If your successful brewery operation has grown to the point where you can’t keep up with production, it may be time to purchase additional equipment or expand your facilities. The craft brew lending experts at Live Oak can provide you with the financing you need and answer any questions you have along the way.

Financing Solutions for Your
Craft Brewery

“With the overwhelming growth that craft beer is experiencing, it can feel like you are never quite able to produce enough beer to satisfy demand,” said Keith Merklin, general manager of the wine and craft beverage team. “By the time the equipment from your previous expansion has been delivered, installed and is operational, demand has already outstripped your new production capabilities. It is difficult to generate enough cash from the business to keep up with the capital demands of brewery expansions,” he continued. Live Oak understands the lack of capital craft brewery owners face. Contact a loan specialist with any questions you may have about growing your brewery through the purchase of additional equipment.

Common brewery equipment financing needs include:

  • Brewhouses
  • Fermentation tanks
  • Brite tanks
  • HLT tanks
  • Canning/bottling lines
  • Centrifuges
  • Glycol chillers
  • Keg washers
We're ready when you are
Connect with a Loan Specialist
Case Study: Using Working Capital to Facilitate Growth

Fast and Simple

Want to hear the best part? If your financing needs for craft brewery equipment are between $75,000 and $350,000, you can receive your funds in as few as 10 days. The expedited application process is fully online, so you can conveniently apply on your own time, uploading documents and e-signing along the way. Live Oak keeps the process simple so we can get you the funds you need to preserve your cash flow and you can get back to brewing great beer.

Craft Brewery Experts

At Live Oak, we have a team of lenders dedicated to the craft beer industry that understand the difficulties a growing brewery faces. We work with you to analyze your historical–as well as projected–growth to develop an expansion plan that meets your needs with competitive bank loan products. Equipment purchases should be made strategically, with attention paid to both the size of the expansion (too large and you’ll be saddled with debt on equipment that is not being fully utilized, too small and you’ll outgrow it before you’ve paid much principal on the debt) as well as the timing (taking into consideration lead times on equipment orders with your suppliers as well as current and projected barrel production).

Real estate considerations must also be made strategically in cases where physical space is the factor limiting growth. If you are currently leasing, should you look to purchase or lease a larger location? If you own your building, should you expand on site, and, if so, by how much? If you are a growing brewery looking to expand your production capabilities, a loan from Live Oak Bank may be the solution. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

From Our Resource Center

From Our Resource Center

As part of our commitment to supporting small business owners, we have a library of free educational resources available to anyone. Here’s what you can expect to find in Live Oak Bank’s Resource Center:

  • Loan product overviews
  • Marketing tips and tricks
  • Small business fundamentals
  • Live Oak customer spotlights
See All Business Resources

Our Craft Breweries Team
understands your business

You are about to leave the Live Oak Bank website.

Disclaimer: This link will take you to a website outside of the Live Oak Bank site. The new site may offer a different privacy policy and level of security. Live Oak Bank is not responsible for the products or services that are offered or expressed on other websites.

Yes, I understand. Please continue.

Learn about your California consumer privacy rights & submit a personal information request.