Brewery and distillery equipment financing covers craft beverage startups and expansions. Brewery equipment: brewhouse systems ($75K–$800K), fermenters ($10K–$60K each), bright tanks ($15K–$50K), canning lines ($150K–$500K), glycol chillers, walk-in coolers. Distillery equipment: pot stills ($50K–$300K), column stills ($100K–$500K), hybrid stills, mash tuns, bottling lines, barrels. Startup capital needed: $500K–$2M for brewery, $400K–$1.5M for distillery (plus barrels). Financing paths: SBA 7(a) up to $5M for combined equipment + working capital + real estate, SBA 504 for equipment + real estate, equipment loans for refresh or smaller deals. Rates 8–13% APR, 680+ FICO for SBA, brewmaster/distiller credentials matter as much as personal credit.
Brewery and distillery equipment financing is one of the trickier craft industries to finance — the equipment is expensive, the industry has high startup failure rates (~20% of breweries close in their first 3 years), and lenders rightly scrutinize the people more than the paperwork. But for operators with brewmaster or distiller experience, the SBA programs and specialty craft beverage lenders compete actively. This guide covers what financing actually looks like by equipment category and what makes deals fundable. For the broader hub see equipment financing.
Brewery Equipment Costs
| Equipment | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10-bbl brewhouse (nano) | $75K–$150K | Taproom + small distribution |
| 30-bbl brewhouse (craft) | $250K–$400K | Standard craft size, regional distribution |
| 60+ bbl brewhouse (regional) | $400K–$800K | Larger regional + national distribution |
| Fermenter (per tank) | $10K–$60K | Need 4–10x brewhouse capacity |
| Bright tank | $15K–$50K | For conditioning + carbonation |
| Mobile canning | $50/case | Outsourced; alternative to owned line |
| Canning line (owned) | $150K–$500K | Wild Goose, CODI, Pneumatic Scale most common |
| Bottling line | $100K–$400K | Less common in modern craft |
| Glycol chiller | $30K–$100K | Pro Refrigeration dominates |
| Walk-in cooler | $20K–$80K | Finished goods storage |
| Kegs (1/2 bbl) | $130–$200 each | Need hundreds for distribution |
Distillery Equipment Costs
- Pot still (100–300 gal): $50K–$150K. Whiskey, brandy, gin specialty.
- Pot still (500–1,000 gal): $150K–$300K. Medium craft scale.
- Column still (continuous): $100K–$500K. Vodka, neutral grain spirits.
- Hybrid still (pot + column): $200K–$700K. Most versatile.
- Mash tun: $25K–$100K.
- Fermentation tanks: $10K–$50K each (typically 4–8 needed).
- Bottling line: $100K–$400K.
- Barrels (oak, new + used): $80–$200 each. Hundreds to thousands needed for aged spirits — barrel inventory often $200K–$2M+ on its own.
- Top still makers: Vendome Copper & Brass Works, Specific Mechanical, Headframe Spirits Systems, Forsyths.
Financing Paths
- SBA 7(a) up to $5M — default for combined equipment + working capital + tenant improvements. 10–15% buyer equity, ~10% rate, 10-yr term on equipment portion.
- SBA 504 up to $5.5M — for equipment + owned real estate. 10% buyer equity, ~6% blended rate, 25-yr term on real estate / 10-yr on equipment.
- Equipment-only loans — 8–13% APR, 48–72 months, 10–20% down. Good for equipment refresh or expansion at an established brewery/distillery.
- Specialty craft beverage lenders — some equipment lenders have dedicated craft beverage teams that understand the industry and underwrite faster. Live Oak Bank has a craft beverage SBA team.
What Lenders Scrutinize
- Brewmaster / distiller experience. First-time operators without industry experience face the most pushback. Hiring a credentialed brewmaster (5+ years experience) often makes or breaks the loan.
- Revenue mix. Taproom revenue (high margin) vs distribution (lower margin) ratio. Most successful craft breweries are 40–60% taproom in early years.
- Distribution agreements. Signed self-distribution licenses or distributor agreements demonstrate path to market.
- TTB licensing status. Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau permit takes 90–180 days. State licenses additional. Lender wants timeline visibility.
- Startup capital runway. Most brewery/distillery startups need 12–18 months runway capital BEYOND equipment before break-even. Lender wants this in projections.
Next Step
Get matched with craft beverage equipment lenders and SBA Preferred Lender Banks. See also restaurant kitchen equipment financing and SBA 504 vs 7(a).