10 bbl brewery business plan

How to Write a Brewery Business Plan: Complete Guide

• January 3, 2023
• Food & Beverage

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your brewery, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in the business plan of your brewery. Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary of a business plan gives a sneak peek of the information about your business plan to lenders and/or investors.

If the information you provide here is not concise, informative, and scannable, potential lenders and investors will lose interest.

Though the executive summary is the first and the most important section, it should normally be the last section you write because it will have the summary of different sections included in the entire plan.

Why do you need a business plan for a brewery?

The purpose of a business plan is to secure funding through one of the following channels:

• Obtain bank financing or secure a loan from other lenders (such as a SBA loan )
• Obtain private investments from investment funds, angel investors, etc.
• Obtain a public or a private grant

How to write your brewery’s executive summary?

Provide a precise and high-level summary of every section that you have included in your business plan. The information and the data you include in this segment should grab the attention of potential investors and lenders immediately.

Also make sure that the executive summary doesn’t exceed 2 pages in total: it’s supposed to be a summary for investors and lenders who don’t have time to scroll through 40-50 pages, so keep it short and brief.

The executive summary usually consists of the five major sub-sections that include:

• Business overview : this segment will provide a high-level summary of your business and the products you will sell. For example, mention the type of brewery you want to open (such as microbrewery, brewpub, taproom brewery, regional brewery, contract brewing company, etc.). Also, briefly mention your products and services (if you offer a sit-in taproom for example) and pricing strategy
• Market analysis : summarise the market where you will operate and provide a brief about the target audience, market size, competitors, etc. No need to provide granular data here, save it for the Market Overview section later on (or the appendix). You must provide only scannable data points to keep potential investors and/or lenders hooked.
• People : introduce your brewery’s management and employee structure. Provide a brief (no more than a couple of sentences each) of the knowledge and experience of the team. Also, speak about your hiring plans.
• Financial plan : how much profit and revenue do you expect in the next 5 years? When will you reach the break-even point and start making profits? You can include here a chart depicting your key financials such as revenue, gross profits, and net profit
• Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

Brewery Financial Model

Download an expert-built 5-year Excel financial model for your business plan

2. Brewery Business Overview

This is the section where you will provide details about your brewery and the chosen business model. You must address some important questions that lenders and/or investors generally ask. Here is a quick list of some of those questions you must address:

• What’s the brewery’s location and why did you select that location?
• Why did you select the type of brewery you want to open?
• What will be the beer products you will offer? Any other drinks or services?
• What will be your pricing strategy and why?
• Who is your target audience?
• How many customers can you serve at once (in case you are going for options like taproom brewery or brewpub)?
• What will be the legal structure of your company?

Let’s look at different subsections that you must include:

a) History of the Project

Any business must have two components:

• Passion & experience of the business owner
• Rationale behind starting this type of business today

Passion & experience

You may or may not have prior experience. If you have experience, speak about it and how it will help you to run your business. For instance, you may have been a brewmaster in a popular brewery for 12 years, and now you want to start your own brewery and use your knowledge to run it more efficiently.

However, if you don’t already have experience, that’s fine. You must demonstrate your passion and some industry knowledge that you have acquired through intensive research.

Is there a certain problem (or perhaps, a set of problems) that your brewery will try to solve when it comes into existence? For instance, there may not be any brewpub in the area, and you want to capitalize on the opportunity. 

However, you must understand that the market must be suitable for the business. For instance, if the target audience in the location prefers a taproom brewery, offering a brewpub instead may not be a wise decision.

b) Business Model

This sub-section of the Business Overview will explain your business model. Describe the following points briefly:

• Will you buy an existing brewery and do some remodeling, or will you start a new brewery and design it from scratch?
• The type of brewery you want to open and why
• Equipment, inventory, and storage facilities that are essential for the brewery to operate successfully

There are multiple types of breweries that you can consider:

• Nano brewery : This is the smallest type of brewery. There are no defined barrels per annum, but they produce a very limited amount of beer per year
• Microbrewery : This type of brewery will produce less than 15,000 barrels of beer a year. Most beer is sold onsite instead of using distributors. These breweries are typically independently owned
• Brewpub : A restaurant and brewery hybrid in which the beer produced is served to the bar customers
• Taproom brewery : These are professional breweries that sell beer onsite and even via distributors. However, there are no restaurant services available. Sometimes, such breweries will have attached taprooms
• Regional brewery : These are breweries that produce anywhere between 15,000 and 600,000 barrels of beer a year
• Contract brewing company : In this form, a company will hire other breweries for beer production and packaging. However, the marketing and distribution of the beer will be the responsibility of the hiring company

The type of brewery that you want to open will depend on its market size, target audience, your business expansion plans, etc. For instance, if you want to sell your products outside of your state, you may want to go for a regional brewery or perhaps, settle for a contract brewing company.

c) Products & Services

Since you want to start a brewery, you will obviously be selling beer. However, you may decide to make different flavors. Also, if you want to open a brewpub, you may also be running a full-scale restaurant and serving food to your customers.

Depending on the type of brewery you will open, you must list all the products and services that you will sell. For example, if you are selling packaged snacks (taproom brewery) or instead if you want to have a full-service kitchen (brewpub), mention the relevant products here.

d) Pricing Strategy

In this segment, you must explain your pricing strategy. The price of the beer will depend on the product itself and its manufacturing complexity. Even the raw materials and the scale of your business will also determine the pricing.

If you are creating a premium line of products with a higher price tag, make sure that there is a proper justification for that. 

It is a good practice to include a pricing chart for all possible products if you have a small menu. However, if you are offering many products, provide a sample menu with the pricing range.

3. Brewery Market Overview

A complete understanding of the market where you want to operate is important for the success of your business.

For example, if you want to open your brewery in an affluent area where people don’t mind spending extra in exchange for a unique craft beer, a specialty taproom brewery may be a successful business.

Therefore, you must cover here 3 important areas:

• Brewery Industry Status Quo : how big is the brewery industry in your area? What is its growth rate (or decline rate) and what are the factors contributing to its growth or decline?
• Competition overview : how many competitors are there? How do they compare vs. your business? How can you differentiate yourself from them?
• Customer analysis: who is your target audience? What type of breweries do they prefer? How regularly do they visit breweries? Do they prefer to sit and eat in a brewery, and if so, do they prefer brewpubs or do they prefer taproom breweries? How much do they spend on average?

a) Brewery Industry Status Quo

How big is the brewery industry in the us.

According to Brewers Association , the overall beer market in the US is $100 billion, while craft beer accounted for 27% market share ($26.8 billion).

After a decline of 9% in 2020, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the beer industry bounced back by 8% in 2021.

However, what’s interesting is that the overall number of breweries in the U.S. increased in 2021 and reached an all-time high of 9,247 breweries (+2.5% vs. 2021) of which the breakdown (in terms of production volume) is shown below:

How big is the brewery industry in your area?

Once you provide the overall picture of the US, divert your attention to the area where you want to operate. It might not be possible to find region or area-specific studies, and hence, you must estimate the size of your market yourself. For more information on how to do so, read our article on how to estimate TAM, SAM and SOM for your startup.

For example, there were 9,247 craft breweries in the US accounting for $26.8 billion in sales. Hence, the average annual revenue for each craft brewery stood at about $3,000,000.

Therefore, if there are 18 craft breweries in your area (city or region), the overall brewery market size is approximately $54 million.

How fast is the brewery industry growing in the area?

After market size, you must look into the growth rate of the brewery industry in your area. This information may not be available via online research papers. However, assessing the growth rate of the brewery industry can be assessed using the number of competitors in the area.

For instance, if there were 13 breweries in 2018 and 18 breweries in 2022, the average annual growth rate of the brewery market in your area is 8.3%.

What are the current brewery market trends in your area?

It is vital to understand the trends of the brewery industry in your area. Understanding trends will allow you to devise marketing strategies.

Understanding trends won’t be easy. You must conduct research and talk with your target audience. Additionally, you must also study your competitors to understand their target audience, the products they sell, etc.

Some common questions you may ask the target audience include:

• What type of breweries do they prefer?
• At what time of the day do they prefer to visit a brewery (evening, afternoon, late night)?
• How frequently do they visit breweries?
• What type of foods do they usually order along with beer (if they are going for taprooms having a partnership with food trucks or they are opting for brewpubs)?

You can ask as many questions as you need to understand the evolving trends.

b) Competition Overview

Studying your competitors’ business models is vital. You need to understand what makes them successful or why they fail. A clear understanding of their brew offerings, marketing strategies, etc., will allow you to provide a better service.

If your competitors are offering nearly the same products & services, then what is their market share and how do they market their products & services to attract new customers?

It is always a good idea to do some research (if necessary, physically visit your competitors without revealing your business intentions) and create a comparative table summarizing their product & service offerings, marketing strategies, target audience, etc.

Here is a sample table that you can use:

The table you will create will depend on what information you need and want to include based on your proposed business model.

Brewery SWOT Analysis

It’s always good practice to provide a SWOT analysis as part of the business plan for your brewery. It must be crisp and highly focused. SWOT stands for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats.

Here is a sample that you can use as a reference:

• Strengths : 8 years of brewmaster experience in a reputed large (non-craft) brewery
• Weaknesses : Startup cost, zero reputation
• Opportunities : An affluent neighborhood with rising demand for a brewpub, no brewpub in a 2-mile radius
• Threats : Increasing cost of raw materials, mass-production beer manufacturers are flooding the market

A clear understanding of your strengths and weakness along with opportunities and threats in the real market can help you to design your marketing strategy. It also helps potential investors to assess the risk and reward profile of your business and is often a must have in your brewery business plan.

c) Customer Analysis

This is the sub-section where you will provide a detailed analysis of your target audience. You will expand the data points your provided earlier in the Business Overview segment.

Some important points that you must include in your customer analysis include:

• Age and gender distribution (you can get local demographic data from census.gov )
• Per capita expenditure on beer
• Frequency of brewery visits
• Average monthly income and disposable income
• Average bill size per visit
• Average yearly or monthly spending on breweries
• Type of breweries preferred
• The expected price range for brews
• Inclination towards loyalty programs
• Things they dislike about existing breweries and what they expect to be improved

You can add as many data points as required to validate your business decision. The idea here is to display your deep understanding of the target audience and their needs, preferences, and expectations. This knowledge can help you to tailor your products & services to attract new customers.

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

This is the segment where you outline the customer acquisition strategy of your brewery. Try to answer the following questions:

• What is your USP?
• What are the different marketing strategies you will use?
• How do you intend to track the success of your marketing strategy?
• What is your CAC or customer acquisition cost?
• What is your marketing budget?
• What introductory promos and offers do you intend to provide for attracting new customers?

Let’s expand a bit on a few questions below:

What marketing channels do breweries use?

Marketing channels are ways of communication businesses use to attract customers. Logically, not all breweries use the same marketing channels. For example, a taproom that sells craft beer will most likely rely more on social media and signage vs. a regional brewery that only sells to resellers, restaurants, bars and other business customers (they will likely use a sales team instead, along with some paid media, print ads in specialized magazines, etc.).

See below a few examples of marketing channels that breweries typically use:

• Sales representatives (only breweries selling to businesses)
• PPC ads, Facebook ads, etc.
• Customer interaction through social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, etc.
• Email marketing
• Loyalty programs
• Word of mouth, recommendations

Of course, it’s not mandatory to use all channels. Instead, you can start by focusing on a few of them, and add others as you scale up later on.

Also, you must have a fair and nearly accurate estimate of your marketing budget. Failure to display a well-planned and adequate cash flow for advertising and marketing can lead to investors losing confidence. That’s because investors are fully aware that if adequate funds are not allocated for marketing, the business will be derailed before becoming a success.

What is your unique selling proposition?

In other words, how do you differentiate yourself vs. competitors? This is very important as you might need to win customers from competitors. A few examples of USPs are:

• Quality of beer products : your craft beer(s) may be of higher quality (raw materials r transformation) vs. your competitors’
• Location : your brewery may be located closer to your customers, reducing transport costs for your customers
• Partnerships : you may have partnered with famous brands, bars, restaurant chains or franchises your customers are fond of
• Price : your beer products (and/or food if you have a brewpub) may be cheaper vs. competitors
• Extra products / services : you may be the only brewpub in the area offering food to your customers, whilst all other competitors only offer taprooms

Your USP will depend on your business model, competitor analysis, target audience, and product. The idea is to speak to customers’ emotions and needs. Whatever your USP be, it should appeal to your potential customers and attract them. Plus, The USP you offer should be convincing enough for investors and lenders.

5. Management & People

You must address two things here:

• The management team and their experience/track record
• The organizational structure: different team members and who reports to whom?

a) Management

Small businesses often fail because of managerial weaknesses. Thus, having a strong management team is vital. Highlight the experience and education of senior managers that you intend to hire to oversee your brewery business.

Describe their duties, responsibilities, and roles. Also, highlight their previous experience and explain how they succeeded in their previous roles.

It is also important that you explain how their experiences and qualifications help you in implementing the brewery you are proposing. If they have specialized training, and experience (such as a certificate in brewing technology covering concepts like wort production, fermentation, etc.; brewmaster experience, etc.), add that information.

b) Organization Structure

Even if you haven’t already hired a brewer, head brewer (or brewmaster), tasting staff, tasting room manager, marketing personnel, quality control personnel, and other relevant staff members, you must provide a chart of the organizational structure defining the hierarchy of reporting.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any business plan for a brewery.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your brewery is an attractive investment.

