I want to start my own brewery. What should I learn first?
Starting a brewery asks for brewing knowledge, business sense and a plan you can finance. Here is a sensible order to learn things in. We also explain how learning differs from getting project support.
Learning and building are two different things
First, a distinction that saves confusion. Our courses are for learning. Our brewery consultancy is a separate service. It supports brewery projects from the first idea through setup and execution, including turnkey projects. You do not need to take a course to use consultancy. And taking a course does not guarantee any project outcome. A course makes you a better-informed founder, nothing more and nothing less.
This guide is about the learning side. We cover consultancy near the end.
Step one: understand the product
You do not have to become a head brewer to own a brewery. You do need to understand what you are paying for. If a brewer tells you a batch is delayed because the mash was off, you should know what that means. If a supplier quotes a brewhouse, you should be able to ask sensible questions.
Brewing Fundamentals (4 weeks, 8 live sessions, ₹5,999, online and in person) covers every step from mill to package. It teaches you to read the numbers brewers use and to build a 20 L recipe. That is enough for a founder to talk to a brewer as an equal. Beer for Starters, a one-hour course for ₹199, is a cheaper first look.
Step two: see a real brewery run
Reading about a brewhouse is not the same as standing in one. The 1-Day Super Intensive Craft Beer Course (₹25,000, in person, in Pune, Delhi, Gurugram or Bengaluru) puts you through a full brew day in a working microbrewery, from milling and mashing to cellar work and CIP (clean in place, the system that cleans tanks and pipes without taking them apart). Founders often learn here how much of the day is cleaning and how much space a real brewhouse needs.
If you want a deeper hands-on grounding, the 1-Month Intensive Brewing Excellence Course (₹1,25,000) is for anyone planning a brewery, brewpub or beer brand. It includes QC lab access and ends with a complete brew of your own.
Step three: learn how the business works
Many founders spend months on equipment and almost no time on costs, pricing or planning. Brewery Business Management is a 3-week online course for ₹8,999. It is the right place to start if your worry is the business side rather than the brewing. Our guide on how to start a microbrewery in India sets out the steps. Licensing rules vary by state and change, so check the current notifications with a licensing adviser.
If you are leaving a brewing job to go it alone, this guide on timing may help.
Money and time, honestly
Set a budget before you choose. Brewing Fundamentals at ₹5,999 and Brewery Business Management at ₹8,999 are modest next to the cost of a brewhouse. The one-month course at ₹1,25,000 is a bigger decision. Founders sometimes spend heavily on equipment and nothing on their own knowledge, then discover the gap later. Learning first costs little against that. Online courses fit around work, with live sessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM IST and recordings if you miss one.
Where consultancy fits
Courses teach you. A consultant helps you do the project. Brewery consultancy covers the work from the first idea through setup and execution, including turnkey projects. Some founders want both and some want only one. Either is fine. You can enquire about consultancy without taking any course. Our guide on when to hire a consultant brewmaster explains what to expect. There is also a separate consultancy enquiry form.
A sensible order
- Try Beer for Starters or Brewing Fundamentals to learn the basics.
- Spend a day in a working brewery.
- Take Brewery Business Management when you start drawing up numbers.
- Decide whether a month of hands-on training or consultancy support suits your project.
Not everyone needs every step. A founder who already brews might skip the first. A founder who has never done a business plan might start with step three. Our overview of which course is right for you can help you place yourself.
Your first step
Tell us what you are planning, even if it is only an idea. Tell us what you already know too. We will say which learning option suits you and whether a conversation about consultancy would help too.
Common questions
Do I need to take a course before using brewery consultancy?
No. Consultancy is a separate service and no course is required to use it.
Does a course guarantee my brewery project will succeed?
No. A course teaches you, but it does not guarantee any project outcome.
What does brewery consultancy cover?
It supports brewery projects from the first idea through setup and execution, including turnkey projects. Ask us about your specific project.
Which course should a first-time founder take first?
If brewing is new to you, Brewing Fundamentals. If your concern is costs and planning, Brewery Business Management.
