Unlocking Brewery Profit: Taprooms, Distribution & Smart Growth with Chris Farmand

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Farmand of Small Batch Standard, a brewery accounting, tax and advisory firm that works with breweries across the country, to talk about one thing every brewery owner cares about: profit. 

We kick things off with a preview of Chris’s all-day Brewery Profit Workshop at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference (Monday, April 20th), where he’ll dive deep into taproom performance, distribution strategy, and practical ways to unlock more profit in your business.

From there, we zoom out and tackle some of the biggest strategic issues facing breweries today — the pros and cons of contract brewing, what’s really happening in brewery mergers and acquisitions, and how forward-thinking operators are creatively converting underutilized production space into high-margin event venues. 

This conversation is packed with insights for breweries looking to adapt, optimize, and build a more profitable business model in a maturing market.

Key Takeaways

• Taproom Profit is Still King
  Why maximizing retail sales, optimizing labor, and dialing in guest experience remains one of the most powerful levers for margin expansion.
• Distribution Strategy Requires Discipline
  The importance of understanding true margins by channel — and when distribution helps (or hurts) your bottom line.
• Contract Brewing: Strategic Tool or Risky Shortcut?
  A practical look at when contract brewing makes sense, when it doesn’t, and the financial implications owners often overlook.
• M&A Activity Is Evolving
  What’s driving brewery mergers and acquisitions in today’s market — and what owners should consider before buying, selling, or partnering.
• Repurposing Production Space for Higher Margins
  How breweries are converting excess capacity into event space, private rentals, and hospitality experiences to capture more profitable retail dollars.
• Profit Requires Intention, Not Hope
  The common thread across all strategies: knowing your numbers, understanding channel-level profitability, and making proactive financial decisions instead of reactive ones.

Resources

Learn more about the Brewery Profit Workshop - Monday April 20th of Craft Brewers Conference week

Get the free Brewery Profit Brief - a weekly newsletter packed with tips, tactics, and strategies to drive more profit in your beer business

Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies.