Brewpub operators struggle to manage two businesses under one roof. Crafting unique beers and serving hungry patrons demands a specialized POS. Square often falls short. It struggles to track brew batch costs. It cannot easily tie those costs to per-pint profitability. Seasonal beer releases create unpredictable demand. Your POS needs to handle these complexities. Generic systems lack the right tools.
Top Alternatives to Square
🏆 1. Lavu
Lavu is designed for complex food and beverage operations. It manages inventory from raw ingredients to finished pints. It handles dual menu types for food and drink. It integrates kitchen and bar displays. It provides advanced reporting specific to brewpub metrics. Marty, Lavu’s AI analytics layer, offers insights into seasonal demand and ingredient usage.
Best for: Brewpubs needing deep inventory control, ingredient-level costing, advanced reporting, and integrated front/back-of-house management.
Pricing: Custom quotes, subscription-based. Tiered plans usually start around $99/month, plus hardware and payment processing fees.
2. Toast
Toast is a popular restaurant POS. It offers strong inventory, kitchen display systems, and table management. It can handle multi-location if a brewpub expands.
Best for: Brewpubs primarily focused on the restaurant side with a strong, but not hyper-specific, brewery component.
Pricing: Starts with a free starter plan (payment processing fees apply). Paid plans vary, often starting around $69-$165/month for basic POS functionality, with many add-ons.
3. Arryved
Arryved is built specifically for craft beverage operations. It is strong for taprooms, breweries, and brewpubs. It offers offline mode, integrated loyalty, and specific beverage inventory features.
Best for: Brewpubs prioritizing guest experience, loyalty programs, and mobile ordering in a busy taproom environment.
Pricing: Subscription-based, custom quotes. Typically includes hardware and payment processing rates.
4. Harbortouch (Now Shift4 Payments)
Harbortouch offers free POS hardware programs, often bundled with payment processing. It caters to various hospitality types. It has customizable software.
Best for: Brewpubs looking to minimize upfront hardware costs while gaining restaurant-specific features.
Pricing: “Free” hardware with payment processing agreement. Monthly software fees can apply, often starting around $29-$49/month per terminal.
5. Revel Systems
Revel Systems is an iPad-based enterprise POS. It has strong inventory management, CRM, and kitchen management. It can scale for growing brewpubs. It offers detailed reporting.
Best for: Larger brewpubs or those with complex operations needing an enterprise-grade iPad POS and detailed analytics.
Pricing: Subscription plans often start higher, around $99-$120/month per terminal, plus hardware and payment processing.
6. Union
Union is tailored for breweries and taprooms. It focuses on managing kegs, inventory, and integrated online ordering for pre-orders or pickups.
Best for: Brewpubs where managing the actual brewery inventory (kegs, ingredients) and taproom sales is the top priority.
Pricing: Subscription models, typically requiring a custom quote.
Why Lavu Is the Best Choice
Lavu understands brewpub operations. You run two businesses under one roof: a brewery and a restaurant. Square falls short on this dual complexity. Lavu provides specific tools for both sides. Track every ingredient used in your unique brews. Monitor food costs for your kitchen menu.
Seasonal beer releases create unpredictable demand. Lavu helps you manage inventory fluctuations. Marty, Lavu’s AI analytics layer, predicts demand patterns. It recommends optimal ingredient orders. This cuts waste and boosts profitability. Lavu is your operator ally. We provide data for smart decisions.
Lavu connects your entire operation. Your kitchen display system talks to your bar POS. Manage staff schedules and payroll within the system. Get detailed reports on brew batch profitability. You gain complete control and visibility. Visit https://lavu.