"If we don't know where we've been, how can we possibly plan where we're going?” This question, posed by a craft brewery's CEO during their annual planning session, captures a fundamental challenge faced by the industry. The team around him nodded in agreement, their frustration palpable. Planning for the future was proving to be a shot in the dark because they couldn’t visualize their beer’s volume trends from the past year.

This scenario is not unique. Many brewery leaders grapple with outdated data systems that offer more confusion than clarity. The process of piecing together sales data from various sources often results in a fragmented view of reality, making strategic planning an exercise in guesswork.

But what if there was a way to see, at a glance, how beer type volume is shifting over time? A simple Tableau dashboard does just that. It presents a clear narrative of beer sales by volume, rank, and percentage of total sales year over year. Such a dashboard reveals the evolving tastes of customers, highlights successful beer types, and identifies those that are losing favor. It’s a roadmap that highlights where the brewery has been, in terms of sales, and illuminates paths forward.


In our example, a very simple dashboard (it doesn’t need to be complicated) can quickly lead to several key insights:

1. IPA and Light categories continue to dominate and are now up to 62% of total volume.

2. Brown Ale has increased significantly from the 6th highest volume in 2021 to 3rd highest in 2023.

3. DIPA is no longer a critical category for the brewery, it is now only 1/3 of the volume in 2021 and down to 6th highest seller.


This isn't just data for data's sake; it's actionable intelligence delivered in a user-friendly format. It turns the once dreaded and time-consuming pre-planning data scramble into a swift, insightful review of past performance, setting the stage for future success.


These analytics solutions are designed to alleviate the pain points of data collection and analysis, allowing brewery teams to swiftly adapt to market changes and customer preferences. The result is a data-driven strategy that's both informed by the past and ready for the future.

The message is clear: Modern analytics tools are not a luxury; they're a necessity for any craft brewery that wants to move forward with confidence. This technology is now within reach for every brewery, promising to be a game-changer in the way data informs decision-making. With such tools, brewery leaders can leave the guesswork behind and plan their next steps on solid ground, backed by the power of data visualization.