There should be 2 sections to your financial plan section:

• The startup costs of your project (if you plan to start a new brewery, purchase new equipment, renovate your brewery, add a taproom to your brewery, etc.)
• The 5-year financial projections

a) Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project. For a brewery, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you open your brewery and start making sales . These expenses typically are:

• The brewing systems and other equipment
• The leasing deposit for the space (if you rent) or to buy the real estate (if you buy)

Logically, brewery startup costs vary significantly based on factors like the size of your brewery, its capacity (in barrels), its location, the quality of equipment, etc.

On average, it costs $158,000 to $340,000 to start a 2,000 barrel craft brewery.

Note that these costs are for illustrative purposes and may not be fully relevant for your business. For more information on how much it costs to open and run a brewery, read our article here .

b) Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will now need to build a solid 5-year financial model for your brewery.

Your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in the business plan of your brewery.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 15%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of barrels you produce over time ;
• The number of beers (or barrels) you sell ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Any other cash flow items (e.g. capex, debt repayment, etc.).

When projecting your revenue, make sure to sensitize pricing, cost of raw materials (malt, hops, packaging, etc.) and your sales volume. Indeed, a small change in these assumptions may have a significant impact on your revenues and profits.

7. Funding Ask

This is the last section of the business plan of your brewery. Now that we have explained what your brewery business model is, what types of beer you sell and to whom (individuals vs. businesses), what’s your marketing strategy, etc., this section must now answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any brewery business plan should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries? Or will it cover mostly the cost for the lease deposit and the renovation?

Those are very important questions you should be able to answer in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry, this should come straight from your financial projections. If you’ve built solid projections like in our Brewery financial model template , you won’t have any issues answering these questions.

For the use of funds, we also recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

Privacy Overview

Brewery Business Plan Template & Example [Updated 2024]

Brewery Business Plan Template

If you want to start a brewery business or expand your existing brewery business, you need a business plan.

You can download our brewery business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

The following sample brewery business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a successful brewery business plan. It can be used to create a business plan for a craft brewery, a microbrewery business, or another brewery business concept.

Sample Business Plan Template for a Brewery

Below is a brewery business plan example with each of the key sections to help you write a brewery business plan for your own company.

I. Executive Summary

Business overview.

Based in [Location], [Company Name] brewery makes high quality, local beer that not only enriches celebrations and traditions, but also brings a touch of the extraordinary into daily life. It combines time-honored brewing with new methods and unique recipes to create a range of classic and craft beer everyone can enjoy. [Company Name] beer is the flavor of [Location].

Customer satisfaction is [Company Name]’s highest priority, with beer for every palate. [Company Name] has ambitions to become a household name; a go-to for all occasions.

Products Served

The following are the types of beer that [Company Name] produces:

• Belgian Witbier

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve the residents who live within the city. The demographics of these target customers are as follows:

• 302,145 residents
• 79,567 workers
• Average income of $51,031
• 40% married
• 38% in Mgt./Professional occupations
• Median age: 39 years

Management Team

[Founder’s Name]’s expertise and experience is the [Company Name]’s most valuable asset. After graduating from the University of ABC where he earned a degree in Business, [Founder’s Name] worked at Samuel Adams. In his long experience in the industry, he acquired an in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of running a brewery before he started [Company name].

[Company Name] will also employ an experienced assistant to help with production. He will also be trained by [Founder’s Name] so he can take over the brewery business when [Founder’s Name] is away.

Success Factors

[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

• There is currently no brewery in the community we are entering. In addition, we have surveyed the local population and received extremely positive feedback saying that they explicitly want to purchase our beer when launched.
• The management team has a track record of success in the craft brewery industry.
• The brewery business has proven to be a successful business in the United States.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $400,000 to launch its brewery. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures, manpower costs, marketing expenses and working capital.

Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Brewery design/build: $200,000
• Working capital: $200,000 to pay for Marketing, salaries, and equipment costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even

II. Company Overview

Who is [company name].

[Company Name] is a [Location]-based brewery that produces high quality, local beer that not only enriches celebrations and traditions, but also brings a touch of the extraordinary into daily life. It combines time-honored brewing with new methods and unique recipes to create a range of classic and craft beer everyone can enjoy. [Company Name] beer is the flavor of [Location].

[Company Name]’s History

Born in Portland, the beer capital of the world, [Founder’s Name] grew up brewing beer. In keeping with family tradition, he was trained in the art and science of handcrafting beer using family recipes and techniques. Upon relocating to [Location], [Founder’s Name] was dismayed to discover a lack of local craft brews. It didn’t take long for him to seize the opportunity to open his own brewery, [Company Name].

Since incorporation, the Company has achieved the following milestones:

• Acquired land
• Developed the company’s name, logo and website located at [website]
• Determined building, equipment and fixture requirements
• Began recruiting key employees

[Company Name]’s Products/Services

Iii. industry analysis.

Over the past five years, the brewwery industry has experienced significant change, with the rise of craft breweries, wineries and distilleries. Smaller, regional operators experienced substantial growth, provoking a slew of new operators to enter the industry.

The industry is also seeing heightened competition. Over the past decade, the industry experienced a substantial rise in industry players, mostly craft breweries. As these breweries continue to expand over the next five years, competition is expected to increase, and historically dominant players will likely struggle to maintain their control of industry revenue. As a result, the development of brand names over the next five years will be critical to major players’ success, both in competition among brewers and against substitute products, such as wine and spirits. Such developments will benefit larger players that run more cost-effective promotional campaigns. At the same time, younger beer drinkers, aged 21 to 30, are expected to increasingly experiment with and seek out unusual brews, which will provide opportunities for craft breweries and microbreweries to expand their market reach.

As competition escalates between breweries and the craft beer boom continues to normalize, the number of new entrants is projected to slow. Still, the number of industry enterprises is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 9.4%.

Over the next five years, the industry is forecast to have steady growth. Operators are expected to experience increases in demand from their largest markets, particularly on-premise channels, such as restaurants, bars and event spaces. Moreover, smaller operators that rely on in-person transactions through in-house bars and tasting rooms are expected to see demand, as many people seek social drinking experiences.

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name] will serve the restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and households within [location] and the immediately surrounding areas.

The precise demographics of the town in which our location resides is as follows:

Customer Segmentation

We will primarily target the following three customer segments:

• Local residents: Approximately 80,000 people live in the area, 80% of which are over the age of 21.
• Wholesale accounts: We will target restaurants, hotels and grocery stores to set-up wholesale accounts. These establishments will then sell our beer downstream to end consumers.
• Businesses: Local corporations hold parties and celebrations for special events and milestones. Although a small segment, this is a good place to increase the company’s brand awareness and market reach.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

The Gold Liquid Brewing Co. Established in 2017, The Gold Liquid Brewing Co is a family-owned and -operated craft microbrewery and gastropub. The operation consists of an 8 bbl brew house, 2 bbl pilot system, a small batch PicoBrew system, and a 3 kg coffee roaster.

In its taproom, Gold Liquid serves 34 in house brews on tap, as well as additional taps for guest ciders and 6 wines on draft. Its gastropub food menu features high-quality food designed to complement Good Liquid brews. Guests may eat in the bright dining room, or in the large, dog-friendly outdoor beer garden, which features picnic tables and outdoor games.

Midwestern Brewing Co. Established in 1998, Midwestern Brewing Co. is a brewpub offering its beers, both bottled and on tap, and serving lunch and dinner from locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Midwestern operates seven locations in Indiana, though not all serve food. The brewery offers complimentary tastings and monthly guest brewmasters.

Better Brewing Co. Established in 2018, Better Brewing Co. is a family-friendly, small batch brewery with a full kitchen on site serving gourmet style pub fare. It typically offers a weekly list of entertainment, music and food and drink specials. Guests may eat in the dining room, or in the dog-friendly beer garden.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

• Client-oriented service: [Company Name] will have a full-time sales manager to keep in contact with our wholesale customers.
• Management: [Founder’s Name] has been extremely successful working in the industry and will be able to use his experience to create the best tasting beers. His unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than [Company Name’s] competitors.
• Transparency: To continue to assure customers of the quality of [Company Name]’s products, customers are welcome to tour the brewery for a beer tasting and brewery experience.

VI. Marketing Plan

The [company name] brand.

The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:

• Offers the finest beer at a competitive price
• Has a convenient location in the heart of the city
• Provides excellent customer service

Promotions Strategy

[Company Name] expects its target market to be individuals working and/or living within [state]. [The Company’s] promotions strategy to reach these individuals includes:

Sampling [Company Name] employees will initially give free beer samples to enable customers to taste the quality and variety of our beer and learn about us.

Ongoing Customer Communications [Company Name] will maintain a website and publish a monthly email newsletter to tell customers about new events, products, and more.

Pre-Opening Events Before opening the brewery, [Company Name] will organize pre-opening events designed for prospective customers, local merchants and press contacts. These events will create buzz and awareness for [Company Name] in the area.

Online Marketing [Company name] will invest resources in two forms of geographically-focused internet promotion—organic search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising. The Company will develop its website in such a manner as to direct as much traffic from search engines as possible. Additionally, it will use highly-focused, specific keywords to draw traffic to its website, where potential clients will find a content-rich site that presents [Company name] as the trustworthy, well-qualified brewery that it is.

VII. Operations Plan

Functional roles.

In order to execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the Company’s employees divide the following roles:

Operation Functions

• Production/brewing
• Deliveries and business operations
• Sales and Marketing

Administrative Functions

• General & administrative functions including marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
• Hiring and training staff

[Company name]’s long term goal is to become the dominant producer of quality beer in the [Location] area. We seek to be the standard by which other brewers are judged.

VIII. Management Team

Management team members.

[Founder’s Name]’s expertise and experience is [Company Name]’s most valuable asset. After graduating from the University of ABC where he earned a degree in Business, [Founder’s Name] worked for a major national brewer. In his long experience in the industry, he acquired an in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of running a brewery before he started [Company name].

[Company Name] will also employ an experienced assistant to help with production. He will also be trained by [Founder’s Name] so he can take over the business when [Founder’s Name] is away.

Hiring Plan

[Founder’s Name] will serve as [Company Name]’s manager. In order to launch the brewery, we need to hire the following personnel:

• Brewery workers: 5 full-time to start
• Assistant Manager: 1 full-time to handle the day-to-day operations
• Delivery personnel: 1 full-time

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and cost drivers.

[Company Name]’s revenues will come primarily from the sales of beverages to its customers.

The major costs for the company are packaging costs, salaries and supplies. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spend will be high, as it establishes itself in the market.

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

• Store design/build: $200,000

Key Assumptions

5 Year Annual Income Statement

5 Year Annual Balance Sheet

5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement

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Business Plan Resources for Breweries

Graham Rausch started with the Brewers Association in 2014. His goal is to engage with as many members as possible, help them maximize their membership benefits, and act as the resident resource-Sherpa for navigating through the mountain of information.

In my free time I like to sip on IPAs and pilsners while playing bass loudly or petting my dogs. I openly welcome pup-pictures and all heavy/loud/noisy music suggestions.

Many of the discussions we have at the Brewers Association (BA) revolve around resources and ideas that are specific to the beer industry. We focus on technical brewing, acquiring the right ingredients, building a brand, marketing beers, passing OSHA inspections, and complying with the TTB, among other things. Yet, there is a foundation to breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms alike, that is the common thread of all businesses. That foundation is a well-constructed business plan.

Learn How to Create and Maintain Your Business Plan

I’m often asked what business planning resources the BA provides, and I point members to our production statistics , benchmarking surveys , insight & analysis articles , and a myriad of Craft Brewers Conference (CBC)  presentations covering specific business-related topics. Additionally, Brewers Publications offers The Brewers Association’s Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery , which includes guidelines for business planning and a sample business plan. Despite all this information, though, I still hear questions about the root of the business plan – where to start and how to create one. So, I’ve compiled a handful of resources to help breweries create and maintain a business plan.

We all have preferences on how we digest educational materials. So, the information below comes in multiple formats from a variety of sources. These resources are helpful whether you are looking to create your first business plan or simply want to update your current one. A business plan is a living document that should be updated regularly, rather than a ‘one and done’ springboard for prospective businesses. This is by no means a comprehensive list of resources on this topic, as there are hundreds of them available. Rather, it’s a jumping off point for members who want to establish and expand their knowledge. These resources can help us establish and refresh business plans, in addition to highlighting components we wish to explore further.

Business Plan Resources:

• Writing Your Brewery Business Plan  is a step-by-step review of the necessary elements within a business plan and why those things are important.
• Successfully Planning, Starting and Operating a Nano Brewery  offers a broad overview of the planning process with highlights on fundamental considerations for both launching and growing a brewery.
• The Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans – An often cited (and very comprehensive) guide to the broader and finer points of creating your business plan. This 30-page PDF document is updated yearly and provides excellent details on the what and why of each section in the outline.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a great general resource for businesses. They offer a step-by-step tool that explains each section of the business plan template, along with a place to input your specific business information along the way.
• SCORE , a nonprofit resource partner with the SBA, has a variety of resources geared toward creating business plans and starting small businesses. This includes a 60-minute webinar on One Page Business Plans , an on-demand Developing a Business Plan course , articles about business plans , and even mentorship opportunities .
• For those who prefer educational videos, BizPlanTemplate.com offers a free business plan template paired with a 10-minute tutorial explaining each section.
• If learning on the go is of interest, scribendi.com offers a very succinct podcast outlining How to Write a Business Plan . For those starting from scratch, this is a good primer for the deeper dive into more detailed templates.

