How to Start a Brewery: Your Essential First Steps?
Brewery
You're starting a brewery-first validate demand with a hyper-local waitlist, run a one-week pilot using reusable 64oz mini-kegs, and lock four flagship recipes and production specs. Secure licensed brew space, vendors for pressurized kegs and sanitization, map delivery for a 12-hour tank-to-keg fill, and plan cash: Minimum Cash $2,225,000, breakeven Year 3.
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Step Name
Description
1
Site, Permits, and Zoning
Confirm zoning, secure lease, and ensure utilities and temperature controls.
2
Design Production and Packaging Workflow
Standardize recipes, schedule fills, and define sanitization and QA protocols.
3
Buy Equipment and Build Out
Procure tanks, fillers, kegs, and set IT, fleet, and installation timelines.
4
Hire Core Team and Train Operations
Hire core staff, train delivery handling, and run SOPs for launch readiness.
5
Launch Pilot and Refine Product
Execute pilot deliveries, collect feedback, iterate recipes, and optimize logistics.
6
Scale Subscriptions and Marketing
Run targeted campaigns, monitor conversions, and introduce premium upsells.
7
Optimize Operations and Financial Controls
Implement cost tracking, optimize routes, and monitor burn to breakeven.
Key Takeaways
Validate demand with hyper-local waitlist in target zip codes
Pilot one-week reusable-keg deliveries to neighbors before spending
Budget minimum cash reserve of $2,225,000 for runway
Start with four flagship recipes and phased keg fleet
How Do You Start Brewery If You'Ve Never Done This Before?
You're starting a brewery with no prior experience, so validate demand first and ship small while you learn - read the breakeven and capex signals at every step and see How Much Does It Cost to Start a Brewery? Start by building a hyper-local waitlist by zip code, lock four rotating flagship recipes, and secure short-term licensed brew space for initial bright tank filling and pilot runs. One clear rule: prove the subscription beer service and tank-to-keg workflow before big capex.
Give a header name
Validate demand with a hyper-local waitlist and targeted zip codes
Design four rotating flagship recipes and finalize production specs
Arrange short-term access to a licensed brew space for pilot bright tank fills
Line up pressurized 64oz mini-keg vendors, sanitization partner, and 12-hour tank-to-keg logistics
What Should You Do First Before Spending Any Money?
Start with a one-week pilot and legal checks so you don't pay for the wrong setup. Run a one-week pilot with friends and neighbors using reusable kegs to test your brewery subscription model, the tank-to-keg workflow, and a pressurized 64oz keg swap process. Confirm local licensing and distribution rules for direct-to-consumer beer delivery and link this to operating assumptions in What Operating Costs Does a Brewery Incur?. Survey target zip codes for subscription interest, estimate fleet needs for 72-hour freshness and weekly swaps, and validate supplier quotes for bright tank fills and keg equipment.
Immediate First Steps
Run one-week pilot with reusable kegs
Confirm brewery permits and delivery rules
Survey zip codes for subscription demand
Estimate fleet needs; validate supplier quotes
How Long Does It Usually Take To Get Open?
You open once premises, equipment, people, IT, and permits all line up-keep reading to map the critical path. Secure premises and finish brewery build-out, tank installation, and permits so bright tank filling and direct-to-consumer beer delivery workflows can start. Acquire capex items like tanks, filling system, and mini-keg fleet and install your IT subscription platform while you run waitlist sign-ups; check How Much Does It Cost to Start a Brewery?. Hire the core team and train on the keg sanitization process and delivery swaps to match equipment delivery and safety inspections.
Launch checklist
Secure premises, complete build-out, and obtain permits
Install IT subscription platform and start waitlist sign-ups
Hire core team and train on tank-to-keg workflow and sanitization
How Do You Create Strong Brewery Business Plan?
