BREWERY INSURANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

What coverages and protections do microbrewery insurance policies offer?

Most microbrewery insurance policies come with multiple insurance coverages so that they can protect against many different risks. These coverages include both property and liability coverage.

Property coverages generally protect physical assets against damage, loss or failure. Some property protections that policies might make available are:

• Business Property Coverage, which normally covers buildings, equipment and supplies against damage
• Tank Collapse Coverage, which normally covers water processing costs if a tank collapses
• Tank Leakage Coverage, which normally covers beer stock that's lost if a tank leaks
• Product Adulteration/Contamination Coverage, which normally covers beer stock if it's contaminated
• Business Interruption Coverage, which normally covers revenue losses that follow major natural disasters

Liability coverages broadly protect against situations where a brewery could be held responsible for property damage, injury or other harm. Some liability coverages that policies might offer are:

• General Liability Coverage, which normally covers slip-and-fall accidents occurring on a brewery's property
• Product Recall Coverage, which normally covers expenses associated with necessary recalls of beer
• Commercial Auto Coverage, which normally covers delivery trucks and other brewery vehicles
• Commercial Umbrella Coverage, which normally covers expensive lawsuits with secondary protection

An experienced insurance agent can help breweries sort through all of the available coverages, and select which ones are most appropriate for them.

Should breweries have workers' compensation in place?

Workers' compensation broadly protects against employee injuries that occur at the workplace, and the coverage is usually required by state law. Although most breweries need this coverage, it’s not always purchased within a microbrewery policy.

Sometimes microbrewery policies include workers comp, but other times the coverage has to be purchased separately. Workers comp is readily available one way or the other.

How much are premiums for microbrewery policies?

Microbrewery policies' premiums vary, often according to annual sales, brewery size, location, past claims history and other factors. Policies tend to be affordable for even small breweries, however, and certainly cost less than what a major claim could be if no insurance is in place.

An independent insurance agent can help breweries compare policy coverages and rates across different options. Independent agents aren't obligated to favor any one insurance company, and thus can show policies from several companies.

How can breweries in Massachusetts get brewery insurance?

If you need help insuring a local or regional brewery that's based in Massachusetts, contact the team of independent insurance agents at Garrity Insurance. Our agents are well-versed in the coverages that breweries often need and these policies usually offer, and we'll make sure you find a brewery insurance policy which protects your particular brewery well.