Beer scribe Chris Crowell picks his favorite craft brewery business features from 2021

Need some fresh ideas for growing revenue, handling distribution or anything else to run a better, ethical brewery business next year? You’re in luck because “business” is our middle last name. The Craft Brewing Business archives are seriously jam packed with great insight and advice. Here are my favorite business-focused articles from this year — I’ve read them multiple times — everything from growing taproom revenue to exploring franchise models to undergoing active bystander training (which your brewery needs to do already).

Profitability and Planning

Brewery profitability lesson: Keys for tracking and analyzing cost of goods sold (COGS)

The role of market research in go-to-market planning for craft breweries

Craft Brewhouse Showcase 2021: From small-scale systems to full automation

Taproom revenue

Why ‘guest-owned tabs’ are the future of brewery taproom sales

Why your brewery should bring back flights

How flights drive financial success at your taproom

Wholesale strategies

How craft beer can compete (and win) in grocery stores

Old dogs, new tricks: How sales have changed in the wholesale channel

Expansion by franchise’n: How Voodoo Brewing is scaling its business nationwide

Beer, Bros and Business part 3: Sales and distribution hazards

Marketing and branding

Your brewery’s Facebook page is not a website (and why that matters)

How to brand your hard seltzer, navigating from brewery to beverage company

2021 Beer Branding Trends Part 4: Industry Experts Weigh In

Ethics and equity

Why your craft brewery needs active bystander training

From self-defense classes to anonymous reporting platforms, breweries share ways to combat sexual harassment

The case for enzymes as a key to sustainable brewing