It depends. The beverage world is crowded—but it’s also full of opportunity for brands with a clear story and purpose. While traditional categories like soda have leveled off, emerging segments such as functional beverages, premium water, and low-sugar hydration products are growing fast. Consumers are increasingly drawn to authenticity, clean ingredients, and brands with a mission.
If you have a compelling idea, a strong “why,” and the commitment to see it through, there’s never been a better time to enter the market. The key is building a strategic foundation—from co-packing and distribution to branding and financial planning—that sets you up for long-term success.
At Beverage Discovery, we help founders turn ideas into fully realized beverage brands—ready to launch, scale, and compete in today’s evolving marketplace.
It depends. While the craft beer landscape is more competitive than ever, there’s still meaningful opportunity for brands with a clear identity, strong business plan, and well-executed product. Craft beer continues to represent a significant share of the overall beer market—nearly a quarter of total sales—with growth potential in underserved regions and among consumers seeking local, quality-driven experiences.
Success today requires more than great beer; it demands thoughtful positioning, operational discipline, and smart financial planning. If you’re passionate about brewing and ready to approach it with strategy and focus, now can still be an excellent time to enter the market.
At Beverage Discovery, we help new and growing breweries navigate every stage—from concept and facility design to budgeting, distribution, and beyond.
The first step is defining what kind of brewery you want to build. Breweries take many forms—taproom-focused, production-driven, or a hybrid of both—and that decision shapes everything from your business model to your equipment layout.
Because onsite sales offer the highest profit margins, many new breweries start by focusing on their taproom experience, building community and brand loyalty before expanding into distribution. As your sales stabilize and production scales up, strategic distribution can become a powerful next step—helping you reach new markets and strengthen your overall brand presence.
At Beverage Discovery, we help guide you through every phase of this process, from early-stage concept development to financial modeling, facility design, and long-term growth planning.
Choosing the right location is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—steps in starting a brewery. The best site isn’t always the most expensive or high-traffic property. In fact, many successful breweries thrive in unconventional spaces—from converted warehouses and farmhouses to tucked-away industrial parks and busy downtown corners.
What matters most is finding a space that fits your operational needs, aligns with your brand’s personality, and has an authentic sense of character. A building with natural charm or a distinctive aesthetic makes it easier to create a welcoming atmosphere that draws people in.
While proximity to other breweries can be a factor, remember that your competition isn’t just the brewery down the road—it’s anywhere people choose to spend their time. Success comes from creating an experience worth seeking out: great beer, genuine hospitality, and a memorable environment that keeps guests coming back.
Yes—breweries can be very profitable when planned and managed effectively. From a gross-margin perspective, beer ranks among the more lucrative products in the beverage world. The cost of goods sold (COGS) is typically low compared to the retail price, giving breweries strong margins. Of course, production choices can shift the math—using premium ingredients or heavy dry-hopping with imported hops will naturally raise costs.
Where many breweries struggle isn’t in day-to-day operations but in the initial build-out and financing. Overspending on construction, equipment, or taproom design can saddle a new business with high debt payments that eat into profits for years. Careful budgeting, realistic forecasting, and disciplined capital management are what separate sustainable breweries from those that fall behind early.
At Beverage Discovery, we help founders model realistic financial scenarios and avoid the common pitfalls that can limit profitability—so your brewery is built to thrive from the start.
Brewery startup costs can vary dramatically depending on your concept, scale, and location. A small, taproom-focused brewery is generally the most affordable model, with overall investment heavily influenced by the condition of the building and the complexity of the build-out.
For a 10-barrel brewhouse, equipment alone typically ranges from $200,000 to $500,000, depending on the configuration of the brewhouse and cellar. That figure doesn’t include installation, construction, or infrastructure costs, which can vary widely from one project to the next.
Another key budget factor is packaging strategy. A draft-only model reduces startup costs and simplifies operations, while adding a canning or bottling line significantly increases your initial investment but opens broader distribution opportunities. Each path has trade-offs, and we help breweries identify the right balance between startup cost, capacity, and long-term growth potential.
Startup costs for a brewery can vary greatly depending on size, location, and facility condition. Some small, taproom-focused breweries have launched with under $100,000, while larger production operations can require investments of $1–5 million or more.
The good news: there’s no single formula for success. With smart financial planning, a clear business model, and a strong team, breweries can start and scale effectively at many different investment levels. The key is managing costs strategically—overspending on construction, equipment, or early expansion can create high debt loads that strain profitability.
At Beverage Discovery, we help clients develop realistic budgets, align capital with goals, and structure financial plans that support sustainable growth from day one.
The ideal brewhouse size depends on your business model and long-term goals. If your primary focus is a taproom-driven brewery, a 10–15 barrel system often strikes the right balance between flexibility and efficiency. These systems can be paired with larger fermenters—20, 30, or even 40 barrels—to increase capacity without immediately investing in larger brewhouse equipment. While double or triple batching can work temporarily, it’s best viewed as a stepping stone toward expansion.
If your strategy includes both taproom sales and regional distribution, starting with a 20–30 barrel system may be more effective. A larger brewhouse allows you to meet on-site demand while maintaining enough capacity for packaged product and wholesale growth, supporting a smoother transition as your brand scales.
At Beverage Discovery, we help breweries evaluate production goals, facility constraints, and financial parameters to determine the system size that fits both your current needs and future growth plan.
Timelines can vary widely depending on your project scope and the condition of your space. For an existing building that requires only minor renovations, construction and setup typically take three to six months.
If your project involves major renovations, new construction, or land development, expect a longer timeline—often 12 to 24 months—to accommodate design, permitting, equipment procurement, and installation.
It’s also important to factor in planning and coordination time. For first-time brewery owners, navigating permitting, utilities, and contractor schedules can add months to the process. At Beverage Discovery, we help clients streamline each phase—from design and budgeting to permitting and build-out—so projects stay on track and move efficiently from concept to first pour.
On average, it takes about a year to bring a co-packed beverage brand from concept to market. The process includes product development, formulation, branding, packaging design, and compliance — followed by co-packer selection, production scheduling, and launch preparation.
Brands with a clear concept and existing formulations may move a bit faster, but most founders find that a full year allows time to make smart decisions, secure materials, and build strong supplier and co-packer relationships.
At Beverage Discovery, we guide you through every stage — from early concept and financial planning to your first production run — ensuring your brand is well-developed, compliant, and ready to launch successfully.