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The use case for AI in breweries.

This page lists the work around the beer in a UK independent brewery that Claude can take on, by function and by the size of the brewery. It starts with getting production, stock and barcodes off spreadsheets, and it includes a brewery that has already done it.

[WHERE THE TIME GOES]

Where the time goes

In a small brewery the founder brews, sells, drives the van and does the duty return in the evening. A growing craft brewery has a canning line, a small sales team, a taproom and an operations manager holding it all together. An established brewery has departments, a dray fleet, supermarket accounts and a board pack. Pick the one closest to yours and the rest of the page follows it, from where the time goes to the calculator.

These are the tasks that land on the founders and a small team, usually after the brewing is done.

01

Orders and deliveries

5 tasksClose
  • Orders by text, email and voicemail
  • Van runs planned the night before
  • Courier labels for the webshop
  • Kegs that never come back
  • Invoices typed up after delivery
02

Duty and the books

5 tasksClose
  • The duty return before the 15th
  • Small Producer Relief every February
  • Supplier bills into the accounts
  • Chasing pubs on thirty day terms
  • A stock count that never matches
03

Every new beer

5 tasksClose
  • The same facts typed into six places
  • Barcodes for the can and the case
  • Label proofs checked for allergens
  • The webshop listing and the posts
  • A mobile canner booked and briefed
04

The plan in your head

5 tasksClose
  • Brew dates in a spreadsheet
  • Cans and labels ordered too late
  • Tank space for a collaboration
  • Taproom shifts around brew days
  • Knowing what you actually make on a pint

These are the tasks that come round every week in a brewery of 10 to 50 people, grouped by the kind of work they are.

01

Keeping the plan and the stock in step

5 tasksClose
  • The brew and packaging plan in a spreadsheet
  • Finding out late that a beer will miss
  • The canning line paperwork every packaging day
  • Stock in six places that do not agree
  • Answering have we got any of this
02

Releasing beer every fortnight

5 tasksClose
  • Setting each beer up in every channel
  • Barcodes for every pack format
  • The trade mailer and the allocations
  • Artwork briefs and label proofs
  • Release day on the webshop
03

Orders, deliveries and getting paid

5 tasksClose
  • Orders from email, phone and marketplaces
  • Van runs and courier bookings
  • Returns, ullage and credit notes
  • Kegs out with customers
  • Credit control on long terms
04

The numbers and the rules

5 tasksClose
  • The monthly duty return
  • The month end close
  • The board pack
  • Allergens across every listing
  • The packaging and deposit rules coming in 2027

These are the tasks that come round every week in an established brewery, where the admin has a department rather than a founder.

01

Planning to a forecast

5 tasksClose
  • The rolling demand forecast
  • Production schedules around assets and labour
  • Packaging materials against the plan
  • Short dated stock before it is written off
  • Department KPI reports
02

Retailers, wholesalers and the estate

5 tasksClose
  • Range review pitches
  • Product data forms for every customer
  • Depot bookings and pallet labels
  • Deductions and claims on remittances
  • Tenders and supplier questionnaires
03

Distribution and stock accuracy

5 tasksClose
  • Multi-drop routes for the dray fleet
  • Drivers' hours and vehicle checks
  • Stock across depots and third parties
  • Keg and cask losses
  • Receipts for beer moved in bond
04

Finance, duty and the board

5 tasksClose
  • The duty return and the excise records
  • The month end and the stock journals
  • Margin by channel, account and beer
  • The packaging data return twice a year
  • The monthly board pack
[THE POINT]

What a founder does brilliantly, and what sits around it

This is the point of the whole page. The work in the left column is why people drink your beer and why pubs put it on the bar. The work in the right column has grown up around it, and none of it needs a brewer.

What a human does brilliantly
  1. Designing a beer people come back for
  2. Knowing when a beer is ready to package
  3. Getting a landlord to try a keg
  1. Running a taproom people want to spend Saturday in
  2. Fixing the brewhouse at seven in the morning
  3. Deciding what to brew next
  4. Knowing every customer by name
  5. Telling the story of the beer
What sits around it
  1. Typing orders from texts
  2. Doing the duty return at night
  3. Planning brew dates in a spreadsheet
  1. Setting up every new beer six times
  2. Chasing invoices
  3. Counting kegs
  4. Booking couriers
  5. Checking label proofs

What a craft brewery does brilliantly, and what sits around it

This is the point of the whole page. The work in the left column is why people drink your beer and why pubs put it on the bar. The work in the right column has grown up around it, and none of it needs a brewer.

What a human does brilliantly
  1. Brewing beers people queue for
  2. Judging a beer ready to package
  3. Running a canning line well
  1. Winning the bar in a busy free house
  2. Building a release people talk about
  3. Choosing which beers to make next
  4. Looking after the accounts that matter
  5. Making the taproom feel like yours
What sits around it
  1. Rebuilding the plan in a spreadsheet
  2. Filling in the canning paperwork by hand
  3. Creating barcodes for every pack
  1. Answering stock questions all day
  2. Keying orders from five channels
  3. Preparing the duty return
  4. Building the board pack
  5. Chasing kegs and invoices

What an established brewery does brilliantly, and what sits around it

This is the point of the whole page. The work in the left column is why people drink your beer and why pubs put it on the bar. The work in the right column has grown up around it, and none of it needs a brewer.

What a human does brilliantly
  1. Brewing to the same standard every time
  2. Holding the relationship with a pub group
  3. Winning a permanent line
  1. Deciding the range and the brands
  2. Running a safe, efficient packaging hall
  3. Developing the next generation of brewers
  4. Handling a crisis with a key customer
  5. Setting the strategy
What sits around it
  1. Copying numbers into KPI templates
  2. Product data forms for every retailer
  3. Reconciling stock across depots
  1. Checking deductions on remittances
  2. Assembling the board pack
  3. Preparing the duty and packaging returns
  4. Drafting tender answers
  5. Keeping procedures up to date

The use case for AI is taking away the time that gets spent on the work sitting around the beer, and freeing your people up to do the work only a human can do. The work that grows the brewery, and the work they enjoy the most.

[A BREWERY DOING THIS NOW]

How Vault City Brewing moved its production off spreadsheets

Vault City is a modern sour beer brewery in Penicuik, just outside Edinburgh. It releases new beers every month and sells to pubs, bottle shops, supermarkets, export partners and drinkers online. As it grew, more of the operation was running on spreadsheets and documents filled in by hand, and the same information was being typed into several systems. The senior team has worked with Get AI Powers since July 2026, building the tools below with Claude on top of their brewery system rather than replacing it.

How they found it

Steve Smith-Hay, the managing director, set one test for anything we built: it had to fix a problem for the team rather than create more work for them. The production app passed it, and he describes it as easy to use. The canning line controller replaced a document his team filled in by hand on every packaging day, which he called an immediate saving. Because the tools sit on Vault City's own data, when something needs to change he asks Claude to change it rather than paying a developer.

BeforeWhat they run now
Production planned in Excel, with the team trying to make the beer fit the spreadsheet
A production schedule and tank plan that pulls planned packaging runs from the brewery system
Finding out a beer would miss its packaging date when it was too late to do anything
Daily sight of tanks, packaging days and release dates, with a forecast to plan against
Canning line paperwork filled in by hand in a document on every packaging day
A canning line controller that works out can weights and prints pallet sheets with QR codes
Barcodes for about eight new beers and thirty related products a month, checked by hand
A routine that checks new products against the barcode registry, creates what is due and tells the team
Trade customers emailing to ask what was in stock
A live, branded stock list that buyers order from
A paid business intelligence report the team could not change themselves
A sales dashboard built from the brewery system, the tills and the webshop, changed by asking Claude
Quiet accounts noticed when someone had time to look
A daily list of lapsed accounts with a draft email in each rep's voice, checked and sent by a person
“It isn't the way to do it.”
Steve Smith-Hay, on planning beer in Excel
“The application works and it does what it needs to do.”
Steve Smith-Hay, on the production app
“Continue to grow without hiring more people to put the same information in 5 different times.”
Steve Smith-Hay, on what it is for

Quotes are from Steve Smith-Hay, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vault City Brewing, on calls with Get AI Powers between August and October 2026. The times on the use cases are our estimates, not Vault City's measurements.