You're building a brewery business plan that must tie subscription revenue to cash runway-keep reading for the must-have line items. Project weekly and bi-weekly subscription tiers, model COGS lines (raw materials and keg sanitization percentages by year), and include fixed costs like rent, fleet lease, and a marketing retainer. Build a staffing plan with FTE forecasts tied to revenue milestones and hiring dates, and stress-test the runway against Minimum Cash of $2,225,000 with breakeven in Year 3. For a full template, see How to Write a Business Plan for a Brewery?
Model COGS: raw materials + keg sanitization % by year
List fixed monthly costs: rent, fleet lease, marketing retainer
Stress-test runway vs $2,225,000 Minimum Cash and Year 3 breakeven
What Mistake Delays Most First-Time Owners?
You're most often stopped by operational basics-fix those first and you can open on schedule. Key delays come from underestimating tank, filling system, keg, and van timing, skipping a pilot for the direct-to-consumer beer delivery swap, ignoring brewery permits and zoning, and underforecasting working capital against the Minimum Cash in the brewery capex budget; see How Profitable Brewery? for related financials.
Common launch mistakes
Underestimating capex timing for tanks and filling system
Failing to pilot the pressurized 64oz keg swap
Ignoring local brewery permits and zoning timelines
Underforecasting working capital vs Minimum Cash and monthly burn
What Are 7 Steps To Open Brewery?
Site, Permits, And Zoning
Secure a compliant brewery site with utilities and permits so you can install bright tanks, a pressurized 64oz mini-keg filling line, and start pilot direct-to-consumer beer delivery; done looks like a signed lease, tracked permit applications, and a site layout that fits tank-to-keg workflow.
What to Do
Confirm zoning for brewery and DTC delivery in target zip codes
Negotiate lease terms tied to phased capex and monthly rent
Measure electrical and HVAC capacity for tanks and fleet
Apply for brewery, health, and DTC delivery permits
Design floor plan for bright tank filling and sanitization flow
What You Should Have
Signed lease with utilities and staging area
Permit application tracker and submission receipts
Site layout drawing showing tank-to-keg workflow
What It Depends On
Local permit review cycles and inspection queues
Vendor lead times for bright tanks and filling system
Lease negotiation speed and utility upgrade needs
Common Pitfall
Skipping permit pre-checks --> launch delayed by inspections
Signing lease without power/HVAC specs --> costly retrofits
Quick Win
Call local planning office to confirm zoning - produce email confirmation to attach to lease to speed permit review
Order a site electrical load report - produce capacity spec to prevent late vendor change orders
Design Production And Packaging Workflow
Goal: Standardize four flagship recipes, a 12-hour tank-to-keg fill window, and a repeatable sanitization workflow so 'done' means first pilot subscribers get fresh beer on a reliable swap schedule.
What to Do
Document four flagship recipes and target OG/FG per recipe
Specify pressurized 64oz mini-keg filling pressure and CO2 setpoints
Map tank turnaround with a 12-hour bright tank-to-keg SLA
Draft keg sanitization SOP and scope for external provider
Test three pilot fills and record QA metrics (temp, O2, CO2, taste)
What You Should Have
Recipe pack with batch sheet and target specs
Sanitization SOP and vendor scope of work
Filling spec sheet for 64oz pressurized mini-kegs
What It Depends On
Vendor lead times for filling/pressurization system and kegs
Availability of a licensed brew space for initial bright tank fills
Local permits affecting on-site filling and direct-to-consumer delivery
Common Pitfall
Not specifying pressurization tolerances --> failed fills and wasted kegs
Skipping pilot QA runs --> customer complaints and operational rework
Quick Win
Run one pilot bright-tank fill to two neighbors to validate 12-hour tank-to-keg timing / produces QA report to speed up vendor selection
Order a sample pack of three pressurized 64oz mini-kegs / proves fill process and reduces upfront keg fleet spend
Buy Equipment And Build Out
Goal: Buy and install bright tanks, a pressurized filling system, kegs, sanitization gear, and vans so the brewery can run subscription fills on schedule and 'done' means inspected, hooked-up equipment and an active waitlist ready to fill.
