Best POS Systems for Breweries & Taprooms in 2025
Best Brewery POS Systems
Purpose-built point-of-sale solutions for craft breweries, taprooms, and brewpubs. Manage tabs, track pours, handle growler fills, and streamline your entire taproom operation with systems designed specifically for the craft beverage industry.
Running a successful brewery taproom requires more than great beer. You need a POS system that understands the unique demands of craft beverage service: managing open tabs across multiple customers, tracking pours from each keg, handling beer flights and tastings, processing growler fills, and managing private events. The right brewery POS system becomes the central nervous system of your taproom operation, connecting pour tracking to inventory, tabs to customer loyalty, and sales data to brewing decisions.
Unlike generic restaurant or retail POS systems, brewery-specific solutions are built around the tab-first service model that defines taproom hospitality. They understand that a customer might start with a flight, move to full pours, add some merchandise, and close out hours later. They integrate with your brewing operations to track keg yields and identify waste. And they provide the analytics you need to understand which beers sell, when your taproom is busiest, and how to optimize your limited tap handles.
Brewery POS Systems at a Glance
| POS System | Best For | Starting Price | Key Strength | Tab Management |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arryved | Craft-focused taprooms | $69/month | Built for craft beverage | Excellent |
| Toast | Brewpubs with full kitchen | $0-165/month | Restaurant integration | Very Good |
| Square for Restaurants | Small/new breweries | $0-60/month | Low cost, easy setup | Good |
| Untappd for Business | Marketing-focused taprooms | $99/month | Beer discovery integration | Good |
| GoTab | Self-service taprooms | $99/month | QR/mobile ordering | Excellent |
What Makes a Great Brewery POS Different
Top 5 Brewery POS Systems Compared
Arryved
Purpose-built for craft beverage
Key Features
- Mobile POS designed for taproom floor service
- Advanced tab management with transfer/split
- Keg-level pour tracking and yield reports
- Built-in flight builder with custom pricing
- Growler fill tracking and container deposits
- Native tip pooling and distribution
Pros
- Built by brewery operators
- Excellent mobile interface
- Industry-best tab management
- Strong pour tracking
Cons
- Processing fees add up
- Limited kitchen features
- Smaller integration ecosystem
Toast
Restaurant-grade with brewery features
Key Features
- Full restaurant/kitchen management
- Robust tab and table management
- Online ordering and delivery integration
- Advanced employee management
- Detailed sales and labor analytics
- Extensive third-party integrations
Pros
- Full kitchen/food support
- Excellent analytics
- Strong hardware reliability
- Free tier available
Cons
- Not brewery-specific
- Long contracts required
- Add-ons increase cost
Square for Restaurants
Simple, affordable, flexible
Key Features
- Free plan with solid core features
- Easy setup and intuitive interface
- Basic tab management functionality
- Integrated online ordering
- Square ecosystem (payroll, banking, marketing)
- No long-term contracts required
Pros
- Free tier for starters
- No contracts
- Very easy to learn
- Great ecosystem
Cons
- Basic tab features
- No pour tracking
- Limited brewery-specific tools
Untappd for Business
Beer discovery meets point of sale
Key Features
- Integration with Untappd beer database
- Digital menu boards with beer details
- Customer check-in and social features
- Beer inventory with style tracking
- Marketing to Untappd user base
- Verified venue badges and visibility
Pros
- Untappd ecosystem access
- Great digital menus
- Built-in marketing reach
- Beer-focused database
Cons
- Less robust as POS
- Dependent on Untappd platform
- Higher cost for full features
GoTab
Mobile-first, self-service focused
Key Features
- QR code ordering from customer phones
- Guests order and pay from their device
- Tab management across devices
- Kitchen display system integration
- Reduced labor needs at service point
- Real-time order tracking for guests
Pros
- Reduces labor costs
- Faster service at volume
- Great guest experience
- Excellent tab handling
Cons
- Less personal service feel
- Requires customer tech comfort
- Some guests prefer traditional
Brewery Taproom Economics
Understanding the numbers that drive taproom profitability
Expert Tips for Brewery POS Success
Maximize your taproom efficiency and profitability with these proven strategies from experienced brewery operators.
Master Tab Management
Train staff to open tabs immediately upon guest arrival, even for “just one beer” customers. Studies show tabbed customers spend 40% more than cash-and-carry. Use your POS to track average tab duration and optimize service timing.