[THE USE CASES]

92 things you could hand over, by function.

The times are our own estimates for a typical task in a UK independent brewery. Nobody has published measured times for this work, so where a source gives a figure we say who published it. Every use case assumes a business plan whose terms keep your content out of model training. The highlighted use cases either take the most hours or make the biggest difference to the business, and the ones marked Built at Vault City are running there now.

What it gives you

Production planning and tanks

The brew schedule, the tank plan and the packaging plan.

7 use cases
Highest timeBuilt at Vault City

Building the brew and packaging schedule

Turns your sales forecast, tank capacity and release dates into a brew schedule and a packaging plan, and rebuilds both when one date moves instead of someone redoing the spreadsheet.

Saves timeYou own it
ProjectConnectorArtifactsBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ProjectConnectorArtifactsBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itYour forecast or last quarter's sales, the tanks you have, brew lengths, release dates and what is already in tank.
You get backA brew schedule by tank and a packaging plan by day, with every clash listed: two beers wanting one tank, a canning day with no cans in, a release date the beer cannot make.
You stillDecide what gets brewed and what waits. Claude lays out the options. Choosing between the core range and a special is your call.
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

Warning you three weeks early when a beer will miss

Checks the plan every morning against what is actually in tank, booked on the line and in the warehouse, and tells you which beers will miss their packaging or release date while there is still time to act.

Saves timeKeeps customers
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemMessaging
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemMessaging
You give itThe plan, the tank statuses and the packaging bookings from your brewery system.
You get backA short morning note listing anything at risk, why, and the date it will bite, with the beers that are fine left off so the list stays short.
You stillAct on it. Claude cannot move a beer through fermentation faster, but it can stop the surprise that turns up the week before release.
Built at Vault City

The day board for the brewhouse and the line

Writes the day's board from the plan: what is being brewed, transferred, dry hopped, crashed and packaged, which tanks are free and who is on, ready for the handover.

Saves timeYou own it
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemRota software
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemRota software
You give itThe plan, the tank statuses and the rota.
You get backA one screen day board for the brewhouse television or a printout, tank by tank, with anything that changed since yesterday marked.
You stillRun the handover. The board says what is planned, and your brewers know what the beer is actually doing.

Tank capacity for the next eight weeks

Shows which fermenters and conditioning tanks are booked, for how long, and where the gaps are, so you can see whether there is room for a collaboration brew or a rush order before you say yes.

Saves timeWins work
ArtifactsProjectBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ArtifactsProjectBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itTank sizes, typical days in tank for each style and the brew schedule.
You get backA tank by week view with free capacity in litres, the first date each tank is free, and the beers that would have to move to fit something new in.
You stillSay yes or no to the extra brew. Claude shows the space. Whether the beer is worth the squeeze is yours.
Highest value

A rolling twelve week demand forecast

Builds a forecast by beer and pack format from sales history, pre-orders, supermarket promotions and the release calendar, so the brew plan starts from demand rather than from last month's spreadsheet.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetAnalytics
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetAnalytics
You give itTwelve months of sales by product and channel, open pre-orders and the release and promotion calendar.
You get backA forecast by beer and format for twelve weeks, the assumptions written next to each line, and the products where the forecast and the current plan disagree.
You stillOwn the number. The forecast is a starting point, and the commercial team knows which accounts are about to grow or go quiet.

Planning a collaboration or contract brew

Works through what a collaboration or a contract brew needs: tank time, raw materials, who pays the duty, how it counts towards your Small Producer Relief, labels and who sells what.

Saves timeWins work
ChatProjectBrewery systemEmail
ChatProjectBrewery systemEmail
You give itThe brief from the other brewery or customer, your plan and your duty position.
You get backA one page plan with dates, tank, materials to order, the duty and relief points to settle in writing, and a checklist for the label and the paperwork.
You stillAgree the terms. Claude writes down the questions, and you and the other brewery decide the answers.

Rebuilding the plan after a failed batch

When a batch is dumped or held, works out the knock-on effect on tanks, packaging days, releases and customer orders, and drafts the new plan and the list of people to tell.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemEmail
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemEmail
You give itWhich batch, why, and the current plan and open orders.
You get backA revised plan, the orders and allocations affected, the HMRC loss record that needs filling in, and draft messages to sales and the customers who will be short.
You stillDecide whether to rebrew, substitute or short the order. The messages go out after you have read them.

Packaging and the canning line

Run sheets, fill weights, pallet sheets and line checks.

6 use cases
Highest timeBuilt at Vault City

The packaging run sheet for every canning day

Pulls can size, pack format, batch, allergens, best before rule and pallet layout from your brewery system and writes the run sheet, instead of someone filling in a document by hand on the morning.

Saves timeYou own it
ConnectorArtifactsSkillBrewery systemLabel printer
ConnectorArtifactsSkillBrewery systemLabel printer
You give itThe beer and batch going on the line, and your packaging rules.
You get backA run sheet with batch code, best before date, can and pack counts, labels or sleeves needed, allergen line, fill target and pallet pattern, ready to print.
You stillRun the line. The sheet is right before the first can is filled, and your team still checks the seams and the fills.
Built at Vault City

Working out the target fill weight for each can

Calculates the target gross weight for a can of each beer from its gravity and the can and lid weights, so the checkweigher is set to the declared volume and the average quantity rules.

Saves timeYou own it
SkillConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
SkillConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itThe declared volume, the beer's final gravity, can and end weights and the tolerance you work to.
You get backThe target and minimum weights for the line, with the working shown so anyone can check it, and the fill check record laid out for the run.
You stillSet and check the line. If a reading looks wrong, the brewer decides whether to stop.
Built at Vault City

Pallet sheets with QR codes for the warehouse

Prints a pallet sheet for every finished pallet with the beer, batch, best before, case count and a QR code, so the warehouse books it in by scanning rather than copying numbers.

Saves timeYou own it
ArtifactsConnectorBrewery systemLabel printer
ArtifactsConnectorBrewery systemLabel printer
You give itThe run sheet and the pallet pattern.
You get backA printable sheet per pallet with a QR code that opens the batch record, plus the finished goods total to book into stock.
You stillCheck the count against the pallet. The scan is only as good as the pallet it is stuck to.

Checking cans, ends and labels before packaging day

Checks the packaging plan against cans, ends, sleeves or labels, carriers, cases and CO2 in stock and on order, and tells you what will run short and when.

Saves time
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itThe packaging plan and your packaging stock and open purchase orders.
You get backA shortage list by packaging day, the quantity to order, lead times you have recorded for each supplier, and the runs that move if the delivery is late.
You stillPlace the order or move the run. Claude does not commit your money.

Booking and briefing a mobile canner

Writes the booking and the brief for a mobile canner or contract packer: beer, volumes, can size, labels, dates and what has to be ready on the day.

Saves time
ChatSkillEmailBrewery system
ChatSkillEmailBrewery system
You give itYour plan, the beer and the canner's requirements.
You get backA booking email and a one page brief, plus the stock movement and duty notes you need when beer goes off site and comes back as cans.
You stillAgree the slot and the price. Claude does not book anything until you have.

Logging pre-packaging sign-off and line checks

Turns the sensory, clarity, dissolved oxygen and seam check results into a tidy record against the batch, and flags anything outside your limits.

