New Hampshire and Vermont Take Pride in Their Breweries - So Do We
Some may find it a bit tempting that I am talking about such a topic at 9 a.m. in the morning…but hey! It’s five o’clock somewhere, right? It seems that almost every community we live and work in, now proudly represents it’s own flavor through a local brewer or distiller. We all have this favorite watering hole in our backyards and some of us are lucky enough to have many!
The demand of our unique New England brews has grown so much that you can now find your hometown beer pridefully sold throughout states near and far. To bring 
this astounding growth a little closer to home, in New Hampshire there are 2.2 breweries per capita and approximately 69,164 barrels of local craft beer produced per year, according to brewersassociation.org.
But wait, it gets even better! In Vermont, there are 6.2 breweries per capita and approximately 229,062 barrels of local craft beer produced per year.
With the continued uprising of popularity regarding established breweries in the area as well as start-ups, I have found this economic segment in our regions extremely exciting to work with. Some of these establishments incorporate restaurants and family settings while others showcase new aged technology and the mighty power of manufacturing, but all promote community, friendship, family, and fun as well as the love for their product.
As a Business Insurance and Compliance Professional, this industry has also given me many opportunities to help my clients and add value to their organization due to unique variables that the exposures bring. We can offer them assistance with potential OSHA issues, current Labor Laws and Regulations, as well as their basic HR needs. This gives me pride in my product! Also, because of our expertise in the beverage manufacturing industry, we are able to help with insurance carriers that have specific insurance coverages designed for beer manufacturers.
A few exposures to keep in mind when working within this industry, are as follows:
- Premises liability
- When you open your property to the general public, you are responsible for their well-being. This is exceptionally important if you offer tours of your brewing operations.
- Liquor Liability
- If you have a bar on premise, offer samples after brewery tours, or serve alcohol to patrons in some other way, you open yourself up to potential liability.
- Supply Chain
- Recipes for craft brews are often reliant upon specific ingredients for their unique composition. If a key supplier for one reason or another cannot deliver, it could cause a serious interruption to your production schedule.
- Equipment Failure
- Given the relatively small size of most craft brewing operations and their lack of backup machinery, an equipment failure can significantly impact production ability.
- Spoilage, Contamination and Product Recall
- No matter how diligent you are at producing a quality product, there can be times when situations beyond your control result in a batch of beer unfit for customer consumption.
In closing, every operation is going to be different. And I continue to look forward to serving on behalf of myself and Clark-Mortenson, who is the endorsed agent for the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association. If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at 877-352-2121 or also by email at cmcintosh@clark-mortenson.com.
