Beall Brewery Insurance

The holiday season is a brewer’s gold rush. With taproom parties, gift card sales, and last-minute growler fills, the foot traffic explodes. While the increased revenue is welcome, it brings heightened risks for staff health, general safety, and, critically, liquor liability.

Here are three key areas to focus on to ensure a safe, healthy, and profitable holiday season.

1. Staff Health & Wellness: Prevent Burnout

Your team is your most valuable asset, especially when running on high-octane holiday cheer. Burnout leads to accidents and poor service decisions.

• Prioritize Rest: Create a fair and predictable scheduling policy that avoids excessive back-to-back shifts. Encourage team members to take their assigned breaks—even a 15-minute walk can reset focus and prevent fatigue-related mistakes in the brewhouse or on the floor.
• Keep the Fuel Clean: Offer complimentary, healthy snacks and water to combat the temptation of quick, sugary fixes. Hydration is essential for everyone, especially those working near hot equipment.
• Clear Communication: Maintain an open forum for staff to report safety concerns or feeling overwhelmed. A happy, well-rested team is a safe team.

2. General Safety: Mitigate the New Hazards

Increased crowds, decorations, and winter weather create new obstacles for both staff and patrons.

• Clear the Walkways: Ensure holiday decorations, extension cords for lights, and extra inventory don’t clutter aisles or block emergency exits. A misplaced cord is a trip hazard.
• Address Winter Weather: If you’re in a cold climate, prioritize keeping all entryways, sidewalks, and the parking lot salted, shoveled, and clear of ice. A slip-and-fall claim is an unwelcome holiday gift.
• Train for Lifting: With a surge in case and keg sales, remind all staff about proper lifting techniques to prevent back injuries. Team lifts should be mandatory for anything over 50 lbs.

3. Liquor Liability: Protect Your License

During celebratory times, the risk of over-serving increases. Protecting your guests protects your business.

• Re-Certify and Re-Train: Before the season starts, conduct a mandatory refresher on your Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training. Review signs of intoxication and intervention protocols.
• Empower the Team: Give every staff member the clear authority to “cut off” service to an intoxicated patron without needing management approval. Reinforce that you will back their decision 100%.
• Provide a Safety Net: Partner with a local ride-share service or taxi company to provide vouchers or a clear path home for any guest who has had too much.

By focusing on your people and proactively addressing risks, your brewery can navigate the holiday rush successfully and safely, ensuring a festive season for all.

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.

Working in a brewery is a rewarding blend of art and science, but it also involves heavy machinery, high temperatures, and powerful energy sources. To keep staff safe when performing maintenance or cleaning, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures are absolutely critical. Ignoring them can lead to serious injury or even fatality.

What is Lockout/Tagout?

LOTO is a formal safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous equipment is properly shut down and cannot be started up again until maintenance or cleaning is complete.

• Tag-In/Lockout: This is the act of placing a physical lock and a tag on an energy-isolating device (like a circuit breaker, valve, or power switch). The lock prevents the equipment from being re-energized.
• Tag-Out: The attached tag provides crucial information: who is working on the machine, why they are working on it, and when it was locked out.

The Brewery Context: Where LOTO Matters

In a brewery, you’ll need to apply LOTO procedures to:

• Conveyors and Bottling Lines: To prevent accidental start-ups while clearing jams or performing repairs.
• Mash Tuns and Kettles: To isolate steam, agitator motors, and other energy sources during cleaning or inspection.
• Glycol Chillers and Pumps: To prevent motors from starting up unexpectedly.
• Electrical Panels: For any maintenance involving wiring or power components.

5 Essential Steps for Staff Safety

Following a structured process ensures maximum safety:

1. Preparation: Notify all affected employees that the equipment will be shut down and locked out.
2. Shutdown: Turn the equipment off using the established procedure.
3. Isolation: Locate and isolate all potential energy sources (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, etc.).
4. Lockout/Tagout: Apply your personal lock and tag to each isolating device. Crucially, only the employee who placed the lock can remove it.
5. Verification (Try-Start): After locking out, attempt to start the machine (e.g., press the start button) to confirm that the energy has been completely isolated. Return all controls to the ‘off’ position after the test.