Saves time
ProjectSkillLab systemBrewery system
ProjectSkillLab systemBrewery system
You give itYour check sheet results, photos of paper sheets if that is what you use, and your limits.
You get backA packaging quality record per batch, any reading outside your limits highlighted, and the batch ready to find in an audit or a recall.
You stillMake the pass or hold call. Taste and judgement stay with the brewer.

Stock, kegs and barcodes

What you have, where it is, and the barcode on every pack.

7 use cases
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

A live stock list for trade customers

Builds a branded availability list from the brewery system showing what is in stock, what is coming and what is nearly gone, so buyers order from the list rather than emailing to ask.

Keeps customersWins workYou own it
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemWebshop
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemWebshop
You give itYour stock by product and format, upcoming packaging dates and your trade prices.
You get backA shareable stock list that updates itself, with low stock and coming soon marked and a suggestion of what each buyer might add, and nothing shown that you have not chosen to show.
You stillDecide who sees it and what goes on it. Allocations for limited releases stay your call.
Highest timeBuilt at Vault City

Creating barcodes for new beers and pack formats

Checks every new product in your brewery system against your barcode registry, allocates numbers for the can, the multipack and the case, checks them and tells the team what was created.

Saves timeYou own it
Scheduled taskConnectorClaude in ChromeBrewery systemBarcode registryMessaging
Scheduled taskConnectorClaude in ChromeBrewery systemBarcode registryMessaging
You give itNew products from the brewery system and access to your barcode registry account.
You get backBarcode numbers allocated for every level that needs one, a check that none is reused, print files for labels and cases, and a message to the team listing what was done.
You stillCheck the list before anything is printed. A wrong barcode on fifty thousand cans is an expensive mistake.
Highest time

The monthly stock take reconciled

Compares the count sheets with the brewery system, the webshop and the taproom, and explains each difference before anyone adjusts stock.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetTill system
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetTill system
You give itThe count sheets or photos of them, the system stock and the month's sales and losses.
You get backA reconciliation by product with each difference matched to a likely cause, such as an unbooked sale, a breakage or a misplaced keg, and the differences nobody can explain listed on their own.
You stillApprove the adjustments. HMRC expects surpluses and losses to be explained, so the reasons matter.

Finding where the kegs are

Matches kegs sent out against those returned, from your own records, delivery notes and the keg rental report, and lists the accounts holding kegs for longer than they should.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ProjectConnectorKeg trackingBrewery systemEmail
ProjectConnectorKeg trackingBrewery systemEmail
You give itKeg movements from the brewery system, delivery notes and the rental pool's monthly report.
You get backA list of kegs out by account and age, the rental kegs you are paying for, and a polite collection request drafted for each account over your limit.
You stillChase the accounts you know. Some customers need a phone call, not an email.

Answering stock questions from sales

Answers stock questions from sales and the taproom from the live system, including what is allocated, what is in the cold store and what is due off the line.

Saves time
ConnectorChatBrewery systemMessaging
ConnectorChatBrewery systemMessaging
You give itAccess to stock in the brewery system.
You get backA plain answer with free stock, allocated stock and the next packaging date, so nobody walks to the cold store to check.
You stillPromise the beer. Claude tells you what is there, and you decide who gets it.

Stock held by distributors and warehouses

Reconciles the reports from third party warehouses, distributors and contract packers with your own records, so beer you own but do not hold is counted once and only once.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetEmail
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheetEmail
You give itEach partner's stock report and your own movement records.
You get backA single stock position by location, the differences against your records, and a draft query to each partner whose numbers do not match.
You stillRaise the dispute. The relationship with the distributor is yours.

Short dated stock before it becomes a write off

Lists stock getting close to its best before date or the shelf life your trade customers need, and suggests where it could go: the taproom, a webshop offer or a buyer who takes short dated beer.

Saves timeKeeps customers
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemEmail
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemEmail
You give itStock by batch and best before date, and the minimum shelf life each channel needs.
You get backA list of at risk stock by date with a suggested route for each, and a draft offer email for the accounts most likely to take it.
You stillChoose the discount. Selling cheaply to the wrong account can cost more than the write off.

New beers and releases

Product sheets, set-up, the release calendar and the trade mailer.

7 use cases
Built at Vault City

The one page product sheet for a new beer

Writes the product sheet for a new beer from the brew sheet and the brief: name, style, ABV, allergens, formats, prices, release date, tasting notes and the story behind it.

Saves time
SkillProjectBrewery systemFile storage
SkillProjectBrewery systemFile storage
You give itThe brief, the recipe card and your house style for product sheets.
You get backA one pager for sales, the taproom and the designer, with the facts in one place so that the same ABV and allergens go everywhere it is listed.
You stillWrite the tasting notes that matter. Claude drafts them, and the brewer knows what the beer is meant to be.
Highest time

Setting up a new beer everywhere it needs to be

Takes the product sheet and sets the beer up in each place it has to exist: brewery system, webshop, trade marketplace, beer rating apps and the taproom menu, so nobody types the same facts six times.

Saves timeYou own it
SkillConnectorClaude in ChromeBrewery systemWebshopTrade marketplace
SkillConnectorClaude in ChromeBrewery systemWebshopTrade marketplace
You give itThe product sheet, images and the prices for each channel.
You get backEvery listing drafted from one record, with any field a channel needs that you have not given flagged, and a checklist showing what is live and what is waiting.
You stillPress publish. Claude prepares the listings and you check them before they go live.
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

The release calendar kept in one place

Keeps the release calendar in step with the production plan, the artwork deadlines and the trade mailer dates, and tells you when one of them slips.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemCalendar
ArtifactsConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemCalendar
You give itThe release plan, the production plan and the marketing dates.
You get backA release calendar by fortnight with each beer's packaging date, artwork due date and mailer date, and every slip marked with who needs to know.
You stillDecide whether a release moves. Moving a release date affects the trade, the taproom and the socials, so that call is yours.

The fortnightly trade release mailer

Writes the trade mailer for the next release from the product sheets: what is coming, formats, prices, allocation rules and the date orders close.

Saves timeKeeps customers
SkillProjectEmail marketingBrewery system
SkillProjectEmail marketingBrewery system
You give itThe product sheets, prices and allocation rules.
You get backA mailer in your voice ready for your email tool, with a short version for the sales team to forward and a reminder for the day orders close.
You stillApprove it and press send. Claude never sends to your customers.

Allocating a limited release fairly

Works through pre-orders and requests for a limited beer against what will be packaged, using the rules you set, and shows who gets what and why.

Keeps customersSaves time
ProjectSkillBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ProjectSkillBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itPre-orders, how much will be packaged and your allocation rules, such as loyal accounts first.
You get backAn allocation by account that follows your rules, the accounts that missed out, and a short message for each telling them what they are getting.
You stillMake the final call on any exception. The account that always takes a keg might deserve one.

The artwork brief for a new label

Writes the brief for the label designer with every mandatory element listed, the sizes and the deadline, so the first proof comes back with the legal text already right.

Saves time
SkillChatFile storageEmail
SkillChatFile storageEmail
You give itThe product sheet, label sizes and your brand rules.
You get backA brief with the creative direction you gave, the mandatory text, the allergen wording, the barcode and the space it needs, and the print deadline.
You stillBrief the designer on the look. The artwork is the creative part, and it stays human.

Tracking a new product from idea to launch

Keeps one record for each new product as it moves from idea to pilot batch to launch, with the decisions, dates, costings and who owns the next step.

Saves timeYou own it
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemProject management
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemProject management
You give itYour new product ideas and the notes from the meetings where they were discussed.
You get backA pipeline view of every new product, what has been decided, the costing so far, and the next step and its owner for each.
You stillDecide which ideas go ahead. Claude keeps the list. Your team decides what is worth brewing.

Trade orders and invoices

Orders from every channel, invoices, returns and credits.

