Where it began
Friendship, homebrewing, and a belief that it is never too late to pursue a good dream.
Avid homebrewers Mike Mullaney and Gery Teichmiller began brewing together after meeting at Cullman Oktoberfest in 2012. Along with John Dean and Brad Glenn, they formed the Blue Moose Brew Crew and began serving their beer at the Blue Moose Café and Brewpub in 2013. The response convinced them that Cullman was ready for a hometown brewery of its own.
The friends spent 2014 planning and formed Goat Island Brewing in early 2015. While continuing to work their regular jobs, they devoted nights and weekends to turning an empty warehouse into a working brewery and taproom.
In April 2016, Goat Island opened its doors, helping bring commercial brewing back to Cullman for the first time since the 1800s.
A Cullman recipe brought back to life.
Cullman’s German heritage soon became an important part of the Goat Island story. While inspecting tornado damage in a downtown building, John Dean discovered a handwritten beer recipe signed by William Frederick Richter, the owner of Richter’s Hotel and Saloon in the late 1800s. The recipe was written partly in English and partly in old German. After it was translated, Gery adapted it for modern brewing, creating Richter’s Pilsner.
The connection was more than historical. Mike’s wife, Lisa, is William Frederick Richter’s great-great-granddaughter. Richter’s Pilsner became one of Goat Island’s original signature beers and the first Goat Island beer packaged in cans.
Rooted in Cullman. Growing beyond it.
Named for Goat Island on nearby Smith Lake, the brewery continued building its identity around Cullman and the surrounding area. Beers such as Richter’s Pilsner, Sipsey River Red, Duck River Dunkel, and Blood Orange helped Goat Island grow from a neighborhood taproom into an award-winning regional brewery.
In March 2025, Goat Island opened The Goat at Cotton Creek in downtown Cullman. Its three-barrel pilot system gives our brewers room to experiment with new ingredients, styles, and small-batch creations, while the original location remains home to our main production brewery.
Today, both locations carry forward the same purpose: make exceptional beer and provide a relaxed, welcoming place where people can gather.