Don’t Forget to Use Your Community

As a final note, I’d be remiss not to mention the Brewers Association Forum . This is an excellent place to ask questions and engage with fellow brewery owners as you create and revise your business plans. While each brewery (and therefore business plan) will be unique, there is much to be learned from those around us. I am constantly reminded of the community mindset amongst many breweries, and this a fantastic way to connect and share resources with one another.

Resource Hub:

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Brewery Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

You’ve come to the right place to create your brewery business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their breweries.

Below is a brewery business plan example to help you write your brewery business plan:

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Mountain Craft Beer is a startup brewery located in Boulder, Colorado. The company is founded by Richard and Susan Williams, long-time craft beer enthusiasts who are ready to venture out and start their own brewing business. Richard has worked as a Brewmaster in a local brewery for over ten years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Colorado. Susan has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of New York. She has worked as a General Manager for a local restaurant and bar for the past five years. Now that the duo has obtained the experience and knowledge needed to run a craft beer business, Richard and Susan are ready to start a brewery of their own. Richard is confident in his ability to to manage the brewing process, while Susan is ready to take on the leadership role and manage all aspects of business operations. Richard and Susan will recruit a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running a craft brewery – marketing and sales, accounting and budgeting, customer service, product management, and quality control.

Mountain Craft Beer will make unique craft beers that patrons can enjoy onsite or purchase through distributors. The Mountain Craft Beer brewery will provide a fun taproom tasting experience for guests to try out new brews. Mountain Craft Beer will be the ultimate choice in Boulder for its specialty craft beers made with premium locally sourced ingredients.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Mountain Craft Beer will provide:

• Craft beer tasting
• Barrel-aged beer
• Seasonal IPAs
• Seasonal Ales
• Branded merchandise and apparel

Customer Focus

Mountain Craft Beer will target all individuals over the age of 21 in Boulder, Colorado. They will target locals and tourists. They will also target all beer-drinkers from seasoned connoisseurs to individuals brand new to craft beer, and everyone in between. No matter the customer, Mountain Craft Beer will deliver the best customer service, unique product offerings, and craft beer tastings led by friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Management Team

Mountain Craft Beer will be owned and operated by Richard and Susan Williams, long-time craft beer enthusiasts who are ready to venture out and start their own brewing business. Richard has worked as a Brewmaster in a local brewery for over ten years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Colorado. Susan has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of New York. She has worked as a General Manager for a local restaurant and bar for the past five years. Now that the duo has obtained the experience and knowledge needed to open their own business, Richard and Susan are ready to start a craft brewery of their own. Richard is confident in his ability to to manage the craft brewing process, while Susan is ready to take on the leadership role and manage all aspects of business operations.

Success Factors

Mountain Craft Beer will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of brewing professionals that will create unique flavors and blends, lead tasting experiences, and serve as informative guides providing the best customer service around.
• Unique product selection made with premium locally-sourced ingredients. New beers will be introduced each month and rotating seasonal selections will be renewed based on popularity.
• Mountain Craft Beer will be able to offer the best pricing in town because they will save on shipping costs by using local suppliers. The savings will be passed on to customers.

Financial Highlights

Mountain Craft Beer is seeking $500,000 in debt financing to launch its brewery business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the facility and purchasing brewing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Build-out of the facility: $100,000
• Brewing equipment, supplies, and ingredients: $240,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $140,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Mountain Craft Beer.

Company Overview

Who is mountain craft beer.

Mountain Craft Beer is a newly established craft brewing company in Boulder, Colorado. Mountain Craft Beer will be the ultimate choice for craft beer enthusiasts in the area. Mountain Craft Beer will provide an exclusive selection of craft beers, with new editions being introduced monthly and rotating seasonal selections that will be renewed based on popularity. Their exclusive, customer-centric approach combined with their use of locally sourced ingredients will make them a unique alternative to the typical craft beer experience. Mountain Craft Beer will be able to cater to their customers with unique product offerings and informative beer tasting events led by a team of highly qualified brewers. Mountain Craft Beer’s mission is to provide a fun and welcoming experience for its customers while delivering highly sought after creations that can’t be found anywhere else.

Mountain Craft Beer History

Mountain Craft Beer is owned and operated by Richard and Susan Williams, long-time craft beer enthusiasts who are ready to venture out and start their own brewing business. Richard has worked as a Brewmaster in a local brewery for over ten years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Colorado. Susan has a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of New York. She has worked as a General Manager for a local restaurant and bar for the past five years.

Since incorporation, Mountain Craft Beer has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Mountain Craft Beer, LLC to transact business in the state of Colorado.
• Has a contract in place to lease the brewing facility.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include craft beer enthusiasts, former customers, and friends and family networks to create excitement for the new brewery.
• Began recruiting a staff of brewers, sales associates, and marketing professionals to work at Mountain Craft Beer.

Mountain Craft Beer Services

Industry analysis.

The global craft beer industry is valued at $95BM. Beer is known for being the oldest and most broadly consumed beverage in the alcoholic category worldwide. The craft beer segment of the retail beer market in the United States has been growing steadily over the past ten years. In 2012, craft beer accounted for approximately 10% of the market. By 2021, this number increased to 26.8% of the market.

The U.S. brewery industry first became popular in the 2000s and hasn’t stopped growing since then. In 2006, there were approximately 1,400 breweries across the country. As of 2020, this number has grown to over 9,000.

The primary driver for growth in the United States craft beer market is the public’s increasing desire to find new and innovative drinks. The three most popular types of craft beers are pilsner, ale, and lager. Lager is the most popular of the three. Craft brewery industry operators can maintain a competitive advantage in the market by producing unique flavors and catering to their customers’ tastes.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Boulder, Colorado are:

Customer Segmentation

Mountain Craft Beer will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Residents 21 and over of Boulder, Colorado and surrounding areas
• Tourists 21 and over of Boulder, Colorado and surrounding areas
• Craft beer connoisseurs and enthusiasts (21 and over)
• Craft beer newbies (21 and over)

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Mountain Craft Beer will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Boulder Brewery

Boulder Brewery is a newly established craft beer brewery and gastropub located in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder Brewery is owned and operated by a team of professional brewmasters and chefs. The brewery offers onsite craft beer tastings and has a full restaurant open seven days per week. Boulder Brewery also sells its craft beer to distributors. The brewery promises to provide unique flavor blends and premium exotic ingredients.

BC Craft Beer Company

BC Craft Beer Company is a Colorado-based brewery that provides fresh craft beer blends. BC Craft Beer Company provides a comprehensive menu of ales, pilsners, lagers, and other beers on site and available to order online. The owners of BC Craft Beer Company are former brewmasters so they understand how to create fine craft beers from scratch. Customers can depend on their unique brewing process to achieve one-of-a-kind drinks. By choosing BC Craft Beer Company customers know they are getting the highest quality ingredients and specialty beverages they can brag about. BC Craft Beer Company uses holistic inspections and quality control measures to ensure each batch exceeds the most stringent quality standards.

Crafty Colorado Brews

Crafty Colorado Brews is a trusted Colorado brewery that provides superior service to patrons in Boulder, Colorado and the surrounding areas. The company makes small batches of seasonal drinks onsite. Products include pale ales, pilsners, and lagers. Crafty Colorado Brews hosts craft beer tasting events onsite and also distributes its products to local restaurants and liquor stores.

Competitive Advantage

Mountain Craft Beer will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of brewing professionals that is able to create high quality, unique flavors using locally sourced ingredients and cater to customers’ preferences.
• New flavors developed each month and rotating seasonal selections that are renewed based on popularity.
• Mountain Craft Beer offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Mountain Craft Beer will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees that is able to lead fun tasting events and provide insightful information to craft beer enthusiasts and novices alike.
• Unbeatable pricing to its customers – Using local suppliers allows the company to save on shipping costs and pass these savings on to its customers.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Mountain Craft Beer is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Richard and Susan Williams have built up an extensive network of craft beer enthusiasts and industry professionals. They plan to leverage this network to help them promote the new brewery.

Professional Associations and Networking

Mountain Craft Beer will become a member of Colorado Brewers Guild, Brewers Association, and the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. They will focus their networking efforts on expanding their customer network.

Print Advertising

Mountain Craft Beer will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events, magazines, direct mailers, and newspapers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Mountain Craft Beer will utilize an in-house marketing director to design the company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all of Mountain Craft Beer’s current product offerings. The website will also list contact information and upcoming tasting events.

The marketing director will also manage Mountain Craft Beer’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Colorado craft beer” or “brewery near me”, Mountain Craft Beer will be listed at the top of the search results.

Social Media/Influencers

The marketing director will create a brand presence across multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. These accounts will be updated regularly to maintain an active social media presence. The company will work with social media influencers who will help to promote its products.

The pricing of Mountain Craft Beer will be moderate and slightly lower than competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing craft beer from the company.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Mountain Craft Beer.

Operation Functions:

• Richard Williams – Co-owner and Brewmaster who will oversee all brewing staff and manage the product development process.
• Susan Williams – Co-Owner and Operations Manager who will oversee all staff (outside of brewers) including sales, marketing, accounting, and maintenance employees.
• Ben Smith – Staff Accountant will provide all client accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Michelle Miller – Marketing Director who will provide all marketing promotions for Mountain Craft Beer.
• John Davis – Maintenance Director who will provide all maintenance for the facility.

Milestones:

Mountain Craft Beer will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

8/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease facility

8/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts

9/1/2022 – Begin build-out of the brewery

9/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events

9/22/2022 – Begin moving into the facility

10/1/2022 – Mountain Craft Beer opens its brewery for business

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Mountain Craft Beer are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the products and fees charged to enter exclusive tasting events.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff a brewery. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, craft beer ingredients, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Beers Sold Per Month: 3,000
• Average Fees per Month: $15,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, brewery business plan faqs, what is a brewery business plan.

A brewery business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your brewery business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your brewery business plan using our Brewery Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Breweries?

There are a number of different kinds of breweries, some examples include: Microbrewery, Nano brewery, Brewpub, Taproom Brewery, Regional Brewery, and Contract Brewing Company.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Brewery Business Plan?

Breweries are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. 

This is true for a brewery business plan, microbrewery business plan, or a craft brewery business plan

What are the Steps To Start a Brewery Business?

Starting a brewery business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Brewery Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed craft brewery business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your brewery business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your brewery business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Brewery Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your brewery business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your brewery business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Brewery Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your brewery business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your brewery business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful brewery business, brewery business planning and crafting a beer business plan :

• How to Start a Brewery Business
• How to Start a Brewery

Where Can I Get a Brewery Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free brewery business plan template PDF here . This is a sample brewery business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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Brewery Business Plan

There is no question that there has been an increase in the number of craft breweries around the United States over the last several years. In 2018 alone,  1,049 new breweries opened  while 219 closed their doors forever. With over 25.9 million barrels of craft beer sold in 2018, commanding over $27.6 billion in revenue, there’s no wonder that entrepreneurs are launching more breweries than ever. Unfortunately, setting up a brewery can be expensive. Often, entrepreneurs must seek the funds of investors to support the launch of their craft beer business. To meet and attract investors, they need a strong brewery business plan that supports their case and showcases the potential of their idea.

Writing a business plan for a brewery is a bit different than writing for other types of businesses. Even when compared to other food & drink venues, breweries have several unique factors that should be addressed as a strategy is devised.

In the following post, we will explain everything you need to know about creating an awesome investor-ready brewery business plan.

Download our winning brewery business plan template here!

The Brewery Business Plan Format

The layout for a brewery plan will typically follow that of a standard business plan. However, because of the unique nature of a brewery business, the approach to each section may be considerably different. Here are a few tips as you write through each section of your brewery business plan.

Executive Summary

Seed and  pre-seed investors  receive business plans constantly, and often, they don’t make it through the first few pages. The executive summary is probably the most critical part of your document. Essentially, this summary is the pitch that sells investors on reading the rest of the plan! With so many breweries launching, your executive summary must effectively explain what makes your brewery special. After reading your summary, investors should be able to clearly recognize what factors make your brewery unique and why consumers would choose to patronize your establishment over another. In general, your executive summary should sum up the major concepts that are explained throughout your plan. If delivered successfully, investors will be excited to continue reading your plan. *Tip*  Although the executive summary is presented first in your brewery business plan, you should write it last. This way, you can ensure that it follows your strategy perfectly and that it mentions all notable details.