5 use cases
Highest time

Turning emailed and texted orders into sales orders

Reads orders that arrive by email, text, voicemail note or messaging app and drafts the sales order in your brewery system, checking each line against stock and the customer's prices.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ConnectorCoworkSkillBrewery systemEmailMessaging
ConnectorCoworkSkillBrewery systemEmailMessaging
You give itThe order message and access to customers, prices and stock.
You get backA draft sales order with every line matched to a product, anything out of stock or unclear flagged, and a confirmation reply to the customer ready to send.
You stillConfirm the order. A customer who writes two kegs of the pale might mean the new one, and you know which.

Orders from trade marketplaces and wholesalers

Brings orders from trade marketplaces and wholesaler portals into one list, matches them to your products, and flags collection dates and minimum shelf life rules.

Saves time
Claude in ChromeConnectorTrade marketplaceBrewery system
Claude in ChromeConnectorTrade marketplaceBrewery system
You give itAccess to the marketplace and wholesaler order screens or their emails.
You get backOne list of the day's orders whatever their source, each matched to stock, with collection dates and any line that would break a shelf life rule marked.
You stillAccept or query the order. The relationship with each wholesaler is yours.

Checking invoices before they go out

Checks the day's invoices against the delivery notes, the customer's price list and any deal agreed by the rep, and lists the ones that look wrong before they reach the customer.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemAccounting
ConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemAccounting
You give itThe day's invoices, delivery notes and the deals your reps agreed.
You get backA list of invoices with a wrong price, a missing keg deposit, a line delivered short or a deal not applied, with the correction for each.
You stillFix and send. Claude finds the mistakes, and you decide whether the customer gets a credit.

Returns, ullage and credit notes

Works out what each returned keg or damaged case means: the credit note, the stock adjustment and the duty you can reclaim, so the same return is not credited twice.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemAccounting
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemAccounting
You give itThe return details, the original invoice and your returns policy.
You get backA draft credit note, the stock and duty entries needed, and a note for the customer explaining what has been credited.
You stillApprove the credit. Whether a customer gets the benefit of the doubt is a commercial decision.

Order confirmations and delivery day messages

Writes the order confirmation with the delivery day, anything substituted or short, and the keg collection due, in the same friendly tone every time.

Keeps customersSaves time
SkillConnectorBrewery systemEmail
SkillConnectorBrewery systemEmail
You give itThe sales order and the delivery schedule.
You get backA confirmation and a delivery day reminder for each order, ready to send, with substitutions explained.
You stillSend them, or let Claude queue them for you to approve. Nothing goes to a customer unseen.

Trade sales and accounts

Winning free houses and bottle shops, and keeping them.

7 use cases
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

Finding lapsed accounts and drafting the win back

Looks at order history to find accounts that have gone quiet or are ordering less, separates those who have just switched to buying through a wholesaler, and drafts a message in the rep's own voice.

Keeps customersWins work
SkillConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemEmailCRM
SkillConnectorScheduled taskBrewery systemEmailCRM
You give itOrder history from the brewery system and examples of each rep's emails.
You get backA short daily list of accounts worth contacting, why each is on it, and a draft email or text for each that sounds like the rep who knows them.
You stillRead it, change it and send it. A human sends every message, and the rep knows which landlord has just had a bad month.

Researching a free house before the first visit

Reads a pub's website, menu, reviews, social posts and what is on the bar, and writes a short brief on who they are, what they pour and why your beer would fit.

Wins workSaves time
Claude in ChromeSkillCRMBrowser
Claude in ChromeSkillCRMBrowser
You give itThe pub's name and anything you already know.
You get backA one page brief with the lines they have, whether they look tied, the style gaps, recent news and a suggested opening line.
You stillWalk in and talk to them. Claude can tell you what is on the bar, and only you can tell whether the landlord likes you.
Highest value

Building a list of free trade targets

Builds a list of free houses, bottle shops and restaurants within a drive of the brewery that are likely to take your beer, using public information and the accounts you already have.

Wins work
ProjectClaude in ChromeCRMSpreadsheetBrowser
ProjectClaude in ChromeCRMSpreadsheetBrowser
You give itYour area, the kind of venue you want and your current customer list.
You get backA target list with each venue's type, likely tie status, what they pour now and a reason to call, with gaps left blank rather than guessed.
You stillChoose who to visit. You know which areas your van can reach and which landlords you would rather not chase.

Notes after a sales visit, written up

Turns a voice note after a visit into a CRM entry, the follow up email and any task for the office, such as a price, a sample or a keg collection.

Keeps customersSaves time
ChatSkillConnectorCRMEmailDictation
ChatSkillConnectorCRMEmailDictation
You give itA voice note or rough notes from the visit.
You get backA tidy account note, a follow up email in your voice, and the tasks for the office listed with who needs to do them.
You stillDo the follow up. The note is only useful if someone acts on it.
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

Modelling a discount before you agree it

Works out what a discount, a free case or a volume deal does to gross profit across trade and the webshop, so the rep knows the floor before the conversation.

Wins workYou own it
ArtifactsProjectBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ArtifactsProjectBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itProduct costs, prices by channel and the deal being asked for.
You get backThe margin before and after, the volume needed to make it worthwhile, and a simple calculator the sales team can use themselves next time.
You stillAgree the deal. Claude shows the numbers, and the relationship decides how far you go.

Explaining a duty or price rise to your customers

Writes the letter that explains a price change after the duty uprating or a cost rise, with the new price list and a short version for reps to use face to face.

Keeps customers
ChatSkillEmailAccounting
ChatSkillEmailAccounting
You give itThe old and new prices, the reasons and the date it takes effect.
You get backA clear customer letter, a new price list, and a short script for difficult conversations, with the duty figures checked against the published rates.
You stillDecide the increase. How much you absorb is a commercial call.

The weekly sales meeting pack

Pulls new accounts, lost accounts, volumes against target by rep and the open opportunities into one page for the Monday sales meeting.

Saves timeKeeps customers
Scheduled taskConnectorCRMBrewery systemAnalytics
Scheduled taskConnectorCRMBrewery systemAnalytics
You give itSales by account and rep, targets and the CRM.
You get backA one page pack with movement by rep, the accounts that grew or dropped, and three questions worth asking in the meeting.
You stillRun the meeting. The numbers start the conversation, and the team explains them.

Supermarkets, wholesale and export

Range reviews, product data, depot bookings, claims and export.

6 use cases
Highest value

Preparing a supermarket range review pitch

Pulls your rate of sale, distribution, promotions and the category trends into a pitch for a range review, written for a buyer who has thirty suppliers to see.

Wins workKeeps customers
ProjectSkillRetailer portalSlidesAnalytics
ProjectSkillRetailer portalSlidesAnalytics
You give itYour sales data for the retailer, the buyer's brief and your product sheets.
You get backA short deck or document with your case per line, the numbers checked, the new lines proposed and the questions the buyer is likely to ask.
You stillPitch it. Claude prepares the case and the buyer still has to like you.

Product data forms for retailers and wholesalers

Fills in the product data each retailer or wholesaler asks for, from dimensions and case configuration to allergens and barcodes, from your one product record.

Saves timeWins work
Claude in ChromeSkillRetailer portalBrewery system
Claude in ChromeSkillRetailer portalBrewery system
You give itThe retailer's form or portal and your product sheet.
You get backEach form completed from the same facts, with any field you have no answer for listed instead of guessed.
You stillSubmit it. Wrong case data causes depot rejections, so the last check is yours.

Supermarket orders and depot bookings

Reads supermarket and wholesaler purchase orders, checks them against stock and lead times, and drafts the depot booking and the pallet labels needed.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ConnectorClaude in ChromeEDIRetailer portalCarrier booking
ConnectorClaude in ChromeEDIRetailer portalCarrier booking
You give itThe purchase orders from EDI or the portal, stock and the depot rules.
You get backA list of the day's orders with any line you cannot fill, draft depot bookings and the pallet label details, ready for someone to confirm.
You stillConfirm the bookings. A missed depot slot costs a fine and goodwill.

