Hospitality Insurance
Running a brewery sits somewhere between manufacturing and hospitality. That mix is where basic business packs often fall short — especially around cool rooms, finished beer and lost trading days.
This case study is an illustrative example. Cover always depends on your policy wording, limits and exclusions. If you have a real story you’re happy to share, we can replace this with it.
The business
A small independent brewery in Sydney’s Hills District. Five staff, a ten-hectolitre brewhouse, kegs supplied to local venues, and a taproom open on weekends.
What happened
Over a long weekend, a compressor on the cool room failed. Nobody was on site. By Tuesday morning the temperature had risen well above safe levels. A large amount of finished and conditioning beer was lost, and the taproom had to close for two days while the repair was done.
The gap in cover
The owner had a basic business pack from a previous provider. It covered building contents but excluded loss caused by refrigeration breakdown, and there was no business interruption cover. The spoiled beer and the lost trading days sat with the brewery.
What we changed at renewal
When the brewery came to Ideal for renewal, we reviewed the wording and arranged cover that matched how they traded:
Stock cover with a refrigeration failure extension
Machinery breakdown for the brewhouse and cooling equipment
Business interruption with a 12-month indemnity period
Product and public liability suited to a taproom
The outcome
The following year, a similar cooling fault happened. This time the stock loss and lost trading days were claimed, subject to the policy terms and excess. The brewery got back to full production without absorbing the whole cost.
What to check on your brewery policy
Does your stock cover include refrigeration failure? Many basic policies don’t.
Do you have business interruption, and is the indemnity period long enough for tanks and cool rooms to be replaced?
A review before you need to claim costs nothing. Send us your policy and we’ll go through it with you.
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is general advice only and does not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives or needs. Before making any decision about insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination and whether the product is suitable for you. Insurance cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the policy.