Brewery Details

This section introduces readers to your brewery concept and the products that it will offer. There are four major parts to a brewery details section: 1) Description:  Explain how the brewery concept was conceived and the milestones that have been achieved to date. Milestones can include things such as finding a location, securing advisors, or establishing beneficial relationships. 2) Mission Statement:  Write a statement that explains what your brewery stands for, who it serves, its beliefs towards quality craft beer production, and the type of experience you hope to provide to guests. 3) Products & Services:  List out the different products and brands you serve. Explain what makes these products unique from competitive breweries. Whether your product is more flavorful or fresher, this is the section to describe why your product is special – if it is in fact special. Don’t just stop at the product itself, but also consider the type of unique experience that your customers can expect when frequenting your brewery. 4) Key Success Factors:  This section describes the factors that must be accomplished in order for you to successfully launch and operate a brewery. Major key factors for brewery success include things like finding the right location, having the right brewing process, choosing the right equipment, and building a repeat customer base.

Market Research

Unfortunately, not every market is ripe for a brewery. In some markets, there just aren’t enough ideal consumers to keep a brewery at a meaningful capacity. It’s important to know who your customers are, how many of them exist within your specific region, and how many you can attract to your brewery each day, week, or month. Start your research by performing a  target market analysis  to estimate the size of your serviceable obtainable market. Unless you can find the research to prove that there is both a large market and a high demand for a brewery, investors will hesitate to invest their capital. Assess the demographics of your target consumer. Use research from reliable resources like the Census to accurately estimate how large your market really is.

Competitive Analysis

No matter how great your beer is, your brewery will face some level of competition. Even if you are the only brewery in town, competition will come from local bars, restaurants, and local stores that sell craft beer. On a secondary level, there will also be competition from distributors of mass-produced domestic and imported beers. Make sure you identify all of your players within your local competitive landscape. Assess what customers enjoy about these venues and what they dislike.  Perform a SWOT analysis  on your brewery business and detail the advantages you have over other breweries, bars, beer suppliers.

Marketing Strategy

Having the best brewery in town is meaningless if you can’t get customers through the door. Unfortunately, just existing isn’t enough – competition in the food & beverage industry is usually quite extreme and customers have many options to choose from. Decide how you will introduce your brewery to potential customers. Whether it’s local marketing with newspaper ads in a community newspaper or directory, or online using social media – an effective strategy must be implemented to succeed. Consider how you will market your brewery, how much you will invest into each method, and how many customers you will attract with your intended budget. Furthermore, answer the following questions:

• How will you ensure that customers are satisfied enough to give your brewery great ratings and reviews?
• How can you upsell to help increase the value of each customer on each visit?
• How can you ensure that customers will return to your brewery on an ongoing basis?

Operational Strategy

Planning a brewery is tough, but operating one is far more challenging. There are many factors that go into operating a brewery on an everyday basis. The operational strategy for your brewery plan should include the following elements:

• Location:  Explain where your brewery will be located, how big the facility will be, why it is the perfect location, how you will renovate the location, and more.
• Quality Control:  Maintaining product quality is essential for a brewery. Failure to stay on top of things could lead to food inspection violations. Detail the steps you will take to ensure that a high-quality standard is met at all times.
• Customer Service:  Breweries are service-based businesses, too. Customer service is key to ensuring that visitors are satisfied enough to return in the future. Describe how you will deal with customer service and how you will handle any customer complaints.
• Sales Process:  Explain the process of how a customer receives your product from the moment they walk into the door. Who seats them? Who serves them? How are they served? How is payment collected? What happens after they leave?
• Staffing:  Lastly, explain your staffing plan. Consider each individual you will need to hire to operate your brewery properly. When will you hire them? How will you train them? How much will you pay them?

Financial Projections

Finally, investors want to see the financial viability and potential of your brewery. Prior industry research should help you minimize assumptions as you build your financial model. Once you have identified all major expenses (such as equipment and staffing), be sure to identify minor expenses, too (such as equipment maintenance, cleaning supplies for the bathroom, soap to wash dishes with, and etc.). Your financial model should be realistic and should replicate the strategies described in your brewery business plan. It should showcase realistic growth, and should be based on real data and statistics – not fluffed up with too many unproven assumptions.

Special Considerations

While the  business plan format  of a brewery plan may be similar to every other plan, there are several special considerations that must be made. There are some challenges that are exclusive to food & beverage businesses, and some that are exclusive to breweries specifically. Here are three special considerations you should make when writing your brewery plan.

Pay Attention to the Details

Breweries have only recently began to explode across the country. Investors will either be experienced with breweries and extremely familiar with the associated details, or they will be clueless about what it takes to run a brewery. Either way, it is important that you are able to consider and communicate each detail clearly. Interview brewery owners who are not competitors – such as those operating in other regions. Ask if they can share their experience and have them look over your financials to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything. When starting a brewery, research is everything – and sometimes, you won’t find all the answers through an online search. Build relationships within the industry and use those relationships to to your advantage as you plan your brewery.

Consider the Community

Knowing your customer is essential to establishment and growth. The most loyal customers will generally come from the surrounding community. The better you know the community, the more effective you will be in serving your customers. Look into other food & beverage businesses that have launched within the area. Pay special attention to the ones that didn’t succeed. What factors led to their success? Why did other bars and restaurants succeed instead? Interview potential customers within the community. Ask them what they like about current options and what they’d like to see in a new brewery. The feedback will not only help you develop a business that the community supports, but it will also help you validate your concept to investors.

Know Your Numbers

If there’s one thing you want to be extremely detailed about – it’s your numbers. Finding out that your strategy isn’t viable during the business planning process may sting, but finding it out post-launch can completely derail your business. Every financial model will have some level of assumption built into it. Having too many assumptions though will turn a brewery financial model into a pipedream. When you write your brewery business plan, research as deeply as you can to find out the real numbers associated with starting and running your business.

Need Help With Your Brewery Business Plan?

Writing a brewery business plan can be an extensive challenge for an entrepreneur. At ThinkLions, we have written dozens of business plans for breweries and other food & beverage businesses – and we know what it takes to get your brewery funded. Need help?  Contact us  today and let us help you write the best brewery business plan possible!

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How To Write a Successful Brewery Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for brewery businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every brewery business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Brewery Business Plan Template

What is a Brewery Business Plan?

A brewery business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Brewery Business Plan?

A brewery business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Brewery Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful brewery business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a brewery business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your brewery company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your brewery business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your brewery firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen brewery business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a brewery business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the brewery industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, the customers of a brewery business may include:

• People who live near the brewery
• People who are seeking unique beer flavors or other properties
• People who buy beer from the brewery’s website or through a distributor

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or brewery services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your brewery business may have:

• Brewery has a unique brewing process that results in a better-tasting beer.
• Brewery is family-owned and operated; customers can visit the brewery to see how their beer is made.
• Brewery offers a wide variety of beers, which appeals to different customer segments.
• Brewery beers are sold in local restaurants and bars, making it convenient for customers.
• Brewery offers tours of the facilities, which educates customers about the brewing process and creates a memorable experience.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your brewery business via word-of-mouth marketing.

Operations Plan

This part of your brewery business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a brewery business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding new brewing equipment, launching a new product line, or opening a new location.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific brewery industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Brewery Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Brewery Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup brewery business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Brewery Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your brewery company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-executed business plan will give you the best chance at success and keep you organized and on track as your brewery company grows.

Now that you understand how to write a brewery business plan, it’s time to get started on yours.  

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Restaurants | How To

How to Start a Brewery in 10 Steps: Small Business Guide

Published October 17, 2023

Published Oct 17, 2023

REVIEWED BY: Mary King

WRITTEN BY: Karina Fabian

This article is part of a larger series on Restaurant .

• 1: Determine Your Niche
• 2: Build Your Budget
• 3. Create a Business Plan
• 4: Find Your Location
• 5: Secure Funding
• 6: Get Permits, Licenses, and Insurance
• 7: Purchase Equipment and Source Suppliers
• 8: Develop a Distribution Plan
• 9: Hire and Train Staff
• 10: Market Your Brews

Opening Your Brewery

• Pros & Cons of Opening a Brewery

Bottom Line

According to the Brewer’s Association, there are over 9,500 breweries in the US , with 549 new ones opening and 319 closing in 2022. If you love creating and sharing your own beers and are prepared to operate within the number of laws that regulate alcoholic beverage productions, starting a brewery can be very rewarding. It costs between $250,000 and $2.5 million to start a brewery, and most brewers start turning regular profits after about three years.

We cover how to open a brewery in 10 primary steps, with a deep look at branding and the legal requirements of this highly regulated industry. Note that these steps may not be taken sequentially; you may start working on your licensing even before you finalize a budget, for example. These steps cover how to start a microbrewery as well as a larger operation.

Before you start, do your research: Brewers agree that the more you know both about brewing and about business, the smoother time you’ll have starting a brewery. They recommend working in the industry, crafting your own beers, and shadowing a professional brewer before taking the plunge yourself.

Step 1: Determine Your Niche

Before you get into the deep work of starting your brewery, ask yourself: Do you want a place where you can show off your beers personally to an appreciative group or are you looking to have your label distributed regionally? And what are you doing that makes you stand out from the competition? Give deep thought to the kind of brewery you want—and what your area will support.

Type of Brewery

There are two major types of breweries: those that sell directly to customers, and others that manufacture beers for distribution to bars, restaurants, and retailers. Those two types can be further broken down into six major market segments based on their sales location and how many barrels of beer they produce annually:

• Microbreweries: Sell more than 75% of their beer off-site and produce less than 15,000 barrels (bbl) per year. A nanobrewery is an even smaller microbrewery, one that produces less than 2,000 bbl annually.
• Brewpubs : A brewpub offers food alongside beer, and sells more than 25% of its beer on-site.
• Taproom brewery: Taprooms do not serve food and sell more than 25% of their beers on-site.
• Contract brewing company: These hire other small businesses to produce some or all of their beer.
• Regional craft brewery: These can have worldwide recognition but produce between 15,000 and 6 million barrels a year.
• Alternating proprietor brewery: This is where two or more brewers share brewing equipment. Usually, one is the host and rents the space and equipment to the tenant brewer. This could be a good way to make a little extra money while working up the demand for your product.

Brewpubs are the fastest-growing segment for independent breweries and the model that most consumers think of when they think of a brewery.

What is a beer barrel (bbl)? Breweries measure the size of their business in barrels, abbreviated as “bbl.” One bbl is the equivalent of 31 gallons of beer. You’ll also see brewing equipment categorized by bbl.

Determine Your Brand

With over 9,000 breweries in the US alone, you need a way to stand out. Start with determining your target audience. In general, millennials are the biggest craft beer demographic, so start there. Next, think about your story. What’s driving you to create your beers? How do they do what other beers don’t? A great story goes a long way in websites, social media, and other advertisements.

Next, consider your logo, name, and label. It doesn’t matter how great your brew is if you don’t catch the eye of the consumer. Make it clear, clean, and reflective of your story. Then, trademark it to protect it.

• Tips for Naming Your Business (+ Free Name Generator)
• Best Sites for Logo Design
• How to Find a Niche Market

Step 2: Build Your Budget

In addition to the location, which can cost up to a million dollars by itself for rent/mortgage and renovations, you need to consider equipment and supplies, many of which are consumables. Manufacturing breweries have bigger expenses for location and equipment, while brewpubs need to consider everything required for a restaurant as well.

We’ve made extensive (but by no means complete) lists to get you started, along with estimated costs you’ll need to account for.

• Business Costs
• Equipment Costs ($100,000 to $1 million)
• Software Costs ($30–$300/month per software)
• Recurring Costs
• Incorporation: $300
• Rent, lease, or mortgage: $10–$30 per square foot
• Building preparation (from creating a party room or dance floor to decorations): Depends on what you need. Taproom furnishings, for example, can run to $15,000.
• Business license: $25–$7,000
• Liquor license: $3,000–$400,000, depending on location and size of brewery
• Food license: $100–$1,000
• Entertainment license (if applicable): $80–$250+
• Branding (including trademark): $225–$600
• Website design: DIY to $15,000+
• Permits and insurance: $77–$100
• Marketing: 3%–6% of sales
• Distribution and packaging: $1.50 a six-pack; 20 cents a glass bottle
• Soft opening and grand opening expenses: $100–$10,000 depending on how big you do it.
• Refrigeration
• Canning lines
• Cleaning equipment
• Mash/lauter turn
• Heat exchanges
• Fermentation tanks
• Brite tanks
• Waste treatment systems
• Piping and tubing
• Brewery management software
• Bar point-of-sale (POS) software
• Inventory management software
• Time tracking software
• Payroll software
• Payment processing
• Utilities: $2,500 per month
• Food (including bar snacks)
• Hops and other ingredients: $45–$75 per bbl
• Payroll: Plan $15 per hour per employee
• Payment processing (for credit cards): Approx 2.5% per transaction
• Janitorial and landscaping: $25–$90 per hour, each
• Consumables (napkins, coasters, stirrers, garnishes, to-go cartons or cups)
• Website hosting: $3–$25 per month
• Security systems: One-time fee ($50–$1,000+) to $100 per month
• Recurring fees like license renewals
• Associations and memberships, like the Brewers Association: $495 per year for Brewers Association

Once you figure all of these costs, finalize your budget by adding contingency funds. You should have enough money on hand to cover your fixed costs (like rent and utilities) and payroll for three to six months. It will take several weeks to see money from sales begin to enter your bank account. These contingency funds will ensure you keep your operation running smoothly until your sales start rolling in.