Checking retailer deductions and claims

Matches remittances against invoices and lists every deduction a retailer or wholesaler has taken, with the promotion or claim it relates to and whether it looks right.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorAccountingRetailer portal
ProjectConnectorAccountingRetailer portal
You give itRemittance advice, invoices and the promotion agreements.
You get backA list of deductions by reason, the ones with no agreement behind them, and a draft query for each.
You stillDecide which to dispute. Some battles are not worth the listing.

Export paperwork for an overseas order

Drafts the paperwork for an export order from the order and the destination's rules: commercial invoice, packing list, label requirements and the duty documents for beer leaving in bond.

Saves timeWins work
ProjectSkillCustoms portalAccounting
ProjectSkillCustoms portalAccounting
You give itThe order, the destination and your importer's requirements.
You get backDraft documents, a checklist for that country's label rules and importer details, and the dates the duty paperwork has to be closed.
You stillCheck and sign it. Export paperwork carries legal weight, and your freight agent should see it.

Answering a wholesaler or pub group tender

Drafts the answers to a tender or supplier questionnaire from your standard answers, accreditations and product data, and lists the questions that need someone senior.

Wins work
ProjectSkillBid portalFile storage
ProjectSkillBid portalFile storage
You give itThe tender documents and your past answers and certificates.
You get backA draft response with every answer referenced to its evidence, the gaps listed, and a timetable to the deadline.
You stillDecide the price and sign the submission.

Despatch and deliveries

Van runs, couriers, picking lists and the parcels that go missing.

5 use cases
Highest time

Planning the van runs for the week

Groups the week's local deliveries and keg collections into runs by area and day, with the order of drops, the load and the cut-off for adding more.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemRoute planning
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemRoute planning
You give itThe orders, collections, your vans and the delivery days you run.
You get backA run sheet for each van with drops in order, kegs and cases to load, empties to collect and anything that will not fit.
You stillDrive it. The driver knows which pubs cannot take a delivery before ten.

Courier bookings and labels for the day

Books couriers and pallet collections for the day's orders, prints the labels and marks the orders as dispatched, which is the moment the duty becomes due.

Saves time
ConnectorClaude in ChromeCarrier bookingBrewery system
ConnectorClaude in ChromeCarrier bookingBrewery system
You give itThe day's orders to ship and your courier accounts.
You get backBookings made or drafted, labels to print, orders marked as dispatched, and a list of any order that missed the cut-off.
You stillCheck the parcels and pallets match the labels before they go.

Picking lists and delivery notes

Writes picking lists by location and delivery notes for each drop, with batch codes recorded so a recall can be traced to the pub.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ConnectorSkillBrewery systemLabel printer
ConnectorSkillBrewery systemLabel printer
You give itThe orders for the day and stock locations.
You get backPicking lists in warehouse order, delivery notes with batch codes, and a list of anything short.
You stillPick and load. Claude cannot find the case someone put in the wrong bay.

Chasing a lost or damaged parcel

Gathers the tracking, photos and order details for a lost or damaged parcel, files the claim with the courier and drafts the reply to the customer.

Keeps customersSaves time
Claude in ChromeSkillCarrier bookingEmail
Claude in ChromeSkillCarrier bookingEmail
You give itThe order, tracking number and any photos.
You get backA courier claim ready to submit, a replacement order if you choose to send one, and a reply to the customer.
You stillDecide whether to replace before the claim is settled.

Drivers' hours, vehicle checks and loading accuracy

Brings driver hours, vehicle check sheets and loading errors into one weekly view, and flags drivers near their limits and checks that were missed.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorSpreadsheetBrewery system
ProjectConnectorSpreadsheetBrewery system
You give itDriver hours records, vehicle check sheets and delivery error reports.
You get backA weekly summary by driver and vehicle, the gaps an operator licence audit would find, and the loading errors by cause.
You stillManage your drivers. The legal duty for hours and vehicles stays with the operator licence holder.

Webshop and taproom

Release days, customer emails, the beer club and the taproom.

6 use cases

Release day on the webshop

Sets up a webshop release: product pages, limits per customer, the email to your list, the social posts and the fulfilment plan for the first weekend.

Saves timeKeeps customers
SkillConnectorWebshopEmail marketingSocial media
SkillConnectorWebshopEmail marketingSocial media
You give itThe product sheets, images, stock and the release time.
You get backDraft product pages and limits, a release email, social posts, and a packing plan for the orders you expect.
You stillPress go at the time you choose. Release day is when your regulars judge you.

Webshop customer emails

Drafts replies to webshop customers about delivery, broken cans, age checks and subscriptions, using the order history so the reply is about their order.

Keeps customersSaves time
ConnectorSkillWebshopEmail
ConnectorSkillWebshopEmail
You give itThe customer's email and access to the order.
You get backA reply in your voice with the facts of their order, and a refund or replacement suggestion where your policy allows one.
You stillSend it, and decide on anything outside the policy.

Running the beer club or subscription

Plans each month's subscription box from what is in stock and coming, writes the tasting notes card and the email, and lists members whose payment failed.

Keeps customersWins work
SkillConnectorWebshopEmail marketing
SkillConnectorWebshopEmail marketing
You give itStock, the release plan and the subscriber list.
You get backA box plan per tier, tasting notes, the monthly email and a list of failed payments with a friendly reminder drafted for each.
You stillChoose what goes in the box. Your members want your taste, not an average.

The taproom tap list and menu

Writes the tap list and the board from what is on and coming, with ABV, allergens and prices worked out from your margin rules and the minimum price after duty.

Saves time
SkillArtifactsTill systemBrewery system
SkillArtifactsTill systemBrewery system
You give itWhat is on tap and in the fridge, costs and your pricing rules.
You get backA tap list for the screen or board, prices checked against your margin, and a printable allergen sheet for staff.
You stillChoose what goes on. Your taproom team knows what their regulars drink.

Planning a taproom event or tap takeover

Plans an event from date to clear up: the beers, the staffing, the extra stock, the ticketing page, the posts and the checklist for anything your licence requires.

Wins workKeeps customers
ProjectSkillEvents systemSocial mediaRota software
ProjectSkillEvents systemSocial mediaRota software
You give itThe idea, the date and your licence conditions.
You get backA plan with timings, the stock and staff needed, a ticket page and social posts drafted, and a checklist of licence points to confirm.
You stillHost it. The night is yours.

Taproom kegs, sales and duty kept in step

Matches the kegs sent to the taproom with the till sales by pint, so the stock and the duty records agree and you can see the yield from each keg.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorTill systemBrewery system
ProjectConnectorTill systemBrewery system
You give itTill sales, kegs sent to the taproom and keg sizes.
You get backYield by keg and beer, the gap between kegs used and pints sold, and the entries needed so the duty and stock records match.
You stillLook into the losses. A low yield might be a line, a fob or a free pint.

Alcohol duty and HMRC

The monthly return, relief, losses and the records HMRC expects.

7 use cases
Highest time

Preparing the monthly alcohol duty return

Builds the month's duty figures from what was dispatched, split by strength band, draught and non-draught, with Small Producer Relief at the rate for when each batch was made, and spoilt beer reclaimed.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorSkillBrewery systemHMRC portalSpreadsheet
ProjectConnectorSkillBrewery systemHMRC portalSpreadsheet
You give itThe month's dispatches, losses and returns, and your Small Producer Relief calculation.
You get backThe figures for each box on the return, the workings behind them, any sale not marked as dispatched, and a check that the litres of pure alcohol add up.
You stillSubmit it and pay by the 25th. The return is a legal declaration, and someone who understands it signs it off.
Highest value

Working out Small Producer Relief for the new year

Works out your relief rate for the production year that starts on 1 February from your estimate of output, and keeps the record HMRC asks for of how and when you made the estimate.

