Stronger, Smarter, and Still Pouring: What We Heard at the Craft Brewers Conference 2025

Last week, the GoTab team made the trip to Indianapolis for the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) 2025. It’s always one of the best events of the year to connect with operators, partners, and innovators in the craft brewing space—and this year didn’t disappoint.

We walked away with some key takeaways on where the industry is headed, what challenges brewers are still facing, and how the strongest are finding ways to adapt, evolve, and grow.

Craft Beer Is Still Growing—But It’s a Scrappy Game

The overall consensus? The craft beer segment isn’t shrinking—it’s shifting. Growth is still happening, but it’s increasingly coming from strong operators gaining share from weaker ones. Taprooms with tight operations, flexible service models, and diversified revenue are winning.

One operator summed it up perfectly: “It’s not that the market’s bigger—it’s that we’re taking more of it.”

The Challenges Are Real: Costs, Labor, and Slower Spend

Brewers were also quick to point out ongoing headwinds:

• Tariffs and costs: Aluminum tariffs and rising input costs are tightening margins across the board.
  
  
• Labor: Staffing shortages and last-minute callouts continue to disrupt daily service.
  
  
• Consumer behavior: Guests are still coming—but they’re more selective and spending less per visit.
  
  

Add in long lines, slow turns, and rising expectations, and many taprooms are feeling the pressure.

“The beer’s not the problem. It’s the systems behind the bar that are holding us back.”

The Tech Conversation: Hesitant, But Curious

A notable theme we saw was hesitation around adopting new tech—especially among operators still using traditional POS systems. Some were wary of fully shifting to mobile ordering or QR-based service, concerned it might turn off their core customers.

But once we introduced the idea of a hybrid model—using GoTab’s Easy Tab functionality only when needed, such as when a server calls out or during high-traffic events—the lightbulb often clicked.

“I don’t have to go all in on QR? I can just use it when I’m short-staffed? That actually makes a ton of sense.”

It was clear that what many brewers wanted wasn’t more complexity—they wanted more control. That’s exactly what a hybrid service model can offer: flexibility to meet the moment, without changing your identity.

3 Smart Shifts Happening in Taprooms

Here’s how many brewers are adapting to today’s challenges and positioning themselves for future growth:

1. Food is Fueling Visits and Checks

More breweries are adding food through full kitchens, food trucks, or partnerships. It’s helping increase check averages, extend dwell time, and position the venue as more than just a tasting room.

2. Events Are a Huge (and Underused) Revenue Driver

One of the most common conversations we had was about private events. Nearly every operator we spoke with acknowledged how crucial events are to their bottom line—but also admitted that their current systems are painfully manual.

Responses like “We manage that with a three-ring binder” or “We use a Google Form and hope for the best” weren’t uncommon.

That’s why having Jess from Tripleseat at our booth was such a game-changer. When operators saw how GoTab and Tripleseat work together—linking front-of-house transactions with seamless event booking and tab management—it made a real impact. We even facilitated a few live intros on the spot.

The takeaway? Brewers are bullish on events—but many are still using workflows that are holding them back.

3. Cost Management Is the New Growth Strategy

While marketing budgets are holding steady or tightening, brewers are turning inward to tighten up cost of goods. Recipe costing, inventory tracking, and real-time food cost insights are top of mind, especially for taprooms adding kitchens.

That’s where tools like opsi by GoTab come in. With opsi, brewers can centralize recipe management, track theoretical vs. actual costs, automate invoice processing, and get clear visibility into what’s making (or costing) them money.

“We used to rely on gut feel. Now we’re watching our margins down to the ounce.”

How GoTab Helps: Built for Flexibility, Efficiency, and Revenue Growth

Everything we saw at CBC reinforced that breweries need tech that adapts to them—not the other way around. At GoTab, we’re focused on helping operators:

• Serve smarter with fewer staff using mobile ordering, KDS, and self-service kiosks
  
  
• Handle unexpected labor gaps with Easy Tab and flexible hybrid service models; download GoTab’s Restaurant Hybrid Service Implementation Guide for insights on this important option
  
  
• Boost food revenue with tightly integrated kitchen and front-of-house tools
  
  
• Turn events into profit centers through our Tripleseat integration and group tab features
  
  
• Control costs through opsi’s recipe and inventory management capabilities
  
  

We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by the booth, shared their stories, and explored how tech can play a supporting role—not a disruptive one—in their growth.

Craft beer is evolving. But with the right tools, it’s still a great time to be in the game.

Want to learn more about GoTab + Tripleseat or opsi? Let’s connect and show you what’s possible.

‍