Optimize Flight Pricing
Price flights at 80-85% of full pour value to encourage sampling while maintaining margins. Use your POS to track which flight combinations lead to full pour purchases and promote those pairings on menu boards.
Track Pour Accuracy
Monitor keg yields religiously. If you’re getting less than 115 pints from a half barrel, you have a training or equipment issue. Use POS pour tracking to identify which servers need coaching and which tap lines need attention.
Leverage Slow Periods
Use POS data to identify your slowest hours, then create targeted promotions. “Pint Club” membership drives on Tuesday afternoons can turn dead time into community building and consistent revenue.
Streamline Private Events
Configure event-specific menus and pricing in your POS before the party starts. Pre-authorize a card for the host, set spending limits if needed, and use separate tabs for individual add-ons versus group consumption.
Integrate Retail Seamlessly
Merchandise and packaged beer should ring up on the same tab as draft pours. Customers who buy a t-shirt while drinking are your best advocates. Track which merchandise sells alongside which beers for cross-promotion opportunities.
Critical Features for Brewery Taprooms
Tab Management Capabilities
Tab management is the foundation of brewery POS success. Unlike quick-service restaurants where transactions close immediately, taproom customers often maintain open tabs for hours. Your POS must handle this gracefully.
Pour Tracking and Keg Management
Every ounce of beer that doesn’t sell is lost profit. Brewery-specific POS systems help you track pours, monitor yields, and identify waste before it impacts your bottom line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Your Perfect Brewery POS System
Stop losing money to pour waste and slow service. Get matched with POS solutions designed for craft brewery operations.
Choosing the Right Brewery POS: Final Recommendations
The best brewery POS system depends on your specific operation. For craft-focused taprooms prioritizing the guest experience and detailed pour tracking, Arryved stands out as the industry leader built by brewery people for brewery people. If you operate a full brewpub with significant food service, Toast provides the kitchen management features you need while still handling bar operations well.
Budget-conscious new breweries should start with Square for Restaurants. The free tier provides solid functionality to get started, and you can upgrade or switch as you grow. The lack of long-term contracts means you’re not locked in if your needs change.
For taprooms focused on building community and leveraging social discovery, Untappd for Business offers unique marketing advantages through its massive user base. And if you’re looking to reduce labor costs while handling high volume, GoTab’s mobile ordering model lets guests order from their phones while still maintaining the tab-based service model breweries need.
Whichever system you choose, prioritize tab management, pour tracking, and reporting capabilities. These features directly impact your bottom line through reduced waste, faster service, and better business decisions. The right POS pays for itself many times over through improved efficiency and profitability.
Brewery POS Pricing Breakdown
Tap room POS costs including keg tracking and retail integration:
Restaurant POS Pricing Comparison
Complete cost breakdown for restaurant point-of-sale systems including software, hardware, and processing fees.
Toast
- Software Free plan available
- Processing 2.49% + $0.15 (Starter) or 2.99% + $0.15 (with hardware financing)
- Contract 2-year standard
Square for Restaurants
- Software Free plan available
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10 (in-person)
- Contract Month-to-month
TouchBistro
- Software From $69/mo
- Processing Choose your processor (varies)
- Contract Annual billing
Lightspeed Restaurant
- Software From $69/mo
- Processing 2.6% + $0.10
- Contract Annual (monthly available at premium)
Detailed Pricing Breakdown
Toast Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | FREE | Basic POS, payment processing |
| Essentials | $69/mo | Online ordering, Toast Takeout |
| Growth | $165/mo | Loyalty, gift cards, marketing |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Square for Restaurants Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | FREE | Basic POS, unlimited devices |
| Plus | $60/mo | Advanced reporting, 24/7 support |
| Premium | Custom | Enterprise features |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
TouchBistro Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $69/mo | Core POS, menu management |
| Front of House | $229/mo | Reservations, online ordering |
| Full Stack | $359/mo | Marketing, inventory, all features |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Lightspeed Restaurant Pricing
Software Plans
| Plan | Monthly Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $69/mo | POS, basic reporting |
| Plus | $189/mo | Advanced insights, integrations |
| Pro | $399/mo | Multi-location, API access |
Hardware Costs
Payment Processing
Rate applies to in-person card transactions. Online and keyed transactions may have higher rates.
Get Your Personalized Quote
Actual pricing depends on your specific business needs. Get custom quotes from top providers.
Get Free QuotesCompare Brewery POS Systems
Find the right mix of bar service and retail features:
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- Toast vs Lightspeed – Both handle food and retail
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