Expected Income

How much you make is directly dependent on how much you produce and sell. The average markup for beer is as much as 300%. One rule of thumb is to price at least four times the expected cost of production. Not all of that markup is profit, though. Most breweries see a profit margin of 20% to 25%. This is a lot less than that 300% markup, but a lot more than the 5% profit margin most restaurants see.

Despite the high markup, with expenses, it can take three to five years to turn a profit on your brewery. After that, the average annual salary of a brewery owner runs $50,000 to $88,000.

Step 3: Create a Business Plan

A business plan covers the basics of how to start a beer company. We cover the steps in-depth in our article on creating a business plan . However, in general, you will need:

• An executive summary that gives the basics of the plan in a few clear paragraphs
• A mission statement and business objectives: How your brewery fills a niche and serves the community, along with your concrete goals
• Competitive analysis: Who your competitors are and how you are similar and different
• Products and services
• Marketing strategy
• Sales forecasts
• Management and employee structure
• Financial data and analysis: Forecasting income and expenses for the next three years

When creating the business plan, remember that much will depend on outside factors, so try to give yourself some wiggle room for unexpected events.

Step 4: Find Your Location

First, you’ll want to be sure the area you’re considering is zoned for brewery and alcohol sales. Then, make sure the rent and utilities are within your budget and consider how much the refit costs will be. Sometimes, a more affordable second choice is the best choice. In most cases, breweries tend to be outside of densely populated areas. Breweries simply need a lot of space for equipment, an enormous amount of water, plenty of room to dispose of spent grains, and neighbors that are too nearby can complain about the smell.

It’s not that breweries smell bad, but not everyone appreciates the aroma of fermenting yeasts and sugars wafting into their apartment or office space. So you’re likely looking mostly at suburban and rural locations. Warehouse districts in former industrial neighborhoods of large cities are also rich with potential. Consider Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, which is housed in a historic warehouse in the Los Angeles Arts district.

Look for spaces that have previously been used for manufacturing a product. Most simple retail and restaurant spaces simply don’t have enough water or electrical infrastructure to support a brewery, and upgrading these services can be costly. Brewing equipment is also very heavy; an empty brew tank can weigh more than 1,000 pounds. You need a space that can handle the weight.

A brewery location depends greatly on whether you are attracting customers to your space, like with a taproom, or brewing for businesses. (Source: Pixabay)

Wherever your brewery is located, you’ll need a space that has:

• Ample space: Do you need a bar for the taproom, a kitchen for your brewpub, or loading docks?
• Floor drains for the brewery equipment
• High ceilings and ample space make it easier to work with the equipment, especially for manufacturing breweries.
• Ample Utilities : Be sure you have sufficient electricity, gas, water, and sewer services.

Brewery equipment provider ICC-NW suggests these minimum utility requirements for your brewing equipment:

• Electrical 20 – 35 kWh/beer barrel (bbl)
• Natural Gas 2.0 – 3.7 therms/bbl
• Water 6 – 8 BBL’s water/bbl beer produced
• Refrigeration 10 – 20 BTU chiller capacity/bbl yearly capacity
• Direct Fired Brew Kettle 25,000 30,000 BTU/bbl Cast Wort

If all those numbers make your eyes cross, call an electrician and a brewery equipment technician to come look at your space. Most brewery equipment providers are happy to send a technician or sales rep to see if a location can support their equipment; the sooner you settle on a location, the sooner they make a big sale.

Brewery Size

Size matters when considering how to start a brewery business. Too small and you hinder expansion; too large, and you’re paying for unused space. ICC-NW recommends the following:

• Complete Brewery: 0.5–1 sq. ft./bbl of yearly capacity
• Sacked Malt Storage: 0.15–0.25 sq. ft./bbl of yearly capacity

If you have a taproom or brewpub, you need to add space for the bar, restaurant, and kitchen as well.

Step 5: Secure Funding

If you lack the funds, there are plenty of options available. Most people know about startup business loans and lines of credit, but did you know there are grants available, too? You can also seek out investors or business partners.

Your business plan goes a long way in helping you secure bank loans, grants, or partners. Consider creating a pitch deck or slide show with the most important information to make an easy presentation. Find more information on what you need to secure a small business loan in our guide.

Another popular alternative is crowdfunding , where people contribute in exchange for rewards or equity to your investors. There’s a special crowdfunding site for breweries: CrowdBrewed , which caters to beer enthusiasts. It also offers learning opportunities and a place to connect with other brewers and beer lovers.

You should also look into a business credit card, which gives you some quick flexible funding for smaller expenses as well as a place to pay for subscriptions like brewery management software or a POS system.

Step 6: Get Permits, Licenses, and Insurance

The alcohol industry is highly regulated, so you’ll want to be sure you get all the needed permits, licenses, and insurance. If you own a taproom or brewpub, you may need even more. Check with the Tax and Trade Bureau for Alcohol and Tobacco , your local Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board, and the Brewers Association State Laws for what’s required in your area. Below is a list to get you started:

• Sole proprietorship
• General partnership
• S-corp or C-corp
• Limited liability corporations (LLC)
• Employer identification number (EIN)
• State tax ID
• A Federal Brewer’s Permit
• A Brewer’s bond
• Liquor license
• Food and beverage license
• Retailers license
• Sign permit
• Certificate of occupancy
• Registration with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
• Liquor liability insurance
• Business income insurance: While optional, it can protect you if you need to shut down temporarily.

Depending on your location and your plans, you may also need permits for pool tables, live music, or permits for placing your dumpster. In addition to the food safety inspections performed by your local health department, breweries must register with the Food and Drug Administration and pass an impromptu inspection. They will check that you are meeting federally mandated standards for sanitation and employee hygiene called the Good Manufacturing Practices for Craft Brewers (GMPCB).

Step 7: Purchase Equipment & Source Suppliers

Under your budget, you’ll have listed the types of equipment and pricing—but how much should you buy?

This depends on the size of your brewery, available floor space, and how you intend to sell. However, the general guideline is buy a little more than you expect to use. The Asian Beer network recommends at least a 10-hectoliter (HL) tank and a mix of 5HL and 10HL fermentation vessels.

“This means for your biggest selling beers you will get around 1800–1900 of sellable beer per batch (less for a heavily hopped IPA). You can still have half brews of 500L to some dedicated tanks for niche beers that you know will not sell in big quantity,” they say on their website .

Some brewers have found that they can cut the costs of equipping their brewery by as much as half if they design their own system and source used parts. Check message boards and networks for brewers selling used equipment.

The quality of your supplies will impact the quality of your product. (Source: Pixabay)

When sourcing suppliers for your ingredients and consumables, be sure you find businesses that you can trust. Start by asking around for recommendations, and do your own homework. Checking with the Better Business Bureau and online reviews is a good start. When interviewing, ask about minimum order amounts, payment policies, quality assurance processes, and general business practices.

Software is an important part of any modern business. When evaluating software, look at user and professional reviews, then ask for a demo or check out the free trial before committing. Some companies have a free but limited version of their software. This may serve you well in the beginning, but keep in mind that as you grow, you may need to purchase a subscription or change software.

We’ve not evaluated brewery software, but untapped.com recommends Ollie. We looked briefly into it and found it’s a very complete system for tracking manufacturing tasks and sales. It also has an average 4 out of 5 user review rating on multiple sites.

Visit Ollie

Step 8: Develop a Distribution Plan

Distribution is key for breweries, it is how you get your beer in front of customers. As with most things related to alcoholic products, your distribution options vary widely according to state laws. The laws that regulate the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages like beer are called franchise laws, and you’ll need to contact your local liquor control board—or an experienced lawyer—to learn what is permitted in your area.

Some states allow you to self-distribute a set number of barrels to local retailers, while others only permit direct-to-consumer keg and package sales. In some states, breweries that want to distribute their beers can only do so through a licensed distributor. The Brewers Association maintains an online database of state laws that can give you a good idea of what to expect.

Distributors take between 20% and 40% of your price. For that sum, distributors do more than warehouse and transport your product. They build relationships with retailers and consumers, so it’s important to your business to find one that’s well-respected in the community too.

When sourcing a licensed distributor, start by asking local brewers for recommendations. The Brewers Association also has a list of distributors . You need to find one that matches your plan: Are you planning on staying local or branching nationwide? Then, make sure you understand their policies and get a good feel for their dedication to the art of craft beer.

• Ask how long they’ve been in business, especially in your area of interest.
• Review their portfolio. Consider the volume of products they’re selling, the location, and the types of beer they distribute.
• Tour the facility. Verify capacity and ability to effectively store and transport your products.
• Ask about their competition and how they stand out.
• Learn about their representatives. These are the people who will be selling your beer in the region or across the nation. Also, ask how a representative is replaced if they fall ill or take leave.
• Get a list of references or key accounts that you can call.

Step 9: Hire & Train Staff

The average United States brewery employs about 11 people at any given time. Some of the common positions you need to fill are:

• Head brewer
• Assistant brewer (can be an apprentice)
• Engineer (to look after the equipment)
• Microbiologist or chemist (analyze the microbes)
• General manager
• Customer service

Naturally, if you have a bar or restaurant, you’ll need waitstaff, host, barbacks, and kitchen staff.

Beertenders, also called a beer sommelier or a cicerone, are a special breed of bartenders for breweries. They cannot only recommend a beer, but also beer/food pairings. They should have a good knowledge of your beers and of the beer industry overall, as well as a winning personality so that they create a positive experience for your consumers.

Training Your Staff

When hiring staff for your brewery, consider hands-on experience as well as formal education. Many brewers (perhaps even you) are self-taught or had a few courses, and many people are looking for the chance to learn. Consider hosting apprenticeships or internship programs as you build your staff. Other staff members, such as your microbiologist or engineer, will need certifications or a formal college degree.

Many breweries apprentice staff to train them in their methods. (Source: Pixabay)

This is a highly regulated industry, however, so you’ll want to be sure your training includes not only how to brew great beer and use the equipment, including software, but also meets federal and state regulations for food safety, alcohol serving, and even sexual harassment prevention training.

Also, take care to follow local laws when hiring interns or apprentices. It is generally safest to pay all interns and apprentices at least minimum wage for their work to ensure you stay within the bounds of the law.

Step 10: Market Your Brews

Marketing a craft beer starts with your name and labels. Craft brews need to stand out, and that starts with your label. Start with your brand, and then name beers in fun ways that reflect it.

Design Branded Labels

Some of the most popular labels play off brewing terms, like “Hoppy Ending” or “Pathological Lager.” Next, design an eye-catching label to go with it. If you have graphic design skills you can do it yourself with a design app like Canva. If design is not your strong suit, hire a freelance graphic designer from a site like Fiverr.

This guide shows you the label size you need based on your product type. (source: Blue Label Packaging)

Various states have different laws regarding the information that must be included on beer labels. Check with the local liquor control board for the correct information for the markets you plan to sell to. If you work with a label printing service (which you should—they save a lot of time and money) they can also usually provide you with the correct labeling information for your product.

Connect With Your Target Customer

According to the Brewer’s Association, millennials are the biggest target customer for breweries, so go where they are on social media. Also, be active in your community; according to Stellar Partnerships , 82% of millennials want businesses to make a positive social impact, 79% will recommend a company based on their social involvement, and 70% are more loyal to brands they believe benefit society.

Make Your Beer Easy (and Fun) to Find

You should also consider platforms like Untapped to gamify your customer relationships. Untappd is a community of beer drinkers nine million strong. They collect badges made by bars and breweries, such as for trying a special brew or attending a special event. Learn more about Untappd and how to make an Untappd badge . If they operate in your market, setting up an account with third-party alcohol sales and delivery platform Drizly is another great way to reach new customers.

Offer Flights

Beer tasting, called flights, is a good way to bring in customers and show off your new brews. Offering mixed six-packs or refillable growlers (glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bottles for taking draft beer home), is a good way to encourage repeat customers. Retail items or swag like T-shirts or beer cozies that promote your company are also good investments, especially if they are fun.

Create an Eye-catching Website

Websites cannot be underestimated. This should not only show off your beers but also tell your story. Millennials and GenZ respond better when they connect with the people and values behind your brand, so don’t just show off your great products, but also your location, people, and overall vibe. If you distribute and serve your beers at third-party locations, make sure to include a beer locator page where customers can find your beers in the wild.

The website for Tommyknocker Brewery + Pub in Colorado highlights their bright, signature cans, and tells customers where to find their beers. (Source: Tommyknocker’s Brewery + Pub)

• Website Basics
• How to Make a Small Business Website
• Best Affordable Website Builders

Get Involved With Events

Beers are synonymous with events from sporting events to concerts. Consider renting booth space at outdoor festivals in your area to start getting your beer in front of customers. Your local Chamber of Commerce or tourism board can typically supply you with a list of events that would be good fits. You can also throw your own events in your taproom or brewery to draw crowds to your location. Consider booking popular local bands, or hosting some kind of contest to get free media and get customers energized about your brews.

In many locations, there are restrictions on how alcohol-based business can market their products. In many places, you cannot offer free beer any larger than a tasting portion. Check with your local liquor control board to stay on the right side of the law.

You’ve put in the planning, done the hard work, and gotten the word out. The only thing left is to open for business! Be sure to involve the press and any beer influencers in your area. An Untappd badge is also a great draw for enthusiasts who might not make the trip otherwise.

