Three Brothers Wineries and Estates operates a unique brewery and wineries within the Finger Lakes region of New York. In addition to producing their own IPAs and stouts, they offer comprehensive packaging services. This includes canning labor and materials for 12 or 16 ounce aluminum cans, complete with lids and PakTech carriers for contract clients.
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Contract Brewing Companies
Last updated: January 2026
This directory lists 84 contract brewing companies across the United States, from dedicated large-scale production facilities to smaller craft breweries offering excess capacity and specialized artisan services.
Buyers typically engage contract brewers to solve critical problems such as scaling production beyond current capacity, diversifying packaging formats (e.g., moving from bottles to slim cans), or accessing specialized equipment like centrifuge filtration for improved beer clarity. This often involves collaborating on everything from initial wort production to achieving specific gravity and pH targets in the fermentation cellar.
Suppliers in this space range from large, industrial-scale breweries with multiple brewhouses and high-volume packaging lines, often optimized for efficiency and cost per hectoliter, to smaller, owner-operated craft breweries who utilize their excess capacity. The former typically offers lower pricing for established recipes and high volumes, while the latter might provide more flexibility, recipe development assistance, and artisanal knowledge for unique beer styles.
Buyers must arrive prepared with clear specifications, including full recipes, ingredient sourcing preferences (e.g., specific maltsters or hop varietals), desired TPO targets, and a detailed packaging matrix. Suppliers, in turn, expect a comprehensive understanding of your brand's quality control standards, TTB compliance strategy, and logistical requirements for raw material delivery and finished goods pickup from their bonded facility.
A notable trend in contract brewing is the increasing demand for greater transparency in ingredient sourcing and a pivot towards more sustainable practices, including water usage efficiency and spent grain reclamation programs. Additionally, the proliferation of non-alcoholic and 'better-for-you' beverage categories is pushing contract brewers to invest in specialized dealcoholization equipment and functional ingredient capabilities.
Company Directory
84 companies nationwide
Based in Covington, LA, Abita provides private label hard seltzer and FMB manufacturing and co-packing services. Leveraging over 35 years of expertise, the company offers custom beverage crafting and comprehensive contract production solutions. They support brands looking to develop and produce their own unique alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing provides comprehensive co-packing and formulation services for diverse sugar brew beverages, sake, kombucha, and hard seltzer products. They offer versatile packaging solutions, including both bottles and cans, catering to various client needs in the beverage industry.
Asahi Beer USA provides contract production services for high-quality beverages through its Octopi Brewery. They operate as a co-packer, specializing in manufacturing non-alcoholic beer, coffee, RTD beverages, seltzers, and sodas. Serving clients across the United States, the company offers comprehensive beverage manufacturing solutions.
Based in Porter, TX, Back Pew Brewing offers comprehensive brewing and packaging services. They specialize in manufacturing diverse products, including traditional beers, seltzers, pre-mixed cocktails, and energy drinks, for various brands. The company provides a full range of contract brewing solutions.
Based in Oceanside, CA, Beer & Beverage Co-Packing provides full-service beverage co-packing solutions for various brands. They specialize in manufacturing a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine. The company offers comprehensive services to assist clients in bringing their beverage products to market.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, BevPack LA offers high-speed beverage co-packing. They support small to large brands, processing diverse drinks like alcoholic, energy, and infused beverages. Services include blending, canning, labeling, tunnel pasteurization, warehousing, and lab testing.
Big Brands Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing offers extensive co-packing and manufacturing services for a wide range of alcoholic beverages. With decades of experience, the company is equipped to handle the production needs of alcoholic drinks brands.
Based in Napa, California, Bin To Bottle offers full-service contract production, packaging, and canning for diverse beverages. Specializing in premium wine, their facility also handles ready-to-drink wine cocktails, hard seltzers, ciders, and other spirits. Services include custom crush, winemaking, bottling, and warehousing.
Brau Brothers Brewing Co., based in Marshall, MN, offers over 25 years of industry experience in contract brewing and co-packing services. They specialize in small-batch craft beer production, operating their brew house seven days a week to meet diverse client needs for custom beverage manufacturing.
Based in Upland, CA, California Aseptic Beverages (CAB) provides comprehensive aseptic beverage co-packing and manufacturing. They specialize in processing, hot fill, and carbonated drink production. CAB partners with commercial clients to produce diverse beverages, including juices, plant-based milks, and energy drinks.
