The Ultimate Brewery Inventory Management Guide

Inventory management can be key to a successful brewery operation. From raw ingredients – like hops and malt – to packaging materials and finished products, keeping track of stock levels ensures production runs smoothly. 

Poor inventory management can lead to overstocking or stockouts, waste, and production delays, impacting profitability and customer satisfaction. 

Freshness and consistency are key when brewing beer. A reliable system is paramount to monitor and manage inventory. 

Brewery production planning 

Production planning is a complex process for many brewing companies, especially those that want to try new recipes. With craft beer becoming increasingly popular, many companies want to try different recipes with different ingredients.

Inventory management software makes managing this simple.

New ingredients can be tracked at the touch of a button. And raw materials can be tracked from when they are ordered to when they are assigned to a particular production schedule.

In this way, managers can adjust production to find the ideal recipe for each beer style and brew, and vary output levels to make more of the beers that become most popular.

Ordering ingredients

Because the raw materials needed for brewing beer, such as hops and grain, are greatly impacted by environmental factors, it is critical for a beer brewer to stay on top of the supply of these inputs.

Some firms decide to contract years into the future, while others prefer to order on shorter time frames for greater flexibility.

Whatever strategy is chosen, brewery management software with a strong inventory management core can be a substantial aid in ordering stock. Sales trends and production capacity can be analysed to determine to best quantities of raw materials to lock in through a long-term contract.

If orders are made more reactively, the real-time data on inventory and output levels will help managers make the most informed choice possible.

This data will help the business cope with factors like demand seasonality, which can make it difficult to forecast accurate inventory levels.

Beer quality control

When brewing beer, a product with only a few key ingredients, it is vital that the precise combination is achieved for every batch. It is difficult to achieve this with simple spreadsheet systems that constantly require manual updating.

Using inventory management software allows for greater accuracy, which both leads to consistency in brewing and minimises waste, thereby reducing costs and giving the highest ‘grain-to-glass yield’.

When there are problematic batches, with Unleashed, these can be tracked from raw materials to finished beer, so managers can immediately find out what went wrong and where.

Production growth

There comes a point in time for many up-and-coming brewing companies where their product becomes popular, sales continue to rise, and the company makes exciting new, expansive orders to take their business to the next level. It is at this stage that managing production based on simple systems and guesswork becomes too difficult.

If you feel your business is nearing this stage, it is probably the right time to make an investment in brewery management software at the same time. The real-time visibility of your entire inventory will allow you to keep careful control of operations at such a volatile state in your business’s life.

Scalability

As demonstrated by crowdfunding bids by craft brewers such as Renaissance, ParrotDog and Yeastie Boys, many craft breweries do need to scale up at some stage.

At the point that a brewery is dealing with a large number of orders and managing relationships with investors, there is much less room to manage inventory via a clipboard or a spreadsheet. Inventory management software, on the other hand, is designed to scale up as a business grows.

Analytics

Inventory management software enables brewers to tap into sales data to analyse sales performance. Although it is unlikely to be the only factor a craft brewery uses to determine which beers to produce, this analysis can inform the decision to keep a particular beer in the rotation or to swap it out for another idea.

This analysis can also identify slow-moving products before they go bad, creating options to extract at least some return.

Raw Materials 

Having enough ingredients – such as malt, hops and yeast – available is essential for hitting production targets. An inventory management system gives you total traceability and a constant eye on your stock levels, ensuring you always have the right amount on hand and the ability to track where it came from. 

In-process goods

Track each batch through each stage of the production process. From fermentation to bottling, see exactly which steps each batch is in production. 

Finished goods 

Once your beer is off the production line, know exactly where they are in your warehouse through your inventory management system. Additionally, barcode scanning ensures efficiency and accuracy of your business, from counting stock to processing sales shipments and much more. 

Packaging materials 

Inventory management isn’t just about ingredients and finished goods. Having the right quantities of packaging materials – such as labels, bottles and cans - on hand is just as important as having the right amount of ingredients available. Just like tracking ingredients, see your packaging material stock in real time. 

When inventory management is done well, breweries can expect:

Reduced waste and spoilage

With accurate tracking of expiry dates, batch numbers, and storage conditions, breweries can ensure ingredients are used in the right order and within their shelf life. This minimises the risk of spoilage and helps reduce unnecessary waste, which is especially important when working with perishable ingredients like yeast and hops.

Improved cash flow 

By maintaining optimal stock levels and avoiding over-purchasing, breweries can free up capital that would otherwise be tied up in excess inventory. Smarter purchasing decisions, informed by real-time data, allow for better budgeting and more agile financial planning.