The Rule to Live By: Never, under any circumstances, remove another person’s lock or start a machine that is tagged out. Your dedication to this procedure is a dedication to your team’s safety. Let’s keep the beer flowing—and the people safe!

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.

Your taproom is the heart of your brewery—it’s where the customer connects directly with your brand, your beer, and your ethos. In an increasingly competitive craft beer market, simply serving great beer isn’t enough. Maximizing the taproom experience is crucial for driving sales, building loyalty, and turning first-time visitors into dedicated regulars.

Here are actionable tips for brewery owners and managers looking to elevate their taproom game:

1. Embrace the “Beer Geek” and the “Beer Newbie”: Your customer base spans a wide spectrum of beer knowledge.

• The Menu is King: Ensure your tap list clearly describes the flavor profile, bitterness (IBU), and alcohol content (ABV) for every brew. Use simple, inviting language.
• Educate, Don’t Intimidate: Train your staff to serve as friendly beer guides. They should be able to offer informed recommendations and patiently explain styles without making the customer feel less knowledgeable. Flight options are great for exploration!

2. Design for Connection and Comfort: The physical space heavily influences the experience.

• Optimize the Bar Flow: Ensure efficient service, minimizing wait times. A well-designed bar allows staff to move quickly and interact easily with patrons.
• Variety in Seating: Offer different experiences: high-top tables for quick drinks, comfortable lounge areas for groups, and bar seating for solo visitors looking to chat with the beertender.
• Acoustics: Good acoustics are often overlooked. Design your space to allow for conversation without shouting, even when busy.

3. Activate the “Five Senses” of Beer: Go beyond taste and sight to immerse your customers.

• Aroma: Keep the space clean and eliminate any unpleasant odors (like stale mop water or overflowing trash) that can interfere with the beer’s aroma.
• Sound: Curate your music. It should fit the vibe of your brand and be loud enough to be enjoyable, but quiet enough for conversation. Consider live acoustic music on slow nights.
• Touch: Use high-quality glassware that feels good in the hand and is appropriate for the style being served.

4. Go Beyond the Beer: Not everyone in a party drinks beer, and all customers need more than just liquid.

• Non-Alcoholic Options: Offer high-quality NA beer, craft sodas, or local kombucha. Don’t make the designated driver feel excluded.
• Retail Presence: Make your merchandise accessible, well-displayed, and attractive. High-quality hats, shirts, and glasses are walking advertisements.
• Food Strategy: Whether you run a kitchen, host food trucks, or allow outside food, ensure there is a clear, convenient food option. Beer and food go hand-in-hand.

5. Consistent Excellence in Service: Ultimately, the staff makes or breaks the taproom.

• Focus on Hospitality: Train your team to be genuinely welcoming, remember regulars’ names and orders, and proactively address any issues.
• The “Final Check”: Ensure every customer leaves with a positive final interaction—a sincere “thank you,” a clean environment, and perhaps a reminder about an upcoming event.

By prioritizing these details, you transform your taproom from a mere retail space into a vibrant, welcoming destination that consistently delivers the perfect pour and an unforgettable customer experience.

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.

Breweries have become more than just places to grab a pint; they’re community hubs, perfect for hosting memorable events. From intimate gatherings to massive celebrations, offering your space for events can be a fantastic revenue stream and a way to deepen customer loyalty. But pulling off a successful event, especially a larger one, requires careful planning. Here are some tips for brewery owners looking to dive into the event game:

1. Define Your Event Niche & Capabilities: Before you open your doors to bookings, decide what kind of events your space and staff can realistically handle.

• Capacity: Honestly assess your maximum comfortable capacity for both seated and standing events, considering fire codes and comfort.
• Amenities: What do you offer? A stage for live music? A projector for presentations? Outdoor space? Highlighting these can attract specific event types.
• Staffing: Ensure you have enough trained staff to manage event logistics, bar service, and customer inquiries without compromising your regular taproom operations.

2. Handling Large Parties with Finesse: Very large groups (think 50+ people) require extra attention.

• Dedicated Event Manager: For significant events, assign a single point of contact from your team. This streamlines communication and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
• Staggered Service: If you have limited tap lines or staff, consider offering drink tickets or a limited menu for large groups to expedite service and prevent overwhelming your bartenders.
• Sectioning Off Space: Clearly delineate the event area from your regular taproom using ropes, signs, or even temporary dividers. This manages expectations for both event guests and regular patrons.

3. The “Bring Your Own Food” (BYOF) Dilemma: Many breweries don’t have full kitchens, making BYOF a common request.

• Establish a Clear Policy: Decide if you’ll allow outside food, and if so, what the limitations are. Will you provide plates/cutlery? Do you require guests to use licensed caterers?
• Partnerships: Consider partnering with local food trucks or caterers. This offers variety to your event hosts without the operational burden on your part, and you can even take a small commission.
• Cleanup: Factor in additional cleanup time and resources if guests are bringing their own food, or consider a “cleanup fee.”

4. Strategic Pricing for Profitability: Pricing your event space and services can be tricky.

• Tiered Packages: Offer different packages based on group size, duration, and included amenities (e.g., dedicated staff, specific beer selection, use of AV equipment).
• Hourly vs. Flat Fees: For smaller, shorter events, an hourly rate might work. For larger, longer events, a flat fee or minimum spend can be more straightforward.
• Per-Person Minimums: This ensures profitability, especially if you’re offering an open bar or food packages.
• Deposits & Cancellation Policies: Protect yourself with non-refundable deposits and clear cancellation terms.

5. Check with your insurance agent: Make sure every risk exposure is covered by the right insurance!

By thoughtfully planning and clearly communicating your event offerings, your brewery can become the go-to destination for unforgettable celebrations.

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.

Your brewery’s biggest risks aren’t always what you’d expect. A cracked hose, a faulty yeast strain, or a small electrical surge can quickly lead to catastrophic financial losses. That’s where niche coverages, often overlooked by those unfamiliar with the industry, become your most valuable assets. Let’s explore three specialized insurance policies for breweries that every brewery should consider.

1. Contamination & Spoilage Insurance

Picture this: your new, highly anticipated double IPA is fermenting perfectly. But a sudden power outage trips a circuit, causing your glycol chiller to shut down for a few hours. By the time you discover the problem, the temperature in the tank has risen, and the entire 30-barrel batch—worth tens of thousands of dollars in ingredients, labor, and packaging—is ruined.

Standard commercial property insurance might cover the physical damage to your equipment from the power surge, but it won’t cover the lost product. This is where Contamination & Spoilage insurance is critical.

What it covers: This policy protects against the loss of your raw materials, in-process beer, and finished product due to a covered event, such as a power outage, refrigeration breakdown, or contamination. It accounts for the value of the lost inventory and can even cover the cost of disposing of the spoiled product. Without this coverage, that ruined batch is a total write-off, hitting your bottom line directly and potentially jeopardizing your cash flow.

2. Product Recall Insurance

You’ve just sent out your latest distribution run. Your flagship pilsner is on shelves across the state. A few days later, a customer posts a photo online of a can with a “gushing” issue—a sign of over-carbonation or, worse, a wild yeast contamination. The post goes viral, and it’s clear the problem isn’t isolated. You have to pull every can of that batch from the market.

While your General Liability insurance might cover bodily injury claims from an exploding can, it will not pay for the massive logistical and financial burden of the recall itself.

What it covers: Product Recall insurance is specifically designed to cover the expenses associated with a product recall. This includes the cost of:

• Notification: Sending out alerts to distributors, retailers, and the public.
• Retrieval & Disposal: The labor and transportation costs to pull the product from shelves and properly dispose of it.
• Replacement: The expense of brewing, packaging, and shipping a new, uncontaminated batch.
• Public Relations: The cost of hiring a PR firm to manage your brand’s reputation and regain consumer trust.

A product recall can be an existential threat to a brewery’s brand and finances. This specialized policy provides a safety net that allows you to act decisively and responsibly, protecting both your customers and your business.

3. Equipment Breakdown Insurance

Your brewery’s entire operation hinges on a complex web of machinery: the brewing kettles, pumps, heat exchangers, glycol chillers, and bottling line. A standard property policy covers damage from external forces like a fire or storm, but what happens if a compressor motor on your critical glycol chiller simply burns out? This type of mechanical failure is not covered by a basic policy.

What it covers: Equipment Breakdown insurance covers the costs to repair or replace your essential machinery due to a sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown. This goes beyond the normal wear and tear and includes issues like short circuits, power surges, or mechanical failures. Many policies also include business income coverage, which helps offset lost revenue during the time your equipment is down, ensuring you can still pay your bills while waiting for repairs.

The Right Recipe for Protection

These niche coverages are not a luxury; they are a necessary part of a robust risk management strategy. By partnering with a brewery insurance professional who understands the unique exposures of the brewing industry, you can create a customized policy that goes “beyond the basics” and provides the peace of mind to focus on what you do best: crafting exceptional beer.

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.

When things go wrong at your craft brewery, the financial fallout can be devastating. Beyond the immediate costs of repairs, a single accident can trigger a domino effect of expenses that can bankrupt an uninsured or underinsured brewery. This isn’t just about a broken fermenter—it’s about the true cost of an accident, and how the right brewery insurance is your brewery’s most vital ingredient.

Consider a few hypothetical scenarios that can quickly escalate without proper insurance:

Scenario 1: The Exploding Can

A small brewery has just launched its new, heavily fruited hazy IPA. A week after its release, a customer opens a can, and a buildup of pressure causes it to explode, sending shards of aluminum and beer flying. The customer suffers a severe laceration and eye injury.

The Uninsured Nightmare:

• Immediate Costs: The brewery has to recall the entire batch, losing thousands of dollars in ingredients, labor, and packaging.
• Legal Fees: The injured customer sues. The brewery must hire an attorney, a cost that can quickly reach tens of thousands of dollars, even if the case is dismissed.
• Settlement or Judgment: Without product liability insurance, the brewery is on the hook for the customer’s medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A significant judgment could wipe out the company’s savings and force it to close its doors.
• Reputational Damage: The story goes viral on social media, tarnishing the brand’s reputation and causing distributors and customers to lose trust.

How Insurance Helps: Product liability insurance would cover the legal fees, settlements, and damages resulting from the faulty product. A product recall policy could also help cover the costs of pulling the beer from store shelves and notifying the public. This protection allows the brewery to manage the crisis and potentially survive the fallout.

Scenario 2: The Forklift Fiasco

A brewer is moving a pallet of grain bags. The forklift slips on a wet spot, tipping a full pallet onto a colleague’s foot. The injured employee suffers multiple broken bones and requires surgery.

The Uninsured Nightmare:

• Medical Bills: The medical expenses for a severe workplace injury can be astronomical. Without workers’ compensation insurance, the brewery is responsible for the employee’s medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost wages.
• Lawsuit: Even if the employee is a friend, they may be forced to sue the company to cover their expenses. This leads to legal fees and a potential judgment, adding another layer of financial stress.
• Regulatory Fines: An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) could reveal safety violations, leading to significant fines that an uninsured brewery would have to pay out-of-pocket.

How Insurance Helps: Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory in most states and is designed for this exact situation. It covers the employee’s medical expenses and lost wages, protecting the business from the financial burden and preventing a potentially crippling lawsuit.

Scenario 3: The Broken Brewhouse

One morning, the head brewer discovers a cracked weld on the main brewing kettle, rendering it inoperable. It’s a key piece of equipment, and it will take weeks to get a replacement.

The Uninsured Nightmare:

• Lost Income: With the kettle out of commission, production grinds to a halt. The brewpub can’t brew new batches, leading to a rapid decline in inventory and a significant loss of income. The business still has to pay rent, salaries, and utility bills.
• Replacement Costs: A new brewing kettle can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The brewery has no cash reserves to cover this massive, unexpected expense.
• Business Collapse: Unable to produce beer or cover its ongoing expenses, “Cascade Ales” is forced to lay off staff and eventually close its doors.

How Insurance Helps: An equipment breakdown policy would cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged kettle. Even more crucially, a business interruption policy would cover the lost income and ongoing expenses during the downtime, providing a financial lifeline that keeps the business afloat until it can resume operations.

The true cost of a brewery accident extends far beyond the initial damage. It encompasses legal fees, lost revenue, reputational harm, and the very survival of your business. Don’t let a single, unexpected event turn your dream into a financial nightmare. Talk to a brewery insurance professional who understands the unique risks of the brewing world.

For more than 30 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.