Today, breweries are a $35 billion business with almost 10,000 locations across the United States.
With that many businesses, it probably feels like all the good ones are already taken, right? Furthermore, how do you find a great brewery name that represents your brand image and speaks to your target audience?
How do you make the final decision?
If you’re struggling to name your craft brewery, don’t worry. You’re in the right place. In this article, I cover some of the top tips for naming your new business and how to make sure the name is legally available for you to use.
Learn more about the brewery industry
What Makes a Good Brewery Name?
Naming a business is hard, especially if you don’t have any ideas or a place to start. So, before diving in, grab a piece of paper and a pen or open a blank spreadsheet.
Then, use it as a place to brainstorm ideas and write down words or phrases that come to mind as you go through the tips below.
From there, we’ll talk about narrowing things down and landing on the perfect name.
1. Keep It as Short as Possible
Short business names are usually snappier, catchier, and easier to remember. Ideally, you want to stick to two to five syllables and hopefully no more than 25 characters total.
However, the shorter the name, the better.
That said, there are exceptions to this, and it’s not a hard rule. But when you think about huge, notable brands, which ones come to mind?
Nike. Apple. Ikea. Febreeze. Target. Honeywell.
They’re easy to remember because they’re short, simple, and brandable.
Obviously, there are exceptions to these rules. But typically, the shorter and simpler your name, the easier it is for everyone to remember.
2. Avoid Words That Are Hard to Hear and Pronounce
Voice-to-text and voice search are more popular now than ever before. So, it’s important to consider making your name easy to pronounce and hear.
To do this, avoid using:
- Commonly misspelled words
- Complex terms that are hard to spell
- Words that have several pronunciations
- Homophones like to, too, and two
Try to keep things as concise and simple as possible.
3. Consider Beer Related Terms
Since you’re opening a brewery, using beer or alcohol-related words in the name might make sense, especially if you’re feeling stuck. It may help just to start brainstorming terms, phrases, and words to get all your ideas down on paper.
Examples include The Rare Barrel, Speakeasy Brewing, or Rock Bottom Brewing.
For a boost of creativity, expand use the thesaurus to find synonyms around the words of what your business does. You can either use the thesaurus function from your word processor or thesaurus.com to come up with additional synonyms.
From there, you can cross off bad ideas or any terms you don’t like.
4. Phrases Your Audience and Competition Uses
Your business exists for your target audience, so it’s important to consider phrases and terms they use when talking about beer.
There are quite a few places you can look to see what your customers (and competitors) are saying, including:
- Facebook groups, posts, and stories
- Forums related to brewing
- Competitor websites, brochures, and flyers
- Trade journals
- Magazines or blogs
Alternatively, you can ask friends or relatives in your target audience. Hearing it directly from them may help you brainstorm and narrow down your choices.
Remember to avoid anything limiting your business’s future growth if you decide to go in another direction down the road.
5. Types of Alcohol you Sell
You can also consider the types of alcohol you plan to focus on. Maybe you specialize in meads, ales, or IPA.
If so, consider related phrases and terms specific to the products, services, and courses you plan to offer. This specificity can help your business stand out from other breweries competing for your audience’s attention.
6. Neighborhoods, Cities, and Nicknames
Including the name of your city, street, or neighborhood is an excellent way to encourage local shopping and create a strong sense of community in your area.
You can also think about nicknames for your city or neighborhood, as well. Here are some examples to use as inspiration:
- Bluegrass Brewing Company
- Eel River Brewing Company
- Third Street Aleworks
- Trout River Brewing
With that said, make sure the name you choose isn’t limiting if you decide to move or expand your brewery down the road.
7. Incorporate Your Name
If you’re still struggling to find the perfect name, consider using your name, a nickname, or something personal and unique to you.
This is a fantastic way to build a personal brand if that’s something you want to do. Some great examples of this in action include:
- Cameron’s Brewing Company
- Two Brothers Brewing
- Rahr and Sons Brewing Company
If you go this route, keep in mind it may make it harder to sell your brewery later on.
List of Catchy Brewery Name Ideas
Here is a list of existing brewery names that may help you come up with some creative ideas. While many of these names may be available for you to use, be sure to check first to be sure they can be used.
Tips on how to check business name availability are after the list of names!