What to Do
Request quotes for bright tanks and filling system
Order pressurized 64oz mini-kegs and sanitization equipment
Book inspector visits to align with equipment delivery
Lease or buy temperature-controlled delivery vans
Install subscription billing and waitlist platform
What You Should Have
Vendor shortlist with firm quotes for tanks, filler, kegs
Installation timeline linked to inspection dates
Signed contract or PO for vans and sanitization service
What It Depends On
Vendor lead times for bright tanks and filling systems
Local inspection and permit scheduling tied to equipment install
Funding availability to meet staged capex payments
Common Pitfall
Ordering wrong-spec filling system --> rework, delayed launch
Get three equipment quotes this week to create a vendor shortlist and speed procurement
Hire Core Team And Train Operations
Goal: Build the core operations, marketing, and delivery teams so the brewery subscription model runs reliably and a 'done' state is a trained crew that can run bright tank filling, pressurized 64oz keg swaps, and daily subscription dispatches.
What to Do
Hire operations manager (prior DTC delivery experience)
Recruit head of marketing (local acquisition focus)
Hire core brewing staff and assistant brewers
Train delivery teams on keg sanitization process
Run SOP drills for bright tank to keg 12-hour workflow
What You Should Have
Job descriptions and phased FTE hiring plan
Training manuals for pressurized 64oz keg swaps and sanitization
Customer support and subscription management SOPs
What It Depends On
Hiring lead times for operations and marketing roles
Vendor availability for keg sanitization and training support
Timing of equipment delivery and bright tank installation
Common Pitfall
Hiring too many staff before subscriptions scale --> wasted payroll spend
Skipping SOP drills for keg swaps --> operational breakdowns and returns
Quick Win
Create a one-week pilot rota to train delivery teams --> reduces swap errors
Draft a 2-page sanitization checklist for vendors --> speeds vendor onboarding
Launch Pilot And Refine Product
Run a hyper-local pilot to verify tank-to-keg timing, product quality, and subscription demand; done looks like repeatable deliveries to waitlist members with tracked feedback and clear defect rates.
What to Do
Recruit waitlist members in target zip codes
Produce four flagship 1-2 BBL batches for pilot
Fill pressurized 64oz mini-kegs within 12 hours of bright tank completion
Execute keg swap route and time each step
Collect structured feedback on flavor, packaging, reuse
What You Should Have
Pilot delivery log with timestamps and defects
Subscriber feedback sheet and net satisfaction score
Adjusted pricing tiers and limited-run allocation plan
What It Depends On
Availability of licensed brew space for initial batch runs
Vendor lead time for pressurized mini-kegs and sanitization services
Subscriber density in chosen zip codes to hit efficient route fills
You should plan for significant initial capital with conservative runway Minimum Cash is $2,225,000 and capex items include tanks, filling system, kegs, and vans Build a buffer beyond listed capex to cover fixed expenses like $12,000 monthly rent and fleet lease costs while hitting breakeven in Year 3
Breakeven is projected in Year 3 and EBITDA turns positive thereafter The plan shows EBITDA of negative amounts in Years 1 and 2 and a positive $303,000 in Year 3 Use these milestones to time hiring and marketing spend to avoid running below Minimum Cash
No you can phase the mini-keg fleet while scaling subscriptions Capex lists a Mini-Keg Fleet purchase and total capex timing through mid-year Start with enough reusable kegs to service pilot subscribers then expand fleet aligned with subscription growth to manage cash and operational complexity
Revenue forecasts start modest and scale quickly if execution succeeds The model projects $680,000 in Year 1 and $1,690,000 in Year 2 Use these figures to size staffing, fleet, and marketing so you avoid over-investing before subscription demand proves out
Track subscription sign-ups, churn, and cash balance as top short-term metrics Monitor Minimum Cash of $2,225,000 alongside weekly subscription growth feeding into monthly revenue forecasts and the breakeven path to Year 3 These metrics directly impact hiring and capex timing decisions
