Contract Brewing
Contract brewing lets a GF brand scale without owning a brewery. It transfers production cost and complexity to a co-packer — but it does not transfer the brand's safety obligation. Every GF claim on the label is still the brand's responsibility.
Choosing a contract brewer for a GF product requires more due diligence than for a conventional beer. The facility must be capable of the required controls, willing to follow your protocols, and able to document compliance in a way that supports your certifications.
| Evaluation Criteria | What to Look For | Red Flags |
|---|---|---|
| Facility GF experience | Prior GF production, existing protocols | No prior GF work, no awareness of cross-contact |
| Equipment dedication | Dedicated GF lines or validated cleaning | "We clean everything" without SOP documentation |
| Ingredient sourcing | Willing to use your verified suppliers | Insists on commodity sourcing without IP controls |
| Testing capability | In-house or third-party ELISA testing | No testing infrastructure |
| Documentation | Batch records, COAs, audit trail | Verbal assurances, no written records |
| Certifications | GFCO or equivalent preferred | No third-party oversight |
Contract Structure Basics
A GF contract brewing agreement should specify: ingredient sourcing requirements, cleaning validation standards, testing obligations and acceptance criteria, batch documentation deliverables, and what happens if a batch fails release criteria. Verbal agreements on GF protocols are not enforceable and create liability exposure for the brand.
Brand standards and GF controls should be written into the contract, not treated as informal understandings.
Contract brewing risks:
- Co-packer applying different standards to your product than you specified
- Ingredient substitution without notification breaking the GF chain
- Co-packer's own allergen cleaning schedule not aligned with your production slot
What good contract brewing enables:
- Volume growth without capital investment in brewing equipment
- Access to established quality systems and experienced staff
- Geographic production flexibility for regional market supply
Source Notes
Contract brewing framework based on co-packer due diligence practice, GF certification requirements, and allergen control contract language standards.