- 1912 Brewing Co
- 26th Degree Brewing Co
- 651 Brewing Co
- 672 Brew
- Amuse-Brews
- Anvil Brewing
- Apothecary Craft & Brew
- Arkane Aleworks
- Armadillo Ale Works
- Art History Brewing
- Asian Brothers Brewing Co
- Aspetcuk Brew Pub
- Asylum Brewing Co
- Athens Brewing Co
- Atlantic Beach Brewing Co
- Atypical Brewery & Barrelworks
- Baa Baa Brewhouse
- Back Home Brewing
- Back Unturned Brewing Co
- Backstory Brewery
- Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery
- Bad Weather Brewing Co
- Badfin’s Brew & Food
- Bakfish Brewing Co
- Banded Oak Brewing Co
- Bangin’ Banjo Brewing Co
- Bankhead Brewing Co
- Bare Arms Brewing
- Barley Creek Brewing Co
- Barrel Brewing
- Basement Brewers Of Texas
- Beachfly Brewing Co
- Bearmoose Brewing Co
- Beehive Basin Brewery
- Beer Is Good Brewing Co
- Beyond The Mountain Brewing Co
- Biere De Mac Brew Works
- Big Beach Brewing
- Big Hops Shaenfield
- Big River Brewery
- Bird Dog Brewing
- Birds Fly South Ale Project
- Bismarck Brewing
- Black Hat Brew Works
- Black Hills Brewing
- Black Horse Brewery
- Black Mountain Brewing
- Blackadder Brewing Co
- Black’s Fairy Meadery
- Boco Cider Corp
- Boggy Draw Brewery
- Bottomless Brewing
- Breaking Brew Meadery
- Brew Grindz
- Brew Nation
- Brew Skies Over Texas
- Brew Theory
- Brew Witches
- Brewcaipa Brewing Co
- Brewcraft USA
- Brewer Dude
- Brewing Matters
- Brice’s Brewing
- Bright Penny Brewing Co
- Brio Brewing Co
- Brotherwell Brewing
- Buffalo Creek Brewing
- Bullthistle Brewing Co
- Burns Family Artisan Ales
- Cactus Land Brewing Co
- Cage Brewing
- Canyon Ferry Brewery
- Capital Brew
- Capitol Brewing Co
- Caracara Brewing Co
- Carolina Tap House
- Cerebral Brewing
- Chehalem Valley Brewing
- Clouds Brewing
- Collection Brewing Co
- Common Block Brewing Co
- Commonhouse Aleworks
- Cooperage Brewing Co
- Craftroots Brewing
- Crafty Canary Brewery
- Crankshaft Brewing Co
- Cranky Britches Brewing Co
- Crooked Can Brewing Co
- Crooked Tooth Brewing Co
- Crossed Cannons Brewery
- Crosstown Brewing Co
- Cueni Brewing Co
- Cycle Brewing
- Dakota Point Brewing
- Dangerous Minds Brewing Co
- Dead Lizard Brewing Co
- Deadly Sins Brewing
- Denton County Brewing Co
- Department Brewing
- Desert Beer Co
- Devils Fire & Brew
- Devils Krafthouse
- Dirigo Brewing
- Dirt Road Brewing
- Dirty Job Brewing
- Disgruntled Brewing
- Dissent Brewing
- Division Brewing
- Donavan Brewing
- Dragon’s Tale Brewery
- Drakes Brewing
- Draper Brewing
- Dreaming Dog Brewery
- Drowning Moon Brewing
- Dry Ground Brewing Co
- Dual Citizen Brewing Co
- Dunbar Brewing
- Durty Bull Brewing Co
- East Rock Brewing Co
- East Texas Brewing Co
- Eccentric Brewing Co
- Edith’s Brew
- Eighth State Brewing Co
- Elizabeth Brewing Co
- Ellipsis Brewing
- Empourium Brewing Co
- Epicure Brewing
- Eponymous Brewing Co
- Essex County Brewing Co
- Evil Twin Brewing
- False Idol Brewing
- Family Business Beer Co
- Farmhouse Brewery
- Fat Orange Cat Brew Co
- Fat Pig Brewing Co
- Fifth Frame Brewing Co
- Fifth Hammer Brewing Co
- Firerock Irish Pub
- Fishweir Brewing Co
- Flagler Village Brewery
- Flatland Brewery
- Flying Dreams Brewing
- Flying Machine Brewing Co
- Flytes Brewhouse
- Flytrap Brewing
- Forest City Brew
- Fort Rock Brewing
- Founders Urban Brew
- Four Corners Brewing Co
- Four Saints Brewing Co
- Fox Farm Brewery
- Fredonia Brewery
- Frog & Scorpion Brewing Co
- Full Circle Brewing Co
- Full Moon Brewing
- Galena Brewing Co
- Gasparilla Brew
- Gentile Brewing Co
- Gold Rush Brewing
- Good Neighbor Brews
- Grand Central Brew
- Grateful Brew
- Greater Good Imperial Brewing
- Green Earth Brewing Co
- Grind City Brewing Co
- Guru Brew
- Hare In The Forest Brewing
- Hell In A Bucket Brewing
- Hitchcock Brewing Co
- Hob Brewing Co
- Holy Monk’s Brewing Co
- Hops & Spokes Brewing Co
- Hops Boss
- Hopsquad Brewing Co
- If I Brewed The World
- Indigo Reef Brewing
- Invasive Species Brewing
- Invisible Man Brewing
- Islla St Brewing Co
- Jackass Hill Brewery
- Jax Craft Beer
- Just Brew It
- King Maker Brewing
- Kings Brewing Co
- Krootz Brewing Co
- Labyrinth Brewing Co
- Lake Monster Brewing Co
- Lake St George Brewing Co
- Launch Pad Brewery
- Legal Remedy Brewing Co
- Liberator Brewing Co
- Little Beast Brewing
- Lo Fi Brewing
- Long Table Brewhouse
- Loomis Basin Brewing Co
- Lost Shirt Brewing Co
- Lot 9 Brewing Co
- Low Tide Brewing
- Mad Malts Brewing
- Main & Six Brewing Co
- Mastry’s Brewing Co
- Meddlesom Brewing Co
- Mighty Oak Brewing
- Misty Mountain Brewing
- Munkle Brewing Co
- New Anthem Beer Project
- New Horizons Brewing Co
- Night Lizard Brewing Co
- Nordic Brew Works
- Norse Brewing Co
- Nostrovia Brewing Co
- Oak & Iron Brewing
- Oakshire Beer Hall
- Oil Horse Brewing Co
- Old 121 Brew House
- Old Sheepdog Brewery
- Orchestrated Minds Brewing
