has enabled Miles to apply expertise from one sector to another, such as leading teams, building effective brands, and financial management, across industries that might at first glance have no obvious connections. It translates into streamlined processes, strong internal culture, and measured expansion planning within NoFo’s operations. Employees often describe the company’s atmosphere as both professional and creative, reflecting the co-founders’ background in creating remote-first corporate cultures.
Economically, the company contributes to a larger trend of local manufacturing resurgence in the American South. Georgia’s craft beverage sector has experienced double-digit growth since 2018 alone, adding millions in state tax revenue and creating thousands of jobs, while NoFo Brew Co.’s Forsyth County and beyond operations have contributed to that shift by attracting tourism and supporting local suppliers. For the Miles, this approach aligns with a business philosophy of sustainable growth and long-term value creation, rather than swift, unsustainable expansion.
As of late 2025, NoFo Brew Co. continued to grow in a controlled manner, striking a balance between creativity and stability. The company, which has a diverse product line of craft beers and spirits, is currently using its taprooms for distribution and hopes to expand further into regional distribution in the Southeast US.
From its modest roots in North Georgia to its current global footprint, NoFo Brew Co. reflects the ongoing evolution of American entrepreneurship in a new post-digital era. For Bryan and Shannon Miles, it represents not just any venture but the ability of their business experience to adapt to new markets and places, while remaining focused on culture, quality, and community. As their broader portfolio under Miles AG continues to take diverse paths forward, NoFo Brew Co has proven to be one of its most prominent and enduring examples of how strategic planning can connect various industries, from virtual offices to local taprooms.