Based in Burlington, VT, Citizen Cider offers co-packing services for cider, beer, spirits-based ready-to-drink beverages, wine, and non-alcoholic products. The company leverages locally sourced VT and NY apples, which are pressed on-site. They cater to commercial clients seeking manufacturing for both traditional and innovative beverage concepts.
City Brewing Company provides full-service beverage co-manufacturing and contract brewing services across the United States. They specialize in producing hard seltzers, traditional FMBs, beers, spirit-based RTDs, and premium non-alcoholic beverages. Operating four large-scale facilities, they support major blue-chip customers with extensive production capabilities.
Based in Washington, DC, DC Brau Brewing LLC is an award-winning manufacturing brewery, founded in 2011. The company provides contract brewing services, leveraging its facilities to produce craft beers. DC Brau distributes its products throughout the DMV, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and beyond.
Based in Canoga Park, CA, DeltaBev provides full-service co-manufacturing solutions for functional beverages. Services include co-packing across canning, bottling, and mini production lines. They offer procurement, ensuring product quality and consistency, and manage hemp compliance from a 45,000 sq ft facility.
Epic Bottling, a Coppell, TX-based contract beverage manufacturer, offers co-packing services. They produce teas, juices, and lemonades, with hot or cold fill capabilities. Packaging options include glass, PET, or aluminum cans, supporting beverage development for all business sizes.
Based in Rochester, NY, Genesee Brewery, a division of FIFCO USA, offers full-service contract brewing and manufacturing. Their newly upgraded facility, backed by over $210 million in investments, provides comprehensive capabilities for various brewed beverages.
Fortnight Brewing, based in Cary, NC, provides contract brewing services for a diverse range of beverages. The company utilizes both traditional and modern methods to craft various styles and flavors. They prioritize high-quality ingredients, equipment, and staff to produce an exceptional portfolio of beverages.
Based in Portland, ME, Geary Brewing Company is New England's first craft brewery, providing contract brewing services. They offer tailored solutions to meet specific client needs, focusing on utmost quality and customer service in beer production.
Gehl Food & Beverage is a contract manufacturer specializing in aseptic processing for shelf-stable food and beverage products. They offer services for a range of items including RTD beverages, dairy products, tea, coffee, and wine and spirits. The company provides R&D expertise, validated packaging solutions, and distribution.
Green Mountain Beverage provides end-to-end contract production and packaging services for a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They offer canning, kegging, and bottling for products like RTD, FMB, cider, beer, and wine. The company focuses on quality, scalability, and production capacity.
Based in Green Bay, WI, Hinterland Brewery offers premium contract brewing services. They provide expert facilities and craftsmanship, assisting clients in bringing their unique beer visions to life from concept to finished product. The brewery also operates a popular Beer Hall Restaurant.
Based in Cincinnati, OH, Impact Beverage specializes in comprehensive beverage co-packing services. The company provides efficient production processes and streamlined distribution, offering scalability for growing beverage brands. They utilize innovative technology to help clients sustain consumer demand and achieve market growth.
Based in Manchester, NH, Iron Heart Canning offers contract and co-packing services for diverse beverage types, complementing their mobile canning solutions. They provide beverage packaging expertise and a mixed culture fermentation program, supporting small and middle-market producers in bringing their products to market.
Based in Santa Maria, CA, Jungle Beverage specializes in contract beverage manufacturing and in-house formulation services. They offer flexible, no-minimum-order production for testing and scaling beverage concepts. With over 23 years of industry experience, they support brands across Central and Southern California.
Based in Riverside, CA, Kitchen Sink Brewing Company offers contract brewing services utilizing an over-sized 7BBL 2-vessel system. This nano-craft brewery caters to clients throughout Southern California, providing production-ready facilities for various beer styles and custom brewing projects.
Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, Mercenary Canning Solutions provides mobile canning and co-packing for craft beverages like beer, wine, seltzers, and RTDs. Serving the Bay to the Central Coast, they utilize advanced counter-pressure canning systems for carbonated and still products, ensuring quality packaging and material sourcing.
Based in Orange, CA, Newport Bottling & Canning offers comprehensive beverage co-packing, bottling, and canning services. They specialize in beverage development, formulation, research, and consulting for various liquid and powdered drinks, including alcoholic beverages, supporting clients from pilot production to launch.