- Osmos Ale House
- Over Yonder Brewing
- Palm Tree Brewing Co
- Palmetto Brewing Of Charleston
- Parker County Brewing Co
- Peak View Brewing Co
- Piney Woods Brewing
- Pixeled Brewing Co
- Plankowner Brewing Co
- Porter Brewing Co
- Pour Brothers Brewery
- Railport Brewing Co
- Rebel Scissors Brewing Co
- Red Bear Brewing
- Red Shed Brewery
- Reds Whites & Brews
- Reservoir Brewing Co
- River City Brewing Co
- Rock Hill Brewing Co
- Rock Pit Brewing
- Rough Diamond Brewery
- Roundhouse Brewery
- Rugged Man Brewing Co
- Russian River Brewing Co
- Rustica Brewing Co
- Salty Rhino Pub
- Sandbox Brewing
- Sea Dog Brewing Co
- Seguin Brewing Co
- Side Lot Brewery
- Sig Luscher Brewery
- Silver Spruce Brewing Co
- Slow Play Brewing
- Social Fox Brewing
- Soggy Bottom Brewing Co
- Southern Lights Brewing
- Spangalang Brewery
- St Somewhere Brewing Co
- Stout House
- Straight To Ale Brands
- Swan Brewing
- Sweet Brewnette
- Tactical Brewing Co
- Tarpon River Brewing
- Ten Mile Creek Brewing Co
- Tennessee Brewery
- These Guys Brewing Co
- Thirsty Bro Brewing Co
- Thirsty Street Brewing Co
- Timeline Brewery
- Track 7 Brewing Co
- Tradesmith Brewing Co
- Turgua Brewing Co
- Two Docs Brewing Co
- Two Frogs Brewing Co
- Two Wheel Brewing Co
- Underground Brew Squad
- United Brew Co
- Upcountry Brewing Co
- Veteran Brother’s Brewing Co
- Viva Brewery
- Waterline Brewing
- Welltown Brewing
- Westfax Brewing Co
- Whitewater Brewers
- Wicked Barley Brewing Co
- Wrightsville Beach Brewery
- Zone 9 Brewing Co
- Zydeco Brew Werks
Finding the Perfect Name: Putting It All Together
By now, you should have a lengthy list of words, phrases, and terms you can use in your business name. At this point, I highly recommend going through and removing any that are hard to spell or pronounce.
Now, you can start combining pieces together until something stands out. It may help to create a list of potential names you can use. From there, you can narrow things down to your favorites.
But before you make your final decision, it’s important that your new name passes a few tests.
Say It Out Loud
Make sure you say your new name out loud. It may look great as a logo, domain name, and on a business card. But it also needs to sound good when you say it out loud.
You can also sit down with someone and talk about your business. Does saying the name in casual conversation sound natural? If not, you may want to consider something simpler or easier to say.
Logo Design
Lastly, think about how to incorporate your new name into a logo. Logos should be simple, memorable, and indicative of your brand.
Take Apple, for example. Their business name is easily incorporated into a logo. And today, it’s a household symbol that everyone immediately recognizes.
A logo is an important part of your brand identity, so don’t forget to consider turning your brand name into a memorable logo as you make your final decision.
Related: How to create a logo for your business.
Is Your Brewery Name Available?
At this point, you should have several top considerations to choose from. And the best way to narrow it down further is to check each one for availability.
This step is helpful because using a name that someone else is using could be very costly, time-consuming to rebrand your business, and possibly embarrassing. There are several places to look to check whether a name is available to use, so let’s walk through each one.
Can the business name be registered in your state?
If you plan to use a specific business name, you may be required by the state to verify it’s available to use.
Related: How to check business name availability in your state
Is your name already trademarked?
When searching for a name for your new business, you should check that your new name isn’t trademarked by someone else. If it is, you may not be allowed to use it legally.
Thankfully, the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) makes trademark searching a breeze through their Trademark Database.
A name isn’t necessarily available if it doesn’t appear in this search. Every business has some limited protection through a common law trademark. This means another business can’t open up down the street with the same name, as this creates confusion for customers. Also, check local competitors by doing a Google search and looking through the Yellow Pages.
If your name is available and you want to protect it from being used by anyone else, you can register it with the USPTO.
Related: How to check for a trademark
Hopefully, you now have some great name ideas for your brewery. Once you have this list narrowed down to just a few and researched that they are all available, start asking friends, family, and potential customers their thoughts to get feedback, and then pick your perfect brewery name!
