The brewery industry is vast and diverse, catering to different market needs and customer preferences. Broadly speaking, breweries can be classified into two major categories: those that sell directly to customers and those that manufacture beers for distribution to bars, restaurants, and retailers. Within these categories, six major market segments emerge, each defined by their sales locations and annual production volumes. This article explores these segments in detail, offering insights into their unique characteristics and construction considerations.
Microbreweries
Annual Production: Less than 15,000 barrels (bbl) per year.
Sales: More than 75% of their beer is sold off-site.
Sub-segment: Nanobreweries，Annual Production: Less than 2,000 bbl.
Microbreweries focus on quality and unique flavors, often experimenting with new brewing techniques and ingredients.
They usually serve a local or regional market and often have a strong community presence.
Space: Typically require smaller spaces, repurposing existing buildings.
Equipment: Smaller scale brewing equipment tailored to experimental and small-batch production.
Regulations: Must comply with local zoning laws and health regulations.
Brewpubs
Sales: More than 25% of their beer is sold on-site.
Offerings: Provide food alongside beer.
Brewpubs combine brewing with a restaurant experience, offering patrons freshly brewed beer with a variety of food options.They often serve as community hubs and are popular for their unique atmosphere and direct interaction with the brewing process.
Layout: Requires integration of brewing and dining areas, with a focus on creating an engaging and comfortable environment for patrons.
Kitchen: Needs a fully equipped kitchen to prepare a variety of food options.
Permits: Must obtain both brewing and food service permits, often from different regulatory bodies.
Taproom Breweries
Sales: More than 25% of their beer is sold on-site.
Offerings: Do not serve food.
Taproom breweries focus on creating a dedicated space for beer tasting and socializing, often hosting events and beer-related activities.
They offer a wide range of their own beers, providing a direct connection between the brewery and its customers.
Design: Emphasizes the tasting experience, often with open layouts and direct views of the brewing equipment.
Licensing: Requires specific licenses for on-site alcohol sales, which can differ from those needed for distribution.
Contract Brewing Companies
Operations: Hire other small businesses to produce some or all of their beer.
Contract brewing allows companies to focus on branding, marketing, and distribution without investing in their own brewing facilities.It enables smaller brands to enter the market and scale production without significant capital expenditure.
None: Typically do not need their own brewing facilities, but must carefully select and manage relationships with production partners.
Regional Craft Breweries
Annual Production: Between 15,000 and 6 million barrels.
Recognition: Often have worldwide recognition.
Regional craft breweries strike a balance between large-scale production and maintaining the quality and uniqueness of craft brewing.They often have a strong brand presence and distribute widely.
Facilities: Require substantial production facilities with advanced brewing equipment and significant storage capacity.
Scalability: Must design operations for efficiency and scalability to handle larger production volumes.
Sustainability: Often incorporate sustainable practices to manage environmental impact.
Large Breweries
Annual Production: Over 6 million barrels of beer are produced annually.
Sales: over 25% of total beer production is sold out of state.
Large-scale breweries combine scale, efficiency and innovation to meet the needs of a broad and diverse market. Balancing the challenges of large-scale production with the demands of quality, sustainability and community involvement.
Space: occupy purpose-built structures designed to accommodate the extensive machinery and equipment necessary for large-scale production.
Equipment: Advanced automated brewing equipment
Regulations: Large breweries must comply with national and international health and safety regulations, environmental laws, and industry-specific standards.
The brewery industry offers a rich tapestry of business models and production scales, each with unique opportunities and challenges. Whether it’s a small nanobrewery experimenting with new flavors or a regional craft brewery with a significant market presence, each type requires careful planning and execution in its construction and operation.