Based in Chesapeake, VA, Nidra Pack offers comprehensive co-packing and manufacturing services for beverages. They specialize in a wide range of products, including health drinks, functional beverages, spirits, seltzers, iced teas, and coffee. Services span formulation, supply chain management, and distribution, delivering scalable, shelf-ready production solutions.
Based in North Hudson, NY, Paradox Brewery offers contract brewing services for businesses seeking to expand their beer production without costly facility expansions. Leveraging years of perfected craft brewing, the company provides hassle-free, tailored solutions for partners utilizing its established brewery and taproom.
Based in Richmond, VA, Patina Brewing provides white-label brewing services. The company offers clients the opportunity to blend its time-honored brewing techniques with their individual brand identity, specializing in contract brewing for businesses seeking custom beverage production.
Pilot Project Brewing is a beverage incubator and brewery in Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL. They function as a launch pad for start-up breweries, offering recipe R&D, production scaling, marketing, and distribution support to help bring new projects to market.
Based in Stevens Point, WI, Point Beer specializes in contract brewing and co-packing services. They offer craft brewing and batching for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers, providing competitive rates for co-packing in traditional cans and longneck bottles. The company supports brands with comprehensive beverage manufacturing solutions.
Potosi Beverage Company offers contract brewing services, partnering with clients to ensure their products meet specific needs and standards. Based in Potosi, WI, the company operates its own production facility, providing comprehensive beverage manufacturing support.
Based in Sherman Oaks, CA, Power Brands provides end-to-end beverage contract manufacturing and co-packing. They specialize in developing, producing, marketing, and selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The company handles various formats including cans, bottles, and shots, supporting brands from formulation through production.
Based in Doral, FL, Prison Pals Brewing Co. utilizes a 15-barrel brewhouse for contract brewing services. They produce custom beers and design exclusive cans for various brands and events. The company also crafts and sells its own diverse range of lagers, ales, and specialty beers.
Based in Hudsonville, MI, Proper Beverage Co. is a full-service beverage co-packer offering end-to-end solutions. They provide processing, packaging, and distribution for various beverage types, including complex formulations, with diverse can sizes and flexible packaging. They also assist brands and distillers with product formulation.
Based in Anaheim, CA, Radiant Beer Co. provides custom-labeled beer services for various occasions. The brewery specializes in private labeling, enabling clients to create personalized beer for events such as graduations, weddings, and birthdays.
Based in Blanco, TX, Real Ale Brewing Company offers comprehensive co-packing services, utilizing its state-of-the-art brewing and packaging facilities. They support both established and new brands, providing tailored solutions for product development and scalable production needs within the beverage industry.
Red Boot Beverage is an Iowa-based co-packing and contract manufacturing company for beverages. They offer comprehensive services including canning, bottling, and quality control. Specializing in supporting established brands interested in expanding, the company focuses on delivering high-quality production and service.
Riley's Brewing Company, based in Madera, CA, offers private label brewing services for beer, spirits, and other specialty beverages. The company produces distinctive brews and provides solutions for clients seeking custom-manufactured alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with individual character.
Based in Mills River, NC, CanDo (Sierra Nevada) operates as a beverage co-packer and innovation facility. The company specializes in delivering adult functional beverages, providing end-to-end services for clients. They offer comprehensive contract brewing and packaging solutions.
Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Silver King Beverage Company provides vertically integrated beverage manufacturing solutions. They offer on-site can manufacturing, filling, graphics, variety packing, warehousing, and co-packing services. As the first in North America to combine can-making, filling, and shipping in one facility, they streamline production for beverage brands.
Based in Santa Rosa, CA, Sonoma Beverage Company is a beverage co-packer offering manufacturing services for carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. They specialize in canning sleek and standard aluminum cans, bottling various glass sizes, and providing tunnel pasteurization, non-pasteurization, and cold storage. The company is Organic, Kosher, and Gluten-Free certified.
Based in Conroe, TX, Southern Star Brewing Co. offers comprehensive contract brewing and co-packing services. Founded in 2008, they were the first brewery in Texas to can craft beer. Utilizing a custom-built facility since 2016, they provide scalable production solutions for beverage brands seeking experienced partners.
Based in Glendale, WI, Sprecher Brewing Company offers co-packing and contract brewing services for craft beer and soda. With nearly 40 years of industry experience, they provide comprehensive manufacturing capabilities for beverage brands looking to produce their products with an established partner.
