The beer industry certainly has been put into an interesting position by the COVID-19 pandemic. On one hand, many breweries have loyal customers clamoring for more of their favorite beer. On the other hand, owners are deeply concerned for the health and safety of those same customers, not to mention their employees.
For most breweries, responsible steps have included limiting sales to online transactions and curbside pickup and to ensuring that visitors and staff practice appropriate social distancing. Some breweries have found this to be relatively painless because of the layout and design of their existing facilities. Others have struggled to come up with practical solutions.
These unprecedented times are forcing some breweries to rethink their entire operations to better meet the current needs of their customers—and to prepare for similar situations in the future. While demand has not necessarily dwindled, fears of exposure have shaken the confidence and trust of the average patron, leading to a vastly different transaction process from just a few months ago.