Saves time
ProjectSkillSpreadsheetBrewery system
ProjectSkillSpreadsheetBrewery system
You give itLast year's production in hectolitres of pure alcohol, this year's estimate and the published tables.
You get backYour relief rates by band, the estimate record written down, and a note of which stock still carries last year's rate because of when it was made.
You stillMake the estimate. If it turns out wrong, you correct it, so it has to be your considered number.

Checking draught relief on every container

Checks each product against the draught relief rules, at least twenty litres, under 8.5% and made for dispense, and flags anything claimed as draught that went out for take-away.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery system
ProjectConnectorBrewery system
You give itProducts, container sizes, strengths and sales channels.
You get backA list of products and sales where relief is claimed, any that look wrong, and the duty difference for each.
You stillCorrect the return if needed. Getting relief wrong is the brewery's liability.

Recording a dumped batch for HMRC

Writes the loss record HMRC expects when beer is destroyed or lost, with date, time, volume, strength, vessels, method and reason, and drafts the advance notice where one is needed.

Saves time
SkillChatBrewery systemEmail
SkillChatBrewery systemEmail
You give itWhat happened, the batch and the volumes.
You get backA complete loss record, a draft notice to HMRC with the right notice period, and the entries for the stock and duty records.
You stillCheck the facts and send the notice. The record has the force of law.

Getting the duty records ready for an HMRC visit

Checks your brew records, packaging records, stock takes, losses and movements against the list HMRC publishes, and finds the gaps before an officer does.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemFile storage
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemFile storage
You give itAccess to your records and the list of what HMRC requires.
You get backA gap list by record type with the months affected, the documents to pull for the visit, and a short pack that explains how your system records each item.
You stillHost the visit. The officer will want to talk to the person responsible.

Chasing receipts for beer moved in bond

Lists every movement of duty suspended beer that has not been receipted, how long it has been, and drafts a chase to the receiving warehouse before the deadline turns it into duty on your next return.

Saves time
Scheduled taskConnectorCustoms portalEmail
Scheduled taskConnectorCustoms portalEmail
You give itYour duty suspended movements and receipts.
You get backA list of open movements by age, the date each becomes a liability, and a chase email for each one.
You stillChase the ones that matter. The deadline is four months, and the duty is yours if it passes.

What the Budget means for your prices

Reads the Budget on alcohol duty, such as the one on 28 October 2026 that sets the February 2027 rates, and works out what the new rates mean for each product and channel.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ChatProjectSpreadsheetBrewery system
ChatProjectSpreadsheetBrewery system
You give itThe announcement, your products and your current relief rates.
You get backThe duty per product before and after, by channel, and the price change needed to hold your margin, ready for the price letter.
You stillDecide what to pass on to your customers and when.

Labels, food safety and packaging rules

Label checks, allergens, food safety, recalls, deposits and packaging data.

7 use cases

Checking a label proof before it is printed

Checks a label proof against the rules: name, strength, allergens in bold, net quantity, batch and best before space, your address, and the barcode, before thousands are printed.

Saves time
ChatSkillArtwork toolFile storage
ChatSkillArtwork toolFile storage
You give itThe proof and the product sheet.
You get backA list of anything missing or wrong, with the rule it breaks and the fix, and a note of anything that differs from the product sheet.
You stillSign off the proof. The legal responsibility for the label is the brewery's.

The allergen matrix for every product

Keeps one allergen record for every product from the recipes, including milk in lactose sours and gluten from barley and wheat, and checks it against every place the beer is listed.

Keeps customersSaves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemWebshopTrade marketplace
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemWebshopTrade marketplace
You give itYour recipes and the listings on the webshop, trade marketplace and menus.
You get backAn allergen matrix by product, and a list of listings or menus that disagree with it.
You stillConfirm the recipe facts. Lactose in a pastry sour is milk, and an undeclared allergen means a recall.

Keeping the food safety plan up to date

Updates your food safety plan and procedures when a process changes, such as a new canning line or a fruited range, and lists the records you need to keep for each control point.

Saves time
ProjectSkillQuality systemFile storage
ProjectSkillQuality systemFile storage
You give itYour current plan, what has changed and your monitoring records.
You get backAn updated plan with the changes marked, the records each control point needs, and a review date.
You stillApprove it. The person responsible for food safety signs the plan.

A recall plan you can run in an hour

Builds a recall procedure that traces a batch from brew to every customer who received it, and drafts the notices, so a recall takes an hour rather than a week.

Keeps customers
ProjectSkillBrewery systemTraceability records
ProjectSkillBrewery systemTraceability records
You give itYour traceability records, customer contacts and the regulator's guidance.
You get backA step by step procedure, a test trace on a real batch, draft customer and regulator notices, and the gaps the test found.
You stillRun the test and own the decision to recall. The regulator talks to you.

Getting ready for the deposit return scheme

Lists every can product that will need a registered barcode and the scheme logo when the deposit return scheme starts on 1 October 2027, and plans the label changes and registration.

Saves time
ProjectChatBarcode registrySpreadsheet
ProjectChatBarcode registrySpreadsheet
You give itYour product list, label stock and the scheme guidance.
You get backA list of products to register, a timetable for new labels and running down old stock, the invoice changes for the deposit, and the dates to watch.
You stillPlan the change and the stock run down. Cans with scheme marks cannot be sold before launch.

The packaging data return

Works out the weight of packaging you placed on the market by material from your sales and pack specifications, for the packaging data return and the fee.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ProjectConnectorBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itSales volumes by pack format and the weights of glass, cans, card and film per pack.
You get backTonnage by material and period, the workings, and the fee estimate, ready for whoever submits it.
You stillSubmit it. The data is kept for seven years, so the workings matter.

Licence conditions and staff training records

Keeps the taproom licence conditions, personal licence dates, age check training and refusals log in one place, and reminds you before anything lapses.

Saves time
ProjectScheduled taskFile storageCalendar
ProjectScheduled taskFile storageCalendar
You give itYour premises licence, personal licences and training records.
You get backA checklist of conditions and dates, the training due, and reminders set for each renewal.
You stillRun the bar responsibly. Your designated premises supervisor stays accountable for it.

Purchasing and suppliers

Raw materials, packaging, supplier bills and input prices.

4 use cases

Ordering malt, hops and yeast against the plan

Works out what the brew plan needs in malt, hops, yeast and adjuncts against what is in stock and on contract, and drafts the orders with lead times allowed for.

Saves time
ConnectorProjectBrewery systemEmail
ConnectorProjectBrewery systemEmail
You give itThe brew plan, recipes and stock of raw materials.
You get backDraft purchase orders by supplier, with quantities, delivery dates and any hop contract you are drawing down.
You stillPlace the orders. Your supplier relationships and hop contracts stay with you.
Highest time

Supplier bills into the accounts

Reads supplier invoices, matches them to orders and deliveries, codes them and prepares them for the accounts package, with the PDF attached.

Saves time
ConnectorCoworkAccountingBrewery system
ConnectorCoworkAccountingBrewery system
You give itSupplier invoices and your purchase orders.
You get backBills coded and ready to approve, mismatches listed, and the attachment in the right place so nobody uploads it twice.
You stillApprove and pay. Claude does not move money.

Comparing quotes for cans, labels and packaging

Lays quotes from packaging suppliers side by side on price per unit, minimum order, lead time and terms, so the cheapest headline price is not the only thing compared.

Saves time
ChatProjectSpreadsheetEmail
ChatProjectSpreadsheetEmail
You give itThe quotes and your forecast usage.
You get backA comparison on the same basis, the cash tied up by each minimum order, and questions to go back with.
You stillNegotiate and choose.