Grand openings are exciting, but if you have a taproom or brewpub, a soft opening, with family and friends, is a good way to work out the kinks and give your staff practice before the big, high-pressure event.

Pros & Cons of Opening a Brewery

If you like beer and are the creative type who still has a head for business, then starting your own brewery can be both satisfying and profitable. However, there’s a huge startup cost and strong competition—plus, the act of brewing itself is meticulous and full of dull work like cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

These are some of the most common questions we hear from prospective brewery owners.

Are breweries profitable?

Most breweries average a profit margin of about 20%, which is much higher than the standard for restaurants (which floats closer to 5%). And brewery businesses are currently growing in the US. According to the Brewers Association, retail dollar sales of craft beer in 2022 increased to $28.4 billion (5%), and make up 24.6% of the $115 billion US beer market. If you run your brewery efficiently, you can expect to earn a profit in the first three years and pay yourself from $50,000 to $88,000 a year.

What do you need to run a brewery?

Check the section on budget for a more complete list, but in general, you need:

• Manufacturing location, perhaps in conjunction with a bar or small restaurant
• Brewing equipment
• Ingredients
• Licenses and permits
• Software for managing people, money, and inventory
• Great employees
• Strong marketing

You’ll also need the ability to manage details (like routine administrative and cleaning), work well with people, have some salesmanship, and a good (pardon the pun) head for beer.

Can I make money with a nanobrewery?

Nanobreweries do better as taprooms or brewpubs, so if you want to be profitable as a microbrewery business, that’s the best route. If your plan is solely distribution-based, your path to profitability will be more difficult.

What is the best business structure for a brewery?

The best business structure for your brewery will depend on your brewery type. Small breweries may be fine simply incorporating as an LLC, while larger breweries may be better suited to a corporation. There is a lot of liability when you’re producing a consumable product, especially when that product is a controlled substance like alcohol. So definitely consult a business attorney to ensure you get the best business structure for your brewery type.

Opening a brewery is about making great beer. But it’s also about arranging distribution plans, monitoring day to day cleaning and administrative tasks, and securing the correct permits and licenses. Following our 10-step plan will get you going on the right foot. Starting your brewery can take several months—and up to a year and a half—but those moments when someone sips your latest creation and grins with appreciation make it all worthwhile.

About the Author

Karina Fabian

Karina Fabian has more than seven years of experience writing on business topics and reviewing software. Before writing for Fit Small Business, she reviewed business software and services for other online websites. Karina has also worked as a marketing content specialist for Naviga. After her husband started a rocket company, Karina got a crash course on the ins and outs of starting a business and all the work that goes into launching a startup. In her free time, she writes science fiction and fantasy.

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Brewery Business Plan

If you like to brew different flavors of drinks or have a microbrewery, you might have thought of starting a proper brewery business.

And the good news is that the brewery industry is now bigger than ever and continues to grow at a rapid pace.

If you are planning to start a new Brewery business, the first thing you will need is a business plan. Use our sample brewery business plan created using upmetrics business plan software to start writing your business plan in no time.

Before you start writing your business plan for your new brewery business, spend as much time as you can reading through some examples of Farm & Food Production-related Business Plans .

Industry Overview

The global beer market stood at a value of 623.2 billion dollars in 2020 and is expected to grow at a rapid rate thereafter too.

The main reason behind the rise in cultural changes and the growing acceptance of alcohol across the globe.

Moreover, the brewery business is growing due to differences in preferences between alcohol-free to low alcohol beers and the ones with different flavors.

Today’s consumers aim towards maintaining a better lifestyle along with socializing. Hence, demand for low-alcohol beers is on the rise and a brewery can serve that and more.

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Things to Consider Before Writing a Brewery Business Plan

Now you might want to get started as soon as possible. But before you start working on your business plan keep the following things in mind:

Decide on a menu and acquire resources

Though a lot depends on individual demands, having a certain set of items and proportions that work is important for a brewery business.

Moreover, it is also important to know what works best for the majority of your customers so you can have a handy set of ingredients.

Above all, you need to maintain a combination of quality and cost-effectiveness while acquiring ingredients for your brewery.

Stay up to date with your consumer’s preferences

The main purpose of a brewery is to provide a quality customer experience. What sets a brewery apart from a usual bar is the experience that comes with selecting your ideal flavors and proportions.

Hence, knowing what your customers want, things that influence their tastes, and what motivates them to change is essential for your business to succeed.

Know your competitors

Knowing what your competitors are doing is essential to do better than them. The brewery business is huge but it is also very competitive at the same time.

Hence, it is essential to stay a step ahead of your competitors for your business to thrive.

Write Your Business Plan

Reading sample business plans will give you a good idea of what you’re aiming for. It will also show you the different sections that entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their business plans.

We have created this brewery business plan  template for you to get a good idea about how perfect a brewery business plan should look and what details you will need to include in your stunning business plan.

Then again it’s no surprise because the demand for unique and different things is growing irrespective of the business. And a brewery can offer just that for beers.

Brewery Business Plan Outline

This is the standard brewery business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• Products and Services
• Customer Focus
• Management Team
• Keys to Success
• 3 Year profit forecast
• Startup cost
• Industry Analysis
• Market Trends
• Market Needs
• Target Market
• SWOT Analysis
• Marketing Strategy
• Ongoing Customer Communications
• Pre-Opening Events
• Online Marketing
• Pricing Strategy
• Operation Functions
• Administrative Functions
• Important Assumptions
• Brake-even Analysis
• Profit Yearly
• Gross Margin Yearly
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Business Ratios

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample brewery business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your brewery business plan pdf or doc file.

It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Download a sample brewery business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free brewery business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your brewery business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

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About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Sample Brewery Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a brewery. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring brewery business owners, having access to a sample brewery business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own brewery business plan.

Download our Ultimate Brewery Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful brewery venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A brewery business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document. The brewery business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your brewery as Growthink’s Ultimate Brewery Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a brewery business plan of your own.

Example – Hops & Barley Brews

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

At Hops & Barley Brews, we are passionately dedicated to brewing distinctive beers that cater to the tastes of beer aficionados in San Antonio, TX. Our brewery stands as a testament to our commitment to quality, creativity, and community. We take pride in our state-of-the-art brewing facility and taproom, where we invite locals and visitors to explore our wide range of beers, from traditional ales and lagers to innovative craft selections. Our mission is to become a cornerstone in San Antonio’s vibrant beer culture, offering a welcoming space for socializing, education, and appreciation of the art of brewing.

Our success is attributed to our meticulous attention to quality, innovative brewing techniques, and a deep understanding of our customers’ preferences. We’ve quickly established a strong presence in the local market, thanks to our diverse beer selection and engaging community events. Our accomplishments to date include securing several awards at regional beer festivals, consistently positive customer feedback, and growing sales figures. These achievements underline our commitment to excellence and our potential for future growth.

The craft beer industry has seen significant growth, driven by consumers’ increasing preference for unique and locally produced beers. This trend has fostered a vibrant competitive landscape, with breweries distinguishing themselves through variety, quality, and community involvement. San Antonio’s burgeoning craft beer scene is reflective of this wider trend, offering ample opportunity for growth, particularly for breweries that prioritize innovation and engagement with their local community. As the industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of consumer trends and leveraging local partnerships will be key to success.

Our target customers are diverse, including both seasoned craft beer enthusiasts and newcomers eager to explore the world of artisanal beers. We focus on creating a welcoming environment for all, regardless of their level of beer knowledge. Our customer base is primarily composed of local residents and tourists, drawn to San Antonio’s rich cultural offerings. By understanding and catering to the preferences of our customers, we aim to not only attract a loyal following but also to introduce more people to the craft beer experience, fostering a larger community of enthusiasts.

Top Competitors: Brew Haven, City Ales, and The Malt House.

Brew Haven focuses on a wide range of international beers, City Ales offers a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere with a focus on local brews, and The Malt House is known for its experimental beer flavors. Our competitive advantages include our commitment to quality, our innovative brewing techniques that allow us to create unique beer flavors, and our strong community engagement through events and partnerships. These strengths enable us to stand out in a crowded market.

Our marketing plan is designed to engage our target audience through a mix of online marketing, community events, strategic partnerships, loyalty programs, and traditional advertising. We leverage social media platforms to share engaging content, run contests, and promote our events, fostering a strong online community. In-person events and partnerships with local businesses enhance our community presence and offer diverse experiences to our customers. Our loyalty program rewards customer engagement, turning patrons into brand ambassadors. Traditional advertising in local media ensures broader brand visibility. Together, these strategies aim to attract customers to our brewery and build a loyal community around our brand.

Our operational processes are centered around ensuring the highest quality of our beers and optimizing our brewing schedule to meet demand. Key processes include sourcing the finest ingredients, maintaining strict quality control standards, and fostering innovation in our beer recipes. Our milestones include expanding our brewing capacity to meet growing demand, launching new beer varieties to keep our offerings fresh, and increasing our distribution channels to reach more customers. Achieving these milestones is critical for our growth and for maintaining our reputation as a top craft brewery in San Antonio.

Our management team comprises individuals with extensive experience in the brewing industry, business management, and customer service. With a shared passion for craft beer and a vision for Hops & Barley Brews, our team’s expertise is integral to our success. Each member brings unique skills that complement our overall strategy, from brewing innovation and operational efficiency to marketing and community engagement. Their collective experience and dedication are the driving forces behind our brewery’s growth and success.

Welcome to Hops & Barley Brews, a new brewery that has recently started serving the vibrant community of San Antonio, TX. As a local brewery, we’ve noticed a gap in the market for high-quality local brews and have taken it upon ourselves to fill this void. Our team is dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for all our customers, offering a unique take on craft beer that can’t be found anywhere else in the area. At Hops & Barley Brews, we specialize in craft beers that cater to a wide range of taste preferences. Our offerings include a variety of beer flights and sampler sets, allowing our customers to explore and enjoy our diverse range of brews. For those who wish to take a piece of our brewery home, we offer growlers and an assortment of brewery merchandise. Additionally, we provide brewery tours, giving our guests a behind-the-scenes look at how our craft beers are brought to life. Our dedication to quality and variety ensures there’s something for everyone at Hops & Barley Brews. Our brewery is proudly based in San Antonio, TX, where we serve our local community with pride. Hops & Barley Brews stands out in the bustling brewery scene due to several key factors. Firstly, our founder brings invaluable experience from successfully running a previous brewery. This expertise is complemented by our commitment to producing superior beer with more varieties than our competitors. These elements position us uniquely in the market, setting the stage for our success in San Antonio and beyond. Hops & Barley Brews officially opened its doors on January 2, 2024, as a Limited Liability Company. Since then, we’ve achieved notable milestones that mark the beginning of our journey in the craft beer industry. Our accomplishments include the development of our company name, the design of our distinctive logo, and securing an ideal location for our brewery. These foundational steps underscore our commitment to building a brand that resonates with our customers and stands the test of time.  

The Brewery industry in the United States is currently experiencing significant growth and has become a major player in the country’s economy. According to recent data, the market size of the Brewery industry in the United States was valued at approximately $119.6 billion in 2020. This impressive figure indicates the strong demand for craft beer and the increasing popularity of local breweries across the nation.

Furthermore, the Brewery industry is expected to witness substantial market growth in the coming years. It is projected that the market size will reach around $152.2 billion by 2026, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the rising consumer preference for craft beer, the growing number of microbreweries, and the increasing adoption of online sales channels.

These trends in the Brewery industry bode well for Hops & Barley Brews, a new Brewery serving customers in San Antonio, TX. With the industry experiencing strong growth and a positive outlook for the future, there is ample opportunity for Hops & Barley Brews to thrive and capture a significant share of the local market. By offering a unique selection of craft beers and providing a memorable customer experience, Hops & Barley Brews can tap into the growing demand for craft beer and establish itself as a go-to destination for beer enthusiasts in the San Antonio area.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

Hops & Barley Brews will target local residents who are seeking a unique and high-quality brewery experience. This core demographic is likely to appreciate the craft and detail that goes into each brew, making them frequent visitors. The brewery will tailor its offerings to meet the tastes and preferences of this group, ensuring a loyal customer base.

The establishment will also attract tourists who are exploring San Antonio’s rich culture and culinary scene. These visitors are often looking for authentic, local experiences that they can’t find elsewhere. By offering a selection of beers that capture the essence of the region, Hops & Barley Brews will become a must-visit location on any tourist’s itinerary.

Furthermore, Hops & Barley Brews will cater to the growing segment of craft beer enthusiasts. These individuals are always on the lookout for new and exciting brews to try. The brewery’s commitment to innovation and quality will make it a popular destination for these customers, who are willing to travel and spend more for a superior product.

Customer Needs

Hops & Barley Brews caters to the discerning tastes of San Antonio residents who demand high-quality beer. Patrons can explore a diverse range of flavors, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using only the finest ingredients. This dedication ensures an exceptional drinking experience that meets the expectations of even the most sophisticated beer aficionados.

Aside from providing premium beverages, Hops & Barley Brews fosters a sense of community among its clientele. Customers can enjoy their favorite brews in a welcoming atmosphere that encourages social interaction and the making of new friends. The brewery serves as a vibrant gathering spot where individuals can unwind and connect over shared interests.

