Running a brewery today isn’t just about brewing great beer, it’s about creating a smooth, memorable guest experience from that first pour to the last tab. And guess what? Your Point of Sale (POS) system is at the center of all of it. Whether you’re a cozy taproom or an expanding beer empire, the right POS can mean the difference between a chaotic bar line and an operation that runs as smooth as your latest lager.
But with so many options out there, what should you really be looking for? Let’s dive in.
Seamless Integrations for Inventory, Self-Pour, and More
Let’s be real: brewing beer is complicated enough without juggling disconnected tech tools. Your POS should play nice with all the platforms you already rely on, from inventory tracking to self-pour systems to production management. Imagine a world where your POS talks to your inventory software and knows when you’re running low on that best-selling hazy IPA, and updates your menus in real time, without anyone having to stop and fix it mid-service. If you’re using self-pour tech, that experience should be just as seamless. Guests should be able to walk in, grab an RFID card, pour their beer, and pay- without standing around waiting for a bartender to swipe a card or settle a tab. And of course, when it comes to compliance and reporting, a well-integrated POS makes sure all your sales data is accurate and up-to-date, so you’re spending less time crunching numbers and more time brewing what you love. GoTab has seamless integrations with companies like Ekos so your team can focus on what really matters.
Scalability — Because You’re Probably Not Done Growing
Whether you’re dreaming about adding a kitchen, launching a food truck partnership, or opening
up a second (or third) taproom, your POS system should grow with you, not hold you back. Think about the future: if you suddenly decide to turn that empty patio into a beer garden or want to host a weekend pop-up with rotating vendors, you don’t want to be scrambling to figure out how to take orders in new spaces.
Your POS should give you the flexibility to serve guests wherever they are, at the bar, at a picnic table out back, or in a brand-new venue across town. GoTab allows operators to create zones for different parts of your brewery, add Handheld POS devices, set up special menus for events, or run tabs that guests can manage themselves, that’s how you future-proof your operations.
And when you do decide to add a kitchen, the right POS should handle both food and beverage with ease. No awkward double systems or shouting tickets across the taproom. Orders should flow smoothly from guest to kitchen to table, whether you’re serving up snacks, small plates, or full meals designed to pair with your latest brew.
Guest Experience — Make It Effortless
We all know that when guests are happy, they order more, and they come back. The right
POS makes ordering and paying easy, whether they’re sitting at a barstool or lounging in your
beer garden.
QR Mobile ordering is a game-changer here. Guests should be able to scan a QR code, pull up a menu, and order without waiting for a server. And when it comes to splitting tabs? Forget the days of friends arguing over who owes what. With a system like GoTab that allows shared tabs, guests can split the bill on their own phones, by item, by dollar amount, or even just deciding who’s buying the next round. You don’t need staff stuck doing math, let the POS handle that, while your team focuses on pouring pints and chatting about the newest release. Special menus for events? Those should be a breeze too. Whether you’re hosting a beer and cheese pairing night or releasing a limited-run stout, creating event-specific menus should be simple, and tied into your inventory so you don’t oversell what you don’t have.
Behind-the-Scenes Efficiency — Because Chaos Shouldn’t Be on the Menu
A modern brewery POS isn’t just about what guests see, it’s also about making life easier for
your staff. Especially if you add a kitchen, you’ll want tools that help everything run like
clockwork.
Kitchen display systems (KDS) can keep your back-of-house team on track with digital tickets, plating instructions, and allergy alerts. No more lost paper slips or “Did you fire that burger yet?” confusion. And when you run out of an item? The system should automatically 86 it and update menus in real time, so guests never order something you can’t serve. Plus, with solid reporting and analytics, you can see what’s selling fast, what’s not moving, and which beers pair best with your new menu items. You’ll know when to brew more, when to tweak recipes, and how to plan for busy nights, all without guesswork.
The Final Word- Pick a POS That Grows as Fast as You Do
At the end of the day, your brewery POS should be more than just a way to take payments. It should be a tool that helps you grow, connect with customers, and run a smooth operation from first pour to last call. And if you’re wondering who’s already helping breweries do all this? GoTab’s mobile ordering, shared tabs, zone specific menus, and deep integrations with inventory and self-pour tech are designed exactly for craft operations like yours. So you can keep focusing on making great beer- while your POS system keeps up with wherever you’re headed next.
To learn more about GoTab, request a demo today
