Brewery Standard Operating Procedures

Starting a craft brewery? Here's a sobering reality: your business will be 95% business operations and only 5% beer. While perfecting that IPA recipe feels exciting, it's the unsexy stuff—documentation, processes, and systems—that separates thriving breweries from those that crash and burn.

If you're transitioning from homebrewing to commercial brewing, this shift in mindset is crucial. Success isn't just about brewing great beer; it's about building a business that can consistently produce great beer at scale.

Why Your Brewery is 95% Business, 5% Beer

As a passionate homebrewer, you've probably spent countless hours perfecting recipes and tweaking hop schedules. But commercial brewing operates in a completely different universe. You're not just making beer for yourself and friends—you're running a production facility that must deliver consistent quality, meet regulatory requirements, and generate profit.

The craft brewery record keeping, quality control systems, and operational procedures you implement from day one will determine whether your brewery thrives or becomes another cautionary tale. This isn't bureaucracy for its own sake; it's the foundation that allows creativity to flourish within a stable business framework.

Building Your Brewery's Foundation with SOPs

What Are Standard Operating Procedures?

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are step-by-step instructions that detail how to perform routine tasks consistently and correctly. Think of them as your brewery's playbook—ensuring everyone (including future you) performs critical tasks the same way every time.

SOPs might sound corporate and boring, but they're actually liberating. Instead of constantly making decisions about basic procedures, you can focus your mental energy on recipe development, customer relationships, and strategic growth.

8 Essential SOP Categories Every Brewery Needs

Before you brew your first commercial batch, develop written procedures for these critical areas:

1. Cleaning and Sanitation: Document your CIP procedures, chemical concentrations, and contact times for every piece of equipment

2. Beer Production: From grain milling to conditioning, every step should be standardized for consistency

3. Packaging: Whether kegging, bottling, or canning, establish protocols for sanitation, filling, and labeling

4. Scheduling: Create systems for planning brew days, fermentation schedules, and packaging runs

5. Purchasing and Inventory: Standardize how you order ingredients, track lot numbers, and manage stock levels

6. Sales and Invoicing: Establish clear processes for order fulfillment and payment tracking

7. Logistics and Distribution: Document shipping procedures and keg management systems

8. Maintenance: Schedule regular equipment maintenance and calibration procedures

   
   

These brewery business processes aren't just about efficiency—they're about protecting your investment and reputation. Well-documented procedures signal professionalism to potential investors, contract brewing partners, and quality-conscious customers.

Ready to build your brewery's foundation for success? Start with one SOP this week, and begin documenting every batch. Your brewery's future depends on the systems you build today.