Based in Fort Worth, TX, TexBev operates as a beverage co-packer, specializing in manufacturing and packaging drinks. The company provides comprehensive production solutions for small and mid-size brands, offering a range of services from formulation to final packaging.
The Brewing Projekt, based in Eau Claire, WI, is a craft brewery known for its unique and 'damn good' beers and seltzers. Beyond its own brands, the company provides comprehensive co-packing and contract brewing services for other beverage brands. Established in 2013, they offer tailored production and packaging solutions.
Three Notch'd Brewing Company, based in Charlottesville, VA, offers comprehensive contract brewing and private label services. Their dedicated team assists with custom recipe development, ingredient sourcing, brewing, and packaging into cans or kegs. They provide quality control and distribution assistance for a seamless process.
Based in Wilmington, DE, Very Good Manufacturing provides co-manufacturing and co-packing for beverage brands. They specialize in bottling and canning alcoholic and non-alcoholic products, including distilled spirits, ready-to-drink, wine, and canned cocktails. Services handle various bottle sizes up to 1 Liter and can sizes up to 12oz.
Based in Woodway, TX, Waco Bottling Co. is a co-packer offering hot-fill and cold-fill contract manufacturing for private label beverages, sauces, and dressings. They provide canning, tolling, and turnkey solutions from two advanced facilities. The company also supports product development for efficient, scalable production needs.
Wildpack provides comprehensive beverage co-packing and private label production services for middle-market brands. Operating three US canning facilities, they manage material sourcing, custom printed or sleeved cans, and filling. The company supports beverage clients with flexible run sizes, consistent quality, and warehousing solutions.
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Yards Brewing operates a state-of-the-art facility for beverage production. In addition to brewing its own craft beers, the company provides co-packing services, demonstrating its capacity to contract brew for other brands seeking professional brewing and packaging solutions.
Based in Draper, UT, Big Brands Co Packer provides contract manufacturing and private label co-packing. Specializing in beverages like beer, spirits, wine, hard seltzers, and energy drinks, their facility is FDA and TTB registered. They hold USDA Organic, Non-GMO, and Carbon Neutral certifications.
Based in Normal, IL, Canopolis provides professional contract brewing and packaging services for established breweries and proven beer brands. Operated by DESTIHL® Brewery, they offer scalable beer production without the overhead. This enables partners to focus on sales, marketing, and growth, streamlining their operations.
Based in Pittston, PA, Lion Beverage is a contract manufacturer for canned and bottled beverages. Leveraging over a century of expertise, they provide comprehensive beverage manufacturing, along with packaging, repacking, warehousing, and product development services for diverse brands.
Based in El Segundo, CA, R6 Distillery is a Veteran & Family owned grain-to-glass distillery. They focus on high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. The company provides private label manufacturing services for alcoholic beverages, including vodka, flavored whiskey, and rye whiskey.
SIP Manufacturing provides contract beverage packaging solutions from its GMP-certified Southern California facility. Specializing in aluminum canning and PET/aluminum bottling, they offer capabilities like carbonation, HTST, and cold fill. The company produces flavored waters, energy drinks, and hard seltzers, holding licenses for wine, malt, and spirits.
The Nations Brewing Company provides contract brewing and beverage co-packing services. They specialize in recipe creation, scaling, and comprehensive project management, offering low minimum order quantities. Serving clients like Bravazzi, Fat Bottom Brewing, and Music City Beer Co., they produce a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Based in Cicero, NY, Clinton's Ditch Cooperative provides high-speed contract packaging services for aluminum beverage cans and PET bottles. Specializing in cold fill operations, the company offers comprehensive filling and packing solutions for various beverage brands looking to outsource their production.
Copper Mountain Beverage Company provides private label production for beer, spirits, and wine, including packaging design and government approval. As one of the largest private label beverage providers by volume in the US, the company also offers wholesale distribution of craft alcoholic beverages.
Based in Hood River, OR, Full Sail Brewing, Inc. offers contract brewing and beverage services to help grow various brands. As a Pacific Northwest-based beverage contract packaging manufacturer, the company provides comprehensive production solutions. Their facilities support commercial B2B clients seeking specialized brewing and packaging expertise.
Meier's Creek Brewing Company, based in Syracuse, NY, offers dependable, quality contract brewing services for craft beer production. Located in the heart of New York State, they provide comprehensive brewing solutions from their facilities for brands seeking a reliable and experienced production partner.