Greater production efficiency

When inventory is well-managed, production teams can plan and execute brewing schedules with confidence. There’s less downtime due to missing ingredients or packaging materials, and fewer last-minute scrambles to source supplies. This leads to smoother operations and more consistent output.

Enhanced product consistency 

Consistency is key to building a loyal customer base. With precise tracking of ingredients and batches, breweries can replicate recipes accurately and maintain the same high quality across every brew. This also supports traceability, which is vital for quality control and compliance.

Stronger customer satisfaction 

Reliable inventory management ensures that products are available when customers want them, whether that’s in taprooms, retail outlets, or online. Meeting demand consistently helps build trust and strengthen brand reputation.

Better forecasting and decision-making

With access to historical data and real-time insights, breweries can make more informed decisions about production, purchasing, and sales strategies. This helps them respond proactively to seasonal trends, market shifts, and growth opportunities. Effective inventory management helps breweries scale sustainably while maintaining quality and profitability.

For breweries, a handle on inventory ensures high-quality products.  We’ve put together a list of 5 inventory management software options for breweries – based on functionality and user reviews.

Unleashed

• Trustpilot score: 4.8
• Pricing: $410 monthly (Medium) / $785 monthly (Large) / $1188 monthly (Large Plus) 
• Free trial: 14 days

Unleashed’s brewery inventory software is designed for small to medium brewers who are looking to take control of their inventory management. From tracking raw materials to finished products in real time to automating your reordering processes, Unleashed helps breweries boost cash flow, eliminate waste and reduce stockouts or overstocking with smart optimisation tools. 
Unleashed is designed to give you full visibility of your inventory, from real-time inventory, batch tracking, seamless integration and advanced reporting tools.

Limitations

Unleashed’s inventory management software does have a steep learning curve and takes time to master the advanced features. The software does require a stable internet connection to run smoothly. 

Breww

• Trustpilot score: 3.8
• Pricing: Starting at £29.99 pm (based on hectolitres produced annually) 
• Free trial: 30 days 

Breww is a brewery management system, designed for UK breweries of any size. Its all-in-one solution makes it the one-stop shop for production, sales, and distribution to online private trade store.

Available from your computer, tablet or phone, Breww’s cloud-based system ensures it is constantly online and ready for you to use. Breww’s integration allows you to sync your management system with your accounting software, putting everything into one place.

Limitations

Users have reported that the software can glitch. 

Ekos

• Trustpilot score: No score
• Pricing: Available on request
• Free trial: No trial 

Ekos is an all-in-one beverage management system, designed for breweries, distilleries, cideries and wineries. Through Ekos, manage your entire operation in one platform through features such as order and inventory management, audit assistant and margin assessment. 

Ekos also connects with a range of integrations, from accounting to e-commerce, giving you a full view of your business easily. 

Limitations

Users have reported that the layout of Ekos may be overwhelming for beginners. Users have also been caught out by not having an auto-save feature. 

Please note, limitations were reported in 2023 and may not reflect the current system.

Ollie

• Trustpilot score: No score
• Pricing: Available on request
• Free trial: No free trial

Ollie, “built by brewers for brewers”, is designed to remove the chaos out of running a craft brewery. From production to reporting, Ollie offers tools that helps breweries grow their operations. 

Ollie offers three-tiered packages – Ops, standard and premium – designed to support all aspects of their brewery operation. Subscribers receive access to free tools like Oznr eCommerce access, Untappd marketing packages, and monthly consumer insights reports, making Ollie not just software but a strategic partner for brewery success.

Limitations 

Users have reported difficulties with dashboards and reporting functionalities. One user reported “[Ollie is] not as robust as other products available.”

BrewPlanner

• Trustpilot score: No score
• Pricing: $49pm (Base) / $124 pm (MRP)
• Free trial: No free trial, offers a free version

BrewPlanner is designed for craft breweries to plan, communicate and report across your entire operation. BrewPlanner gives you a visualisation of each step, allowing you to easily adapt to changing demand, coordinate work across all departments and access reports on all your production data.

Limitation

To track inventory, the full package (MRP) must be purchased. Users have reported that the system occasionally glitches, and no integrations are available. 

Please note, limitations were reported in 2019 and may not reflect the current system.

Whether you’re a craft brewer scaling up or an established brand refining operations, Unleashed provides the tools to manage inventory with confidence and precision. Start your 14-day free trial and explore Unleashed for your brewery. 

How Behemoth Brewing Company has evolved into the biggest brewing company in New Zealand 

When Behemoth Brewing Company’s lack of inventory control caused serious problems, they came to Unleashed to help sort things out.

Since joining Unleashed, Behemoth have become one of the biggest brewing companies in New Zealand, as they now have a handle on their stock control – allowing the business to thrive. 

• Read how Unleashed helped Behemoth Brewing Company here.