Q1 2026 was not kind to every taproom. But the breweries that knew what to watch for came out ahead. Here are the real numbers and what they mean for the rest of your year. 1. Your Food Cost Is Creeping Up, and Your P&L Is Taking the Hit Here is a number worth paying attention to. Across the multi-location breweries we work with, food cost as a percentage of food revenue climbed an average of 2 or more percentage points year over year in Q1 2026. That is the difference between a 31% food cost...

The third quarter of 2025 has been a mixed bag for breweries: some good news, some not-so-great, and plenty to think about if you run a taproom or kitchen. Shifts in how people spend (and how often they show up), along with some fresh ways to work with food suppliers, are forcing brewery owners to adapt. Here’s how the landscape looks right now: 1. The K-Shaped Economy Is Showing Up in Taprooms Look around most taprooms lately and you’ll see it: the K-shaped economy is real, and it’s likely...

Struggling with costs or cash flow at your brewery? Avoid these 5 financial pitfalls with smart strategies to protect your bottom line.