How Craft Breweries Can Combat Rising Costs with Smarter Maintenance Strategies

Tariffs might be out of your control. But your maintenance strategies and operations shouldn’t be.  

Tariffs on imported brewing equipment, aluminum cans, and raw materials like barley continue to pressure craft breweries across the country. And the rising costs caused by tariffs are no longer a temporary inconvenience—they’re a structural challenge that is forcing brewery operators to find new and creative ways to mitigate their impacts.  

While most brewery operators are already well aware of this, the question is: what can you actually do about it? 

Appealing to budget-conscious consumers 

The Brewers Association has been vocal about the impact of tariffs on small brewers, especially those relying on imported materials. But they also see a silver lining: this is a moment for craft brewers to reclaim local market share.  

With imported beer prices rising, locally brewed craft beer becomes a more cost-effective and community-rooted alternative. The Association notes that beer drinkers are becoming increasingly cost-sensitive, making the time ripe for craft breweries to shift their strategy and appeal to a more budget-conscious consumer. 

This shift in market dynamics shows the importance of maintaining strong operational discipline. In a cost-sensitive market, breweries can't afford inefficiencies or unexpected downtime. That’s where preventive maintenance comes in.  

Preventive maintenance and spare parts tracking 

By proactively maintaining equipment and streamlining operations, breweries can avoid costly repairs, reduce downtime, and ultimately keep costs in check.  

And this isn’t just about software—it’s about mindset. Many breweries still operate with reactive maintenance models, where equipment is fixed only after it fails. But in today’s cost-sensitive environment, that’s a luxury few can afford.  

Preventive maintenance, spare parts tracking, and digital work order systems are essential tools for survival and growth, as they ensure breweries can offer high-quality, affordable beer without having to regularly handle unplanned breakdowns and costly repairs. 

Here are some tips you can try today:  

• Audit your spare parts inventory: It’s important to know what you have, what you need, and what is just gathering dust.
• Implement a preventive maintenance schedule: Instead of waiting for breakdowns, plan ahead to prevent them before they can occur
• Empower your team: Let everyone, from your brewers to your bartenders, report issues in real time. 

All of this can be accomplished with the right maintenance management system at your side.  

A real-world example 

MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati, Ohio was dealing with numerous issues in their computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), that were draining the team’s efficiency and productivity.  

Their Production Maintenance Manager had used Brightly’s Asset Essentials software in the past and decided to implement it at MadTree as well. The results were called “epic,” as the team uncovered $35,000 in unaccounted inventory, after switching to Asset Essentials, and ultimately gained roughly 10 labor hours per week with the improved efficiency the system provided.  

MadTree also empowered all staff to submit work orders directly through their new CMMS, which dramatically improved response times and reduced unexpected downtime. Read their full story here.  

Conclusion 

As the saying goes, a penny saved is more than a penny earned. In a world where margins are tightening and tariffs are out of your hands, controlling what you can – your operations—is the key to creating a competitive edge.  

And while you can’t rewrite trade policy, you can rewrite your playbook. By tightening the nuts and bolts of your asset maintenance and management practices (literally and figuratively), you can build a foundation for long-term success even in the face of rising costs. 

Learn more about how Brightly Software supports craft breweries to improve market performance, achieve regulatory compliance, and strike a balance between tightening budgets and investing in their digital transformation.