Watching CO2, energy and input prices

Tracks what you pay for CO2, energy, cans and malt against what you paid before and what the trade press is reporting, and flags the contracts to renew.

Saves time
Scheduled taskProjectAccountingSpreadsheet
Scheduled taskProjectAccountingSpreadsheet
You give itYour invoices and contract dates.
You get backA monthly view of input costs, the biggest rises, and renewal dates with a note of when to start talking to suppliers.
You stillNegotiate the contracts.

Cash, credit and month end

Credit control, cash forecasting, costing and the month end.

5 use cases
Highest value

Credit control on long trade terms

Lists overdue accounts by age and value, checks for disputes and credits, and drafts the chase for each in a tone that fits how good a customer they are.

Saves timeKeeps customers
ConnectorSkillScheduled taskAccountingEmail
ConnectorSkillScheduled taskAccountingEmail
You give itYour aged debtors, recent emails with the customer and credit terms.
You get backA chase list in priority order, a draft message for each, and the accounts to put on stop with the reason.
You stillDecide who goes on stop and send the chasers. You know which landlord is good for it.
Highest value

A thirteen week cash forecast

Builds a rolling cash forecast from the bank, debtors, creditors, the duty payment on the 25th, payroll and planned purchases, and shows the weeks where cash gets tight.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorAccountingBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ProjectConnectorAccountingBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itBank balance, aged debtors and creditors, payroll dates and planned spend.
You get backA week by week forecast with the duty, VAT and payroll dates marked, the tight weeks highlighted, and what would change them.
You stillDecide what to pay when. Cash judgement stays with the directors.
Highest time

The month end close

Works through the month end checklist: bank reconciliations, taproom and webshop takings, stock valuation, accruals and the duty account, and lists what does not reconcile.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorSkillAccountingBrewery systemTill system
ProjectConnectorSkillAccountingBrewery systemTill system
You give itAccess to the accounts, the brewery system and the till.
You get backA completed checklist with each item ticked or explained, journals drafted for the stock movement, and a list of open items.
You stillReview and post. Your accountant or finance manager owns the numbers.

Costing a beer per pint and per can

Builds the cost of each beer from recipe, yield, packaging, duty with your relief and labour, so you know the margin per pint, can and case in each channel.

Saves timeYou own it
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemSpreadsheet
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemSpreadsheet
You give itRecipes, input prices, yields, packaging costs and your duty rates.
You get backA cost and margin per product and channel, the products that barely make money, and what changes if malt or cans rise.
You stillSet the prices. The beer worth making at a lower margin is your choice.

Keying taproom and webshop takings

Brings till and webshop takings into the accounts with the fees, refunds and tips split out, so the bank reconciliation matches.

Saves time
ConnectorScheduled taskTill systemWebshopAccounting
ConnectorScheduled taskTill systemWebshopAccounting
You give itThe till and webshop reports, and the statements from your payment provider.
You get backSummarised entries ready for the accounts, matched to the bank, with any gap explained.
You stillApprove the entries.

Marketing, socials and festivals

Social posts, festivals and awards, reviews and consumer email.

4 use cases

A month of social posts from the release plan

Plans a month of posts from the release calendar, taproom events and what the brewers are doing, written in your voice with the facts checked against the product sheets.

Wins workSaves time
SkillProjectSocial mediaCalendar
SkillProjectSocial mediaCalendar
You give itThe release calendar, events and your past posts.
You get backA month's calendar with drafts for each post, image suggestions and the alcohol marketing rules checked.
You stillTake the photos and post. The pictures from the brewhouse are what people follow you for.

Beer festival and awards entries

Fills in festival and competition entry forms from your product records, and keeps a calendar of deadlines, deliveries and what each festival needs.

Wins work
SkillClaude in ChromeBrowserCalendar
SkillClaude in ChromeBrowserCalendar
You give itThe entry forms and your product sheets.
You get backCompleted entries, a calendar of deadlines and delivery dates, and a packing list for each event.
You stillChoose which beers to enter.

What drinkers say about each beer

Reads ratings and reviews on beer rating apps and your webshop for each release, and sums up what people liked, what they did not, and any quality complaint worth checking.

Keeps customers
Claude in ChromeScheduled taskReview sitesWebshop
Claude in ChromeScheduled taskReview sitesWebshop
You give itLinks to your beers on the rating apps and webshop reviews.
You get backA monthly summary by beer, recurring comments, and any complaint that points to a batch problem.
You stillDecide what to change. Ratings are opinions and the brewer weighs them.

Consumer emails that bring people back

Writes the weekly email to webshop customers and segments the list by what people have bought, so sour drinkers hear about the next sour.

Keeps customersWins work
SkillConnectorEmail marketingWebshop
SkillConnectorEmail marketingWebshop
You give itYour email list, purchase history and what is coming.
You get backSegmented emails ready in your email tool, with subject lines to test and the unsubscribe rules followed.
You stillApprove and send.

Dashboards and the board pack

Knowing your numbers, from a Monday note to the board pack.

5 use cases
Highest valueBuilt at Vault City

A sales dashboard you own instead of renting

Builds a sales dashboard from your brewery system, till and webshop that shows sales, margin and stock by channel, account and beer, and that you can change by asking Claude rather than paying a developer.

You own itSaves time
Claude CodeConnectorArtifactsBrewery systemTill systemWebshopAnalytics
Claude CodeConnectorArtifactsBrewery systemTill systemWebshopAnalytics
You give itRead access to the brewery system, till and webshop data.
You get backA live dashboard with the views you choose, refreshed every day, and the definition of each number written down so everyone reads it the same way.
You stillDecide what to measure and act on what it shows. Claude builds the view, and the decisions stay with you.

A Monday note on how last week went

Writes a one page note every Monday with sales by channel, the biggest accounts, stock running low, cash and what is due this week.

Saves time
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemAccounting
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemAccounting
You give itAccess to sales, stock and the bank.
You get backA short note in plain English, with the two or three things that need a decision this week at the top.
You stillMake the decisions.
Highest time

The monthly board pack

Drafts the board pack from the accounts, the brewery system and the sales data, with sales, margin by channel, volume, cash, debtors and the key risks, and the commentary started.

Saves time
ProjectConnectorSkillAccountingBrewery systemSlides
ProjectConnectorSkillAccountingBrewery systemSlides
You give itThe month's accounts, sales and production data, and last month's pack.
You get backA board pack in your format with every figure traced to its source, the movements explained, and questions the board is likely to ask.
You stillWrite the conclusions. The board wants your view, not a summary of the numbers.
Highest value

Margin by channel, account and beer

Works out what each channel, account and beer really makes after discounts, delivery, keg losses and duty, so you can see which business is worth more of.

Wins workYou own it
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemAccountingAnalytics
ProjectArtifactsBrewery systemAccountingAnalytics
You give itSales, costs, delivery costs and discounts.
You get backA margin table by channel, account and beer, the accounts that cost more than they make, and the assumptions written down.
You stillDecide where to grow. Some low margin accounts are worth keeping for the name on the bar.

Department KPI reports without the copying

Produces the monthly KPI report for production, packaging, logistics and sales from the systems, instead of each manager copying numbers into a template.

Saves time
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemAnalyticsSpreadsheet
Scheduled taskConnectorBrewery systemAnalyticsSpreadsheet
You give itAccess to the systems and the KPI definitions.
You get backA KPI report by department, trends against last year, and any number that looks wrong flagged rather than smoothed over.
You stillManage the performance. The managers explain their numbers.

Rotas, people and training

Rotas, procedures, hiring and new starters.

4 use cases
Built at Vault City

The brewery and taproom rota

Builds the rota from the production plan, the packaging days and the taproom opening hours, with holidays and skills taken into account, and flags any shift with no one trained to cover it.