Based in Monroe, WI, Minhas Craft Brewery provides large-scale contract brewing and co-packing services. They specialize in private and control label solutions, utilizing extensive capabilities and a wide range of existing recipes for various beer styles to serve clients.
Monday Night Brewing, based in Birmingham, AL, provides comprehensive contract brewing services. They offer white-label products, including contract canning and kegging, with options for custom labels. The company supports clients with various brewing needs, from product formulation to packaging, catering to businesses seeking outsourced beverage production.
Based in Cleveland, OH, Ohio Beverage Systems Inc. provides comprehensive beverage production solutions. With over forty years of experience in beverage manufacturing, established in 1984, the company helps clients bottle their ideas and meet diverse production needs. They offer full-service beverage manufacturing.
Pilot Canning Company specializes in pilot and small batch contract manufacturing for canned and bottled beverages. They help brands create, test, and scale custom drinks, producing a wide range of beverages including soda, water, seltzer, tea, RTD cocktails, and mocktails. Their services support product development.
Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Uinta Brewing Company, established in 1993, provides comprehensive contract and private label brewing services. They offer start-to-finish solutions from procurement through packaging, backed by extensive analytical services. A top US Craft Brewery, Uinta is known for crafting award-winning beers.
Universal Pure is a beverage contract manufacturer and co-packer, specializing in high-volume, rotary filling technology for juices and various beverages. They provide comprehensive services including High Pressure Processing (HPP) to extend shelf life, alongside cold storage, kitting, packaging, labeling, and distribution solutions.
Based in Verona, WI, Wisconsin Brewing Company offers contract brewing and co-packing services. They utilize a canning line and tunnel pasteurizer to produce quality, shelf-stable beer. Established in 2013, they also brew their own brands, including Lake Louie Brewing.
Based in San Leandro, CA, 21st Amendment Contract Services offers comprehensive contract brewing and beverage co-packaging. With over 14 years of experience, they specialize in hard seltzer, canned pre-mixed drinks, craft beer, FMBs, RTDs, and non-alcoholic beverages. The company provides infrastructure and flexible packaging solutions to help brands grow.
Beer Dudes Canning is a Texas-based company specializing in beverage co-packing and mobile canning services. They provide comprehensive packaging solutions for various beverages, including wine and spirits, holding TTB certification. Their services cater to companies needing professional and certified co-packing expertise for their products.
Based in Anaheim, CA, Big Brands SoCal Copacking is a beverage manufacturing facility specializing in contract production. They offer comprehensive copacking services for alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits, alongside a wide range of non-alcoholic options. The company provides canning, bottling, and kegging solutions.
Based in Northern California, Black Medicine Canning/Co-Packing offers small batch brewing and co-packing services. They specialize in beverage canning, providing nitrogen dosing, high TDS concentrate handling, and custom sleeving. The company also includes laboratory services for quality control and product development for clients.
Based in City of Industry, CA, California Custom Beverage is a contract beverage manufacturer offering comprehensive services from sourcing and formulation to blending, filling, and packaging. They specialize in a wide range of beverages, including coffee, tea, kombucha, sparkling water, energy drinks, and functional beverages.
Based in Fullerton, CA, Common Collabs provides contract beverage co-packing, co-manufacturing, and incubation services. Specializing in products like specialty coffee, tea, cocktails, and craft sodas, they partner with clients. Their experienced team assists with bringing high-quality beverage visions to market, focusing on collaborative production.
Based in California, Customized Beer specializes in custom labeled and private label beer production. They offer bespoke craft brewing solutions for businesses seeking to create their own branded beer products.
Based in Santa Clarita, CA, DrinkPAK, LLC is a contract manufacturer specializing in high-speed canning of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. With advanced facilities in California and Texas, and a new plant opening in Pennsylvania in 2027, they offer automated variety repacking and produce over two billion cans annually for brand owners.
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company offers comprehensive contract brewing and co-packing services. They provide expertise in recipe development, packaging design, and materials procurement, adapting to client needs. The company supports brands with brewing capabilities and logistical support.
Based in Madison, WI, Karben4 Brewing provides flexible co-packing services for beverage brands. They offer contract manufacturing for beer, seltzers, and THC drinks, utilizing their own brewing facilities to help clients scale production for various beverage types.