Moreover, Hops & Barley Brews addresses the growing desire for unique and locally-produced products. By emphasizing local ingredients and innovative brewing techniques, the brewery stands out as a beacon of creativity and craftsmanship. Customers appreciate the opportunity to support local businesses while enjoying beers that they can’t find anywhere else, adding a special touch to their overall experience.

Hops & Barley Brews’s competitors include the following companies:

Thirsty Pups Brewery is renowned for its unique range of craft beers, catering to a diverse palette with offerings from traditional ales to experimental flavors. Their products are marketed at a premium price point, reflecting the quality and craftsmanship behind each brew. Thirsty Pups Brewery operates from a prime location in the heart of San Antonio, drawing in both locals and tourists seeking an authentic craft beer experience. The brewery prides itself on its community-focused approach, hosting regular events and tastings that cater to a wide customer segment. Their key strengths lie in their innovative brewing techniques and strong local brand identity. However, their reliance on a single location and higher price points could limit their reach among budget-conscious consumers.

Man Overboard Brewing distinguishes itself with a nautical theme that resonates throughout their product lines and branding. They offer a broad selection of beers, including IPAs, stouts, and lagers, aimed at appealing to a range of tastes and preferences. Prices are competitive, positioned to attract both craft beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers. Located in a bustling area of San Antonio, Man Overboard Brewing benefits from high foot traffic and visibility. They serve a wide geography, making their products available in various bars and retail stores across the city. Strengths of Man Overboard Brewing include their distinctive branding and wide distribution network. However, their broad product range might dilute the brand’s identity and impact the consistency of quality.

Second Pitch Beer Co. focuses on creating a small batch, artisanal beers, with an emphasis on quality and exclusivity. Their product offerings are limited and rotate seasonally, ensuring novelty and freshness. This exclusivity comes with a higher price tag, making their beers a luxury choice for consumers. The brewery is situated in a quieter neighborhood, attracting a dedicated following of craft beer aficionados from across and beyond San Antonio. Second Pitch Beer Co. targets a niche market, emphasizing the artisanal aspect of their brewing process. Their key strengths include a strong brand loyalty and a reputation for quality. A potential weakness is their limited appeal to a broader audience due to high price points and a smaller production scale.

Competitive Advantages

At Hops & Barley Brews, our primary competitive advantage lies in the quality and variety of our offerings. We pride ourselves on crafting better beer than our competitors, a claim backed by our meticulous attention to detail and passion for the brewing process. Our selection is broad and diverse, ensuring that every customer can find a beer that suits their palate. This commitment to excellence and variety sets us apart in the bustling San Antonio market, where beer enthusiasts expect nothing but the best. Our innovative brewing techniques and dedication to quality ingredients mean that each beer we produce is not just a drink, but an experience.

Beyond the superior quality and variety of our beers, we also offer a unique customer experience that fosters a strong sense of community among our patrons. Our brewery is not just a place to grab a drink; it’s a destination where people can gather, share stories, and create memories. This emphasis on creating an inviting and inclusive atmosphere adds a significant competitive edge, making us more than just a brewery, but a staple in the local community. Additionally, our engagement with local suppliers and commitment to sustainability resonate with customers who value supporting local businesses and environmental responsibility. In sum, our competitive advantages are not limited to the beer we brew but extend into how we operate and engage with our community and environment.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

Hops & Barley Brews introduces a unique experience for craft beer enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of products and services designed to cater to various tastes and preferences. At the heart of their offerings are their Craft Beers, meticulously brewed to perfection, providing customers with an exceptional tasting experience. These craft beers are available at an average price of $6 per pint, allowing patrons to enjoy premium quality brews without breaking the bank.

In addition to their exquisite beers, Hops & Barley Brews also offers an array of Brewery Merchandise. This includes branded apparel, glassware, and other accessories, perfect for fans who wish to show their support for the brewery. Items are reasonably priced, with merchandise starting from $15, making it easy for customers to take a piece of their brewery experience home with them.

For those looking to explore a variety of flavors, Beer Flights are an excellent choice. Priced at an average of $10, these flights allow customers to sample four different beers in smaller quantities, making it an ideal option for discovering new favorites.

Similarly, Sampler Sets are available for enthusiasts who enjoy variety. These sets provide a curated selection of beers, enabling patrons to taste a range of brews at their leisure. With an average price of $15, Sampler Sets offer a comprehensive tasting experience.

Growlers are another popular option for customers wishing to enjoy Hops & Barley Brews’ craft beers at home. These refillable containers ensure that beer remains fresh and carbonated, with prices starting at $20 for a 64 oz. growler. This provides an economical and environmentally friendly way to enjoy craft beers outside the brewery.

Last but not least, Brewery Tours offer an immersive experience for those interested in the brewing process and the story behind Hops & Barley Brews. For an average price of $15, visitors can expect a guided tour through the brewery, complete with insights into the craft beer making process and, of course, beer tastings.

Overall, Hops & Barley Brews aims to provide a comprehensive and enjoyable experience for beer lovers, combining high-quality craft beers with a range of products and services designed to enhance the customer experience. Whether it’s enjoying a pint on-site, taking home a growler, or sporting some brewery merchandise, there’s something for everyone at Hops & Barley Brews.

Promotions Plan

Hops & Barley Brews embarks on an engaging journey to captivate the palates of beer enthusiasts in San Antonio, TX, with its unique blend of crafted beers. Understanding the competitive landscape, the brewery employs a multifaceted promotional strategy aimed at drawing in customers and creating a loyal community around its brand. The cornerstone of this strategy is online marketing, complemented by a series of innovative promotional methods designed to create buzz and foster a strong connection with its target audience.

Online marketing stands at the forefront of Hops & Barley Brews’ promotional efforts. The brewery leverages social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to share compelling content, including behind-the-scenes looks at beer production, introductions to their brewing team, and announcements of new releases. Engaging with customers through these channels, they run contests, live Q&A sessions, and virtual tastings, making the brewery’s presence felt far beyond the confines of its physical location. Additionally, the brewery will establish a robust email marketing campaign, sending out newsletters that inform subscribers about upcoming events, special promotions, and exclusive offers, thereby ensuring that Hops & Barley Brews remains top of mind among its patrons.

Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Hops & Barley Brews will also host a variety of events and partnerships. Launch parties, seasonal beer festivals, and brewery tours will invite locals and tourists alike to experience the brewery’s offerings firsthand. Collaborations with local businesses, food trucks, and musicians will not only diversify the experiences offered at these events but also embed the brewery within the local culture and economy. These partnerships serve as a testament to the brewery’s commitment to the San Antonio community and help in building a network of reciprocal support.

Loyalty programs will further incentivize repeat visits and foster a sense of belonging among the brewery’s patrons. A points system, for example, rewards customers for purchases, attending events, or referring friends, which they can redeem for discounts, limited-edition merchandise, or exclusive access to new brews. This approach not only encourages ongoing engagement with the brand but also turns customers into brand ambassadors who share their positive experiences with others.

Lastly, Hops & Barley Brews will leverage traditional advertising methods such as local print media, radio spots, and outdoor advertising to increase brand visibility. Strategic placement of ads in local entertainment guides, billboards in high-traffic areas, and participation in local radio shows will ensure that the brewery captures the attention of a wide audience, including those who may not be as active online.

In conclusion, Hops & Barley Brews employs a comprehensive promotional strategy that blends online marketing with community engagement, strategic partnerships, loyalty programs, and traditional advertising. This approach will not only attract customers to the brewery but also build a loyal community around its brand, ensuring its position as a beloved fixture in the San Antonio beer scene.

Our Operations Plan details:

• The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
• The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of Hops & Barley Brews, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

• Conduct daily quality checks on all beer batches to ensure consistency and excellence in flavor, color, and texture.
• Monitor storage conditions to ensure they meet the required standards for temperature and humidity.
• Perform daily inventory checks to monitor stock levels of raw materials such as hops, barley, yeast, and any other ingredients used in the brewing process.
• Ensure a steady supply of essential brewery supplies like bottles, labels, and packaging materials to meet production schedules.
• Train staff on customer engagement and product knowledge to provide an exceptional customer experience.
• Handle customer feedback promptly and effectively to maintain high satisfaction levels.
• Update social media platforms and the brewery’s website regularly with news, events, and promotions to engage with customers and attract new ones.
• Review sales data daily to understand customer preferences and adjust the product lineup as needed.
• Plan and adjust brewing schedules based on inventory levels and forecasted demand to ensure a consistent supply of products.
• Maintain flexibility in production planning to accommodate special or seasonal brews.
• Perform daily inspections and routine maintenance on brewing equipment to prevent breakdowns and ensure operational efficiency.
• Schedule regular deep cleaning of the brewing facilities to comply with health and safety regulations.
• Monitor daily expenses and revenues to manage cash flow effectively.
• Review and analyze financial reports regularly to make informed business decisions.
• Ensure all brewing and business operations adhere to local, state, and federal regulations, including health and safety standards, licensing, and tax obligations.
• Keep up-to-date with changes in legislation that might affect the business and adjust operations accordingly.

Hops & Barley Brews expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

• Secure a Prime Location : Choosing a location that is accessible and appealing to our target market in San Antonio, TX. This includes ensuring sufficient space for brewing equipment, storage, and a tasting room to welcome our customers.
• Obtain Necessary Permits and Licenses : Successfully navigating the regulatory landscape to obtain all required permits and licenses for operating a brewery. This includes federal approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), as well as state and local permits.
• Build-Out and Equipment Installation : Completing the construction and setup of our brewery, including the installation of brewing equipment, fermentation tanks, and a welcoming environment for guests. This also involves ensuring that our facilities comply with health and safety standards.
• Develop and Test Beer Recipes : Crafting a variety of unique and high-quality beer recipes to appeal to a broad range of tastes. This includes conducting taste tests and gathering feedback to refine our offerings before launch.
• Hire and Train Staff : Recruiting a team of skilled and passionate individuals for brewing, serving, and management roles. Providing comprehensive training to ensure they are knowledgeable about our products and can deliver excellent customer service.
• Launch Our Brewery : Officially opening our doors to the public with a well-planned launch event to generate buzz and attract our first customers. This includes marketing efforts to raise awareness of our brand and offerings in the local community.
• Implement Marketing and Sales Strategies : Developing and executing effective marketing and sales strategies to reach our target audience, build customer loyalty, and drive traffic to our brewery. This includes digital marketing, partnerships, and events.
• Monitor and Optimize Operations : Continuously monitoring our operations, customer feedback, and financial performance to identify areas for improvement. Implementing operational efficiencies and cost-saving measures to improve margins.
• Get to $15,000/Month in Revenue : Achieving this financial milestone as a sign of growing customer base and market acceptance. This involves increasing production capacity, expanding distribution channels, and enhancing marketing efforts to boost sales.
• Expand Product Offerings and Distribution : Once a stable revenue is achieved, exploring opportunities for expanding our product line with new beer varieties or limited editions. Also, considering wider distribution through local bars, restaurants, and retail outlets to increase brand visibility and sales.

Our management team has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan.

Hops & Barley Brews management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Ethan Brown, President

Ethan Brown brings to Hops & Barley Brews a rich tapestry of experience in the brewery industry, underpinned by a proven track record of success. With a keen sense for the evolving tastes of craft beer enthusiasts and a deep understanding of the operational challenges unique to the brewing industry, Ethan’s leadership is rooted in practical experience. Having successfully run a brewery in the past, he is well-versed in navigating the complexities of product development, marketing strategies, and distribution channels. This background makes Ethan exceptionally qualified to guide Hops & Barley Brews towards achieving lasting success in a competitive market. His vision for the company is not only to sustain growth but to also foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the team.

To achieve our growth goals, we require significant investment in equipment, marketing, and facility expansion. This funding will enable us to increase our brewing capacity, enhance our marketing efforts to reach a broader audience, and improve our taproom to offer a better customer experience. Our financial plan is focused on securing the necessary capital to fuel our growth while ensuring sustainable operations and profitability in the long term.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

[insert balance sheet]

Income Statement

[insert income statement]

Cash Flow Statement

[insert cash flow statement]

Brewery Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Brewery Business Plan PDF here. This is a free brewery business plan example to help you get started on your own brewery plan.  

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10BBL Brewhouse Specification

• Effective volume: 10BBL
• Total volume: 12.5BBL
• Size: 1460*2600mm
• Material: SUS304/SUS316/red Copper
• Heating method: Electric/steam/direct fire heating
• Control system: PLC Simens or PID Schneider/ABB brand
• Heating area: 2.7㎡
• Power: 15-70 Kw depends on the size
• Voltage: 3 phase/380(220, 415,480…)v/50(60)Hz Single Phase/220(110, 240…)v/50(60)Hz
• Brewing batch: 6-12 brew/week
• Work pressure: inner jacket 0.4MPa cooling jacket 0.5Mpa
• Design pressure: inner jacket 0.2MPa cooling jacket 0.3Mpa
• Brewmaster quantity: 1

        Note: 1 hl=100liter; 1 Gallon=3.7854 liter; 1 Barrel(BBL) =117Liter

10BBL Brewhouse Standard Configuration

• 2, 3, or 4 vessel systems available
• All piping is TRC fitted, including every elbow, tee, and curve in the system; allows for a 100% sanitary system
• Constructed of 304 or 316 stainless steel
• All pumps in the brewhouse include 100% stainless steel pumps AND motors
• Rake System have both non-lifting and hydraulic lifting optional
• Floor mounted, vessel or ceiling mounted grist cases available
• Flat bottom or conical bottom lauter tun

10BBL Brewhouse Optional Configuration

• Automation systems
• Complete Grain Mill System
• Various Stainless Steel Finishes
• Fermentation tank
• Bright tank
• Our standard beer brewing system comes with a 2B mill finish; other finishes are available including: Polished/ Brushed/ Mirror finish/ Pickling passivation Copper Clad and/Copper accented

10BBL Brewhouse Advantages

• The Mash tank is equipped with a clamped level gauge for easy observation. All the lauter tun use milled sieve plates, which have higher filtration accuracy and better effect.
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• To avoid too much water vapor in the mashing area, the kettle is equipped with an indoor exhaust device or outdoor exhaust device depends on customer needs.
• Equipping with a special inline hop filter to make the wort clearer before fermenting.
• The pump motor uses ABB or JLEM American brand, long service life, and low sound.
• The mash tun is equipped with a grist hydrator to ensure uniform malt moistening.
• The brewhouse piping design is equipped with a cold and hot water mixing device, thermometer, and flow meter, which can evenly mix the cold and hot water before mashing.
• The bottom of lauter tun is equipped with a wort collection loop and an under-the-flush device.
• Equipping with wort balance tank to check the clarity of wort and protect the sieve plate.
• Equipping with sparge arm and double CIP cleaning loop on top of the tank.
• Milling sieve plate, wedge-shaped gap 0.7mm, 4mm thickness, can be disassembled and cleaned, and the bottom is supported and fixed.
• The HLT was designed with a return port, CIP cleaning port, and water inlet, which can realize the recovery and utilization of hot water between the heat exchanger.
• The working platform adopts water leakage and a non-slip design.
• Brewhouse manways always use full glass manway.

10BBL Brewhouse Details

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Moscow-City – The Moscow International Business Center

• 3 years ago

Moscow-City is an iconic location for life and work in Russia’s capital. Enormous skyscrapers, business centers, the best restaurants and retail spaces – all this is concentrated in one place. The ultramodern Moscow-City towers are truly striking in their outward appearance, and the layout of the apartments inside and the fantastic views that can be seen from the higher floors are nothing short of impressive.

This skyscraper compound, often referred to as Moskva-City, is the Russian take on Manhattan, where businessmen strike multi-million dollar deals daily while ordinary life goes on next door. Its state of the art spaces offer the ultimate convenience. The infrastructure of this business district is so well-developed that anyone can find something interesting for themselves here: from residential apartments to boutiques, clubs, exhibitions and more.

When the foundations for the Moscow-City skyscrapers were laid, a special kind of concrete was used, the properties of which are amplified by many times compared to standard concrete. Even in the event of a plane crashing into one of the buildings, the structural integrity of the towers will be preserved.

The architects of the Moscow-City Business Center have created a unique locality that has integrated into itself the hub of the capital’s business life and a whole ensemble of historical monuments. Anyone can admire the beauty of these skyscrapers from within or without the compound. There are also a number of apartments for sale or rent available in the MIBC itself. But first, let’s have a look at some more interesting facts about the financial core of Russia’s capital.

• 1 How It All Began
• 2.1 Moscow-City Central Core
• 2.2 Tower 2000
• 2.3 Evolution Tower
• 2.4 Imperia Tower
• 2.5 Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower
• 2.6 Steel Peak Tower
• 2.7 Federation Tower
• 2.8 Mercury City Tower
• 2.9 OKO Tower Complex
• 3.1 Afimall City Shopping Center
• 3.2 Bagration Bridge
• 3.3 Expocentre Fairgrounds
• 4 Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

How It All Began

The history of Moscow-City goes all the way back to 1992. The government of Moscow at the time wanted to bring into existence its own skyscrapers like the ones in London or New York. And the idea caught on. In 1992 the project for the construction of the huge “Moscow-City” MIBC compound was enthusiastically approved, kick-starting the painstaking preparatory works. The original intention was that the skyscrapers would only house office space. However, as time went on, the towers began to welcome in ordinary residents who wanted to live on the territory of this business and finance hub.

Moscow-City is undoubtedly a city within a city. Its grandeur is mind-boggling. It is perfect in every way: from location to infrastructure. And today, anyone can get a feel of the atmosphere of the “capital city” of Russia’s business world – many of the apartments in Moscow-City are available for rent. Any citizen of Russia and even nationals of other countries can make use of these offers.

What It’s Like in 2021

Today Moscow-City is not just a magnificent and fascinating sight, but also a real hub for the work, life and leisure of thousands. Its infrastructure is organized in such a way that there is no need to leave the territory of the “city within a city” at all. This business district contains everything one may need for work and recreation. And if one does decide to venture out into the larger metropolis, the MIBC’s three subway stations make this remarkably simple to do.

Moscow-City stands on the Presnenskaya Embankment . Each of the buildings in the district has a name, which simplifies its identification. Some of the buildings form complexes that are united under one name, such as the Neva Towers and the Naberezhnaya Tower complex of two skyscrapers and one high rise. There are a total of 16 towers in the MIBC, of which the most popular are:

• Moscow-City Central Core;
• Tower 2000;
• Evolution Tower;
• Imperia Tower;
• City of Capitals (Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower);
• Steel Peak Tower;
• Federation Tower;
• Mercury City Tower;
• OKO Tower Complex.

Moscow-City Central Core

This is the most complex building within the MIBC compound. Its total floor area is a whopping 1 476 378 sqft (450 000 m²). It consists of two massive parts, each of which boasts a truly impressive infrastructure. The underground part includes 3 Moscow Metro stations, a parking lot for automobiles and a shopping mall. The aboveground part houses a concert hall and a hotel.

Tower 2000 is a skyscraper having 34 stories. Its total floor area is 200 318 sqft (61 057 m²), most of which is office space. The key feature of this skyscraper is its direct connection to the Bagration Bridge, which has its own shopping arcade. The tower has everything one may need while working here, including a large parking lot and several restaurants.

Evolution Tower

This elegant structure is 836 feet (255 m) high – that’s a whole 54 stories! The total floor area here is 554 462 sqft (169 000 m²). The Evolution Tower’s key feature is that it has its own Wedding Hall. This skyscraper houses large office spaces, a parking lot and several restaurants.

Imperia Tower

MIBC’s Imperia Tower is the undeniable focal point of the MIBC’s business life. Its height is 784 feet (239 m), which means one can hold conferences and resolve key business matters on the 59 th floor! And that really is amazing! The tower has everything: offices, hotels, restaurants and parking lots. But if you want a truly unforgettable experience, visit the viewing platform! It is situated on the 58 th floor and a simply astounding view of Moscow can be seen from it.

Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower

The Moscow and St. Petersburg Towers are the chief representatives of the MIBC. The Moscow Tower has 76 stories and is 990 feet (302 m) high, while the St. Petersburg Tower has 65 stories and stands 843 feet (257 m) tall. Both towers offer fantastic views of the capital city.

Most of the floors of these two skyscrapers are taken up by luxurious sky apartments. There are also several recreational and entertainment centers, office spaces, restaurants, etc.

Steel Peak Tower

Also known as the Eurasia Tower of Moscow-City, this supertall skyscraper has a total of 680 912 sqft (207 542 m²) of floor space. Most of this is taken up by offices, and the rest – by residential quarters (around 65 616 sqft or 20 000 m²). The tower also houses a number of the greatest restaurants, studios and shopping centers.

Federation Tower

The Federation Tower is a complex of two skyscrapers, known as Tower East and Tower West. Tower East is the second highest building in Europe (the first is a skyscraper recently erected in the city of St. Petersburg). Its height is a colossal 1 223 feet (373 m) and that makes 95 stories! Tower West, on the other hand, is noticeably shorter at 794 feet (242 m).

The Federation Tower is a multifunctional complex.

Mercury City Tower

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper is widely known as one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Its height is 1 112 feet (339 m) and it has 75 stories. It is multifunctional by concept, holding within its walls shopping centers, offices and all kinds of other spaces. It is also possible to rent apartments here.

OKO Tower Complex

The OKO Tower Complex consists of two towers – the North Tower (49 stories and 803 ft or 245 m in height) and the South Tower (85 stories and 1 155 ft or 352 m in height).

Each of the MIBC’s tower complexes has its own recreational and entertainment areas, restaurants and parking lots. The top floors of most of these buildings contain luxurious fully-furnished apartments. At night, the towers shine with bright lights, while inside them the panoramic windows reveal astounding views of Moscow. This breathtaking view of the capital of Russia is why visiting Moscow-City is a must!

What Not to Miss

There are many interesting landmarks within the Moscow-City compound, but three of them are truly deserving of special attention:

• The Afimall City Shopping Center;
• The Bagration Bridge with two galleries and a shopping arcade;
• The Expocentre Fairgrounds.

Afimall City Shopping Center

The Afimall City Shopping and Entertainment Center is located in Moscow-City’s Central Core. It is divided into 4 zones, each with its own theme – one for every season of the year. The shopping center houses the biggest indoor fountain found worldwide. The height of this watery wonder is 118 feet or 36 meters.

The shopping and entertainment center contains everything one might expect from one of the largest centers of its kind:

• Retail brand stores;
• Exhibitions;
• Game rooms;
• and Restaurants.

The main recreational space is roofed with a giant transparent dome, which is an impressive sight to behold.

Bagration Bridge

Bagration Bridge with its upper and lower galleries has a shopping center all of its own and was the first structure to be built as part of the Moscow-City business district. Its lower gallery is a shopping arcade and its upper gallery is an open-air viewing platform with a spectacular view of the MIBC and the Moskva River. The hall of the bridge houses the 23 foot tall sculpture called “Tree of Life”. Having gone through the bridge via either one of its two galleries, a pedestrian would find themselves standing right on the Kutuzovsky Prospekt.

Expocentre Fairgrounds

The Expocentre Fairgrounds exhibition venue is located at the very heart of the capital. The first exhibition held at the Expocentre happened all the way back in 1959, much earlier than the MIBC was erected. Today it is the venue of many interesting events.

Exhibitions with very diverse themes are regularly held at this complex. An up-to-date schedule can be found on the official webpage of the Expocentre. The events can be free or fixed-price entry, depending on their type.

Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

Moscow-City is not only a work and business hub, but also a residential neighborhood. Any citizen of Russia can rent or buy apartments or elite sky lounges here. The variety of residential real estate available inside the skyscrapers is impressive, including options for any pocket. The following buildings in the MIBC contain residential blocks:

This skyscraper has a mirror glass façade which reflects the passing clouds. Just imagine how beautiful that looks! Anyone can buy an apartment in the Federation Tower. Such properties are not only a good investment, but also a mark of prestige. The average price of residential real estate here is 45 million rubles for an apartment with a total floor area of 334 sqft (102 m²). The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is in the range of 650 to 700 thousand rubles. There are two- and three-room apartments available in the Federation Tower, each with its own loggia. As for rent, the minimum price of one month’s stay in a three-room apartment in this skyscraper is 300 000 rubles per month.

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper welcomes citizens from all parts of Russia. This building is no less tall than the world-famous Dubai skyscrapers. Living in its apartments is a delight. The minimum cost of an apartment in the Mercury City Tower is 75 million rubles. The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 800 thousand rubles. And for those looking for a lower price point, some of the properties are also available for rent – in this case you will pay a minimum of 250 thousand rubles per month.

The Imperia Tower is a key cluster of interesting offers. The best options for buying and renting apartments within the MIBC can all be found in this skyscraper. The lowest price of a residential apartment here is 40 million rubles. A square meter (3.28 square feet) in a luxurious apartment in the Imperia Tower currently costs 600 thousand rubles, while the price range of the listings available for rent in this skyscraper is from 350 thousand all the way up to 1 million rubles per month.

This complex, standing on a faceted or “crystal” base, is an architectural engineering project boasting spectacular design. Behind its impressive façades is an abundance of penthouses and apartments having floor areas in the range of 262 sqft (80 m²) to 984 sqft (300 m²). The minimum price of an apartment in the OKO Tower Complex is 40 million rubles (the price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 500 thousand rubles). You can rent an apartment here starting from 400 thousand rubles per month.

City of Capitals

The City of Capitals is an exemplary architectural complex. Its sum appearance gives the impression of a huge city. Inside its walls are spacious apartments available for purchase and rent. This complex is considered to be especially prestigious. The prices of apartments here start from 50 million rubles, while the minimum cost of renting is 400 thousand rubles per month.

Please note! The price of real estate available for purchase or rent depends on: the tower, the floor, the total floor area, the furnishings and/or interior design, and other factors.

The key advantages of buying/purchasing real estate in Moscow-City are:

• Favorable location;
• Convenient transportation links;
• Well-developed infrastructure;
• High safety level;
• Efficient architecture;
• Panoramic windows.

Buying real estate in Moscow-City is very much a rational decision, most appealing to those who value the ultimate level of comfort. The residential apartments here boast impressive interior design solutions executed in the contemporary style.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

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