Saves time
ArtifactsConnectorRota softwareBrewery system
ArtifactsConnectorRota softwareBrewery system
You give itThe plan, opening hours, holidays and who can do what.
You get backA rota by person and day, the gaps, and a message to the team with their shifts.
You stillSort the swaps. The people part of a rota is still people.

Standard operating procedures written down

Turns how your best people do a job, from a recorded walk through or their notes, into a step by step procedure for cleaning, packaging, cellar work or the till.

Saves timeYou own it
ProjectSkillFile storageDictation
ProjectSkillFile storageDictation
You give itA recording or notes from the person who does it well.
You get backA clear procedure with steps, checks and the safety points, ready to print or put on a tablet.
You stillCheck it is right. The person who does it best signs it off.

Job adverts and interview questions

Writes the advert, the job description and the interview questions for a role, from what the job really involves rather than a template.

Saves time
ChatSkillHR systemEmail
ChatSkillHR systemEmail
You give itWhat the role does, the pay and what good looks like.
You get backAn advert, a job description and a set of questions with what a good answer sounds like.
You stillInterview and choose.

Onboarding a new starter

Builds the first two weeks for a new starter: the training they need, the procedures to read, who shows them what, and the records to keep.

Saves time
ProjectSkillHR systemFile storage
ProjectSkillHR systemFile storage
You give itThe role, your procedures and the training requirements.
You get backA two week plan, a checklist of training and sign-offs, and a welcome pack.
You stillWelcome them. The first day is about people.
[RETURN ON INVESTMENT]

Hours saved is only part of the case

Time is the easy part to count. For a brewery the other parts are keeping the accounts you fought to win, being easier to buy from than the next brewery, and owning the tools that run the place. Each has published evidence behind it, and each has a limit that we state next to it.

Keeps customers

Every account was hard to win

Most pubs near an independent brewery are closed to it, so the free houses and bottle shops that do take your beer are worth defending. It is easy to lose one over something that has nothing to do with the beer, such as a wrong order or an email nobody answered.

The detailClose
  • Independent brewers cannot sell to an average of 60% of the pubs near them, and 79% say access to beer lines is their main barrier (SIBA Independent Beer Report, 2025).
  • In YouGov polling for SIBA, 77% of beer drinkers said it matters that pubs offer a range of local beers, so the local accounts you hold are the ones drinkers want you in.
  • Gipsy Hill said 40 to 50% of its debts were overdue on thirty day terms before it changed how it chased them, and 5% three months after. That is the brewery's own figure, reported by Good Beer Hunting in 2019.
  • At Vault City, Claude finds quiet accounts every day and drafts a win back message in the voice of the rep who knows them. A person reads and sends every one.
What we do not claim

We do not claim that Claude keeps any number of accounts, because nobody has published why pubs and shops drop a brewery or how often. We have not found a survey that measures it. Nothing Claude drafts reaches a customer until someone at the brewery has read it.

Wins work

Easier to buy from than the next brewery

A buyer with thirty breweries to choose from orders from the one that makes ordering easy: a stock list they can trust, a confirmation that arrives, a product sheet with the right allergens and a delivery that turns up when promised.

The detailClose
  • Trade buyers still order by email, text and messaging apps, and only 10 to 15% order online, according to Orderlinks, which sells trade ordering software, writing in the Brewers Journal in March 2026.
  • Vault City built a live, branded stock list for its trade customers. Its commercial director's reaction was that no one else is doing this.
  • The Groceries Code Adjudicator has said smaller suppliers are disproportionately affected by retailer audit claims, so clean product data and claims checking matter more for a small brewery than a large one (GCA, 2021).
  • We have not found a UK brewery publishing how it uses AI in its operations. Being early is a selling point while it lasts.
What we do not claim

We do not claim that a stock list or faster paperwork wins a listing or a line, because nobody has published a number we would defend. The beer, the price and the relationship still decide it.

You own it

Own the tools that run the brewery

Brewery software is priced by volume, users and add-ons, and it still leaves gaps that people fill with spreadsheets. The planning views, the canning controller, the stock list and the dashboard Vault City built with Claude belong to Vault City, and they sit on top of its brewery system rather than replacing it.

The detailClose
  • Vault City replaced a paid business intelligence report it could not change with a dashboard it changes by asking Claude.
  • One UK brewery system is priced by annual hectolitres with add-ons per vehicle and per user, and another charges per user logged in at the same time (Capterra UK listings and the vendor's own pricing page, 2026).
  • Under Anthropic's Commercial Terms, effective 17 June 2025, you keep the rights in what you put in and own what Claude produces for you, to the extent the law allows. Anthropic may not train on your content from its commercial services.
  • HMRC expects to be told when a brewery changes the systems that hold its stock and duty records, and may ask you to run old and new side by side, so a change is planned with the duty records in mind.
What we do not claim

This covers internal tools, workflows and the connections between systems. It does not replace your brewery system, your accounts package or your till. Someone has to maintain what is built, and we agree who in writing. Anything that touches the duty return is checked by a person before it is submitted.

Every figure names who published it. Where nobody independent has published one, we leave the number out. Stories published by companies that sell software to breweries are vendor material and we say so. Vault City is our client.

[THE NUMBERS]

What it is worth on your numbers

Nobody independent has published how many hours a week brewery staff spend on this work, so put in your own.

£30000
3
8 hrs
50%
£100000

Costed at £32 an hour. An hour is costed from that salary plus employer National Insurance and pension, over 1,740 hours. No overhead is added.

0
hours a week, back, per person
Hours a year across the team0
Working days a year back, each0
Cost of that time
£0
Not shown
£0
What those hours cost you
£0

This values the hours at what they cost you and nothing more. In a small brewery the biggest cost is the founder's time away from brewing and selling, which is worth more than any salary.

What a point of trade retention is worth

This is arithmetic on your own numbers and not a claim about what Claude will do. Put in a year of sales to pubs, shops and wholesalers, and the share of it that you keep the following year from the same customers.

£300000
85%

The starting figures are our own assumption for a typical brewery of each size, not a benchmark, because nobody has published one for UK breweries. Put in yours.

£0
is what one point of trade retention is worth each year
Trade sales lost each year£0

We do not claim that Claude changes retention. This only shows what each point is worth on the figures you entered.

[TWELVE MONTHS]

What good looks like in twelve months

Not a bigger brewery. The same brewery, with most of the work on the right hand side of that list gone.

Orders arrive by text and get typed in after brew day
Each order is drafted from the message and you confirm it
The duty return takes an evening before the 15th
The figures and workings are ready for you to check and submit
Every new beer is typed into six places
One product sheet sets it up everywhere and you press publish
Brew dates live in a spreadsheet and your head
One plan shows the tanks, the cans and the release dates, and what will miss
Invoices get chased when you remember
A chase list arrives every Monday with the messages drafted

Not a bigger brewery. The same brewery, with most of the work on the right hand side of that list gone.

The production plan is rebuilt in a spreadsheet every time a date moves
The plan rebuilds itself and lists the clashes for someone to decide
The canning paperwork is filled in by hand on the morning
Run sheets, fill weights and pallet sheets print from the brewery system
Barcodes are created and checked by hand for every release
New products are checked and barcoded every day and the team is told
Customers email to ask what is in stock
They order from a live stock list that updates itself
The board pack takes a week of copying
It is drafted from the systems and the directors write the conclusions

Not a bigger brewery. The same brewery, with most of the work on the right hand side of that list gone.

Each department copies its numbers into a KPI template
The KPI report is produced from the systems with odd numbers flagged
Product data forms take days for every new listing
They are filled from one product record and checked before submission
Retailer deductions are checked when someone has time
Every deduction is matched to an agreement each month
Stock across depots and third parties is reconciled once a quarter
One stock position is reconciled every month with the differences explained
Margin by account is a spreadsheet exercise done once a year
It is refreshed each quarter with the accounts to look at

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