LA Ale Works specializes in contract brewing, offering personalized and custom beer production for commercial clients. They provide white label and private label programs, enabling businesses to create custom-branded beers and personalized cans. With facilities in Hawthorne and Culver City, CA, the company supports custom brewing requirements.
Based in Atlanta, GA, New Realm Brewing offers a comprehensive contract brewing program. They provide robust capabilities focusing on advanced brewing technology, rigorous quality assurance processes, and an experienced brewing team. The company supports clients in producing their own beverage lines.
BrewDog provides comprehensive, end-to-end contract brewing solutions for businesses. Their services encompass raw material sourcing, production scheduling, expert packaging, and cold storage, ensuring a seamless process from start to finish.
US Beverage Manufacturing provides comprehensive beverage development, formulation, and co-packing services for private label brands. They guide clients from concept to manufacturing and supply chain management. The company assists new beverage companies and existing brands with FDA label consultation and TTB regulatory guidance.
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How to Choose a Company
- Confirm their brewhouse size (e.g., 30 BBL, 60 BBL, 200 BBL) aligns with your desired production volume, understanding their minimum batch size often dictates the true cost-efficiency for your run. Do they have the appropriate fermentation cellar capacity for your specific product type and conditioning time?
- Inquire about their in-house quality control capabilities beyond basic gravity and pH checks. Ask for their standard operating procedures for critical measurements like TPO, dissolved oxygen (DO), sensory evaluation panels, and microbiological testing to ensure your beer's stability and shelf life.
- Verify they possess the exact packaging lines you require – whether it's 12oz cans, 16oz cans, 22oz bottles, or kegs. Crucially, ask about their line speed (cases per minute) and typical changeover times between different SKUs, as these directly impact scheduling and cost.
- For specific markets or retail partners, ensure the contract brewer holds necessary certifications such as HACCP, SQF, BRCGS, or USDA Organic if you plan on brewing organic products. Also, confirm they operate as a fully bonded facility with robust TTB reporting capabilities for excise tax handling.
- Be wary of suppliers who are vague about expected yield loss or assume you'll cover all ingredient ordering. A common gotcha is failing to budget for the inevitable losses during transfer, filtration, and packaging, leading to fewer finished goods than anticipated. Clarify who is responsible for managing raw material inventory and ordering lead times upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a contract brewer handle TTB compliance and excise taxes for my brand?
A reputable contract brewer operates under their own TTB brewer's notice and bond, producing the beer under their license. They are responsible for accurately reporting production volumes and paying federal excise taxes. You, as the brand owner, are typically responsible for state excise taxes once the beer is distributed, depending on your state's laws. Always clarify the exact tax responsibilities and reporting mechanisms with your chosen partner, especially regarding the 'physical custody' and 'ownership' aspects.
What's the difference between 'toll brewing' and a 'full-service' contract brew?
In 'toll brewing' (or 'dry contract brewing'), you provide all the raw materials – malt, hops, yeast, packaging – and the contract brewer simply charges a fee for using their brewhouse and labor to produce and package your beer. A 'full-service' (or 'wet contract brewing') model means the contract brewer sources and supplies all ingredients and packaging materials, baking those costs into their per-unit price. Full-service is often preferred for convenience, while toll brewing offers more control over ingredient selection and potentially cost savings if you have strong supplier relationships.
What are the common pitfalls regarding quality control and shelf stability with contract-brewed beer?
The biggest pitfalls revolve around inconsistent TPO (Total Package Oxygen) and inadequate cold chain management. High TPO leads to rapid staling and off-flavors. Ensure your contract brewer has rigorous TPO monitoring at the filler and proper DO (Dissolved Oxygen) management throughout the cold side. Another common issue is insufficient microbiology testing, which can lead to spoilage organisms impacting shelf stability. Always request detailed QC reports for each batch, including sensory evaluations and forced aging tests, and have a clear agreement on storage conditions post-packaging.
What should I expect regarding lead times for securing a production slot and receiving my first shipment?
Lead times vary significantly based on the contract brewer's demand and your batch size. Expect anywhere from 4-8 weeks for smaller, first-time runs to secure a slot, followed by the actual brewing, fermentation (which can be 2-4 weeks depending on beer style), conditioning, and packaging. Post-packaging, allow for transit time. For established relationships and larger volumes, lead times can be negotiated down, but planning 2-3 months in advance for your initial production is a conservative and wise approach to avoid missing market windows.