What We’ve Learned from Hundreds of Busy Taprooms
If there’s one thing we know, it’s breweries. And not just because our technology is the most trusted in the industry. A significant chunk of the Arryved team has spent time behind the bar pouring pints and cleaning glassware themselves.
Working so closely with breweries every day—optimizing taprooms, online stores, and operations—gives us a front-row seat to what actually works. We’ve seen brewery trends come and go, watched teams scale to regional staples, and supported operators through packed weekends, product launches, and everything in between.
So, we’re sharing the goods. Here are three insights we’ve learned from hundreds of high-performing taprooms, and how the right brewery POS system helps bring them to life.
Insight #1: QR Codes Definitely Boost Tab Sizes
While most brewery operators recognize the convenience factor of QR code ordering, there’s another benefit that’s just as important: bigger tabs.
When guests can order from their phones without waiting in line or flagging down a server, they tend to order more. Suddenly, another round and an extra appetizer are just a few taps away. Without the ordering friction of having to physically stand up, each guest’s tab size climbs.
A great example of this comes from Bold Republic Brewing. Like many growing breweries, their challenge was serving more guests without overwhelming their taproom staff. By implementing QR code ordering, they not only improved service speed but saw a significant spike in average tab size: We’re talkin’ a whopping 30-50% increase! Guests stayed longer and spent more money with QR codes.
Behind the scenes, this only works if your ordering, menu, and payments all run from the same system. QR code ordering isn’t just about slapping a pixelation on a table. QR codes require:
- Real-time menu syncing
- Accurate inventory tracking
- Smooth payment processing
- A clean, intuitive mobile ordering experience
A fully synced POS system offers a single source of truth, ensuring that there are no outdated menus, oversold items, or confusion for staff or guests. From our experience, it’s safe to say that QR codes make service faster and more profitable.
Insight #2: Ecommerce Helps Breweries Expand into New Markets
For breweries looking to grow beyond their physical storefront, web stores are one of the most powerful tools available. They welcome new customers, revenue streams, and ways to engage your brewery’s community, wherever they may be!
Take a page out of Ex Novo Brewing Company’s book. That team transformed their online store into a powerful revenue driver, increasing merch sales and reaching guests far beyond their taproom locations. Instead of relying on in-person traffic, they built a digital storefront that works 24/7 to boost revenue growth.
Ecommerce allows breweries to:
- Launch limited-release beers
- Promote events, mug clubs, and more
- Offer gift cards and merchandise
- Stay connected with fans who can’t visit in person
E-commerce works best when it’s powered by the same system as your taproom. When your web store and POS operate separately, things get messy: inventory mismatches, outdated product listings, and manual updates.
A unified system changes that. With a taproom POS that supports ecommerce, your data lives in one place. When something sells out in-house, it updates online automatically. When you add a new product, it’s instantly available everywhere. This alignment saves time and makes scaling your business easier.
Insight #3: Flexibility Is Key to a Scaling Taproom
If there’s one constant in the brewery world, it’s change. Your taproom’s vibe depends on the day, the crowd, and even what’s on tap. The most successful taprooms are flexible!
Menu Flexibility Drives Creativity
Craft beer thrives on experimentation. With seasonal releases, small-batch runs, and new flavor profiles to try, your menu needs to support that creativity.
That’s exactly how Parish Brewing earned its loyal following. The ability to test new offerings and quickly adjust menus is central to the Parish brand. With a customizable POS system, they can update items on the fly, change pricing, and keep offerings fresh without any added headaches.
A flexible POS makes this possible by allowing teams to organize menus in a way that’s intuitive for both staff and guests. Instead of working around your technology, the right POS technology works around you!
Service Model Flexibility Boosts Revenue
Your brewery should be flexible in how you serve guests, too. Busy taprooms and event-driven spaces often need to rethink traditional service models. On a small scale, that might mean adding QR code ordering. On a larger scale, it means using additional ordering stations to reduce taproom congestion.
At Avondale Brewing Company, service model flexibility is key to serving their high volume of guests. By introducing pop-up bars to their brewery-turned-music-venue, they reduced lines and improved guest experiences, which led to an 11% boost in tab sizes.
Your POS system supports evolving service models with:
- Mobile handheld devices for staff
- QR code ordering for guests
- All ordering devices synced
- Centralized reporting across all sales channels
The result is faster service, happier guests, and more opportunities to capture revenue. Go ahead, book that holiday away!
Powerful Taproom Insights 🤝 The Right Brewery Technology
After working with hundreds of breweries, these 3 insights stand out:
- QR codes are major tab size boosters
- E-commerce extends your reach far beyond taproom walls
- Flexibility in both menu and service is essential for growth
These simple ideas, paired with the right technology, become proven success drivers.
Designed around how breweries actually operate, Arryved is built to support exactly these kinds of strategies. Demo the system to see how you can serve more guests, sell more products, and scale your brewery.
*Spotlight image courtesy of Ex Novo Brewing Co.