Kate Bernot

Like it or not, social and political issues are becoming impossible for breweries and other businesses to avoid. Here is concrete advice on knowing when and how to get involved, and on how to choose your battles.

• Politics
• Issues
• Causes

Recurring payments, exclusive memberships, loyalty rewards, and games are among the ways that breweries of all sizes can keep customers engaged in e-commerce.

• Direct-to-Consumer
• DTC
• Membership

While some brewery owners seek a way out while keeping the brands they’ve built alive, others see opportunities to grow, diversify, and gain efficiencies.

• Acquisitions
• Growth
• Expansion

Here’s how breweries are building in flexibility amid ongoing shortages, supply-chain headaches, labor crunches, and the rising costs that obfuscate next year’s forecasts.

• Forecasting
• Materials
• Planning

The economy’s so-called “Great Resignation” isn’t affecting only the hospitality side of the brewing business—it’s also affecting the brewhouse.

• Human Resources
• Labor Market
• Hiring

There is growing demand abroad for local, niche products—including beer. Even smaller breweries can tap into that sales channel. Here’s how to evaluate your brewery’s potential to export beer abroad.

• Exports
• Exporting Beer
• Export Development Program

With careful planning and carefree beers, the New Jersey brewery took itself from a Shore town taproom to a three-state powerhouse.

• Case Study
• Cape May
• New Jersey

Even as the shortage of aluminum cans gradually eases, supply-chain issues are wreaking havoc on price and availability. Here are specific tips for making sure you have the packaging you need, when you need it.

• Cans
• Can Shortage
• Candemic

As vaccination rates lag and the Delta variant surges, some breweries are choosing to require proof of vaccination for staff or customers; in some places, it’s required by law. Here’s how some are implementing such policies while minimizing complications.

• COVID-19
• Pandemic
• Front of House

As unfilled hospitality jobs set new records, breweries may need to reconsider pay, benefits, and culture to better lure and keep good people.

• Human Resources
• Hiring
• Help Wanted

With inflation and supply-side costs in the headlines, many breweries are wondering whether now is the time to raise prices in their taprooms or on shelves. But experts warn not to make that decision too quickly.

• Inflation
• Costs
• Prices

A lack of shipping containers in Europe has made it impossible for many North American brewers to get malts they rely on for some of their most important beers. It’s unclear when the situation will improve.

• Supply Chain
• Forecasting
• Raw Materials