In fact, 98% of breweries in Canada are classified as regional craft brewers, microbreweries, or brewpubs. While this side of the industry is thriving, it also means that craft brewers face a different set of risks compared to the larger, traditional breweries. Let’s walk through a few key areas where you’ll want to make sure your business is protected.
When you invite the public into your brewery—whether for tastings, tours, or just to visit your bar—you’re responsible for their safety. If you do offer tours, it’s essential to plan safe, well-defined routes that keep visitors away from any potential hazards in your brewing operation. Liability coverage will protect you if something does go wrong, but keeping things safe from the start is always the first step.
One thing that makes craft brewers stand out is the unique ingredients you use to create your signature beers. But what happens if one of your suppliers suddenly can’t deliver? That’s when things can get tricky. You can try keeping reserves on hand to cover short-term interruptions, but sometimes that’s not possible due to space or budget constraints. It’s a good idea to have backup suppliers lined up just in case. That little bit of planning can save you from production delays or even worse, a temporary shutdown.
If you’re serving alcohol on-site, whether it’s through a bar, post-tour samples, or even a taproom, you open yourself up to a specific type of risk: liquor liability. The last thing any brewery wants is to be held responsible if an over-served guest causes damage, injury, or worse after leaving your establishment. To help avoid this, make sure your staff is well-trained to spot intoxicated customers and avoid over-serving. Even with the best training, though, it’s smart to have a liquor liability policy in place. That way, if a claim does arise, you’ve got a safety net.
In smaller brewing operations, an equipment breakdown can really throw a wrench into things. Without backup machinery, a malfunction can stop production altogether. Not only are you facing repair or replacement costs, but you might also lose revenue from having to halt brewing. Equipment breakdown coverage can help keep you afloat by covering those unexpected costs and helping you get back up and running sooner.
No matter how careful you are, sometimes things happen. Whether it’s contamination or spoilage, if you end up with a batch of beer that’s not fit for sale, it can be costly. If you catch the issue before the product leaves your brewery, you’re still out the cost of materials, production time, and lost sales. But if it makes it to store shelves? That’s when a product recall can really hit hard.
The good news is, you can protect yourself from these losses. Spoilage and contamination coverage can help you recover the costs of a bad batch. And if the product makes it out to consumers, recall coverage can help you manage the recall process, replace the product, and minimize the impact on your brand.
Small brewers rely a lot on word-of-mouth and loyal customers, so protecting your reputation during a recall is critical. You’ll need to work with both distributors and consumers to make sure you handle the situation professionally and keep those customers coming back for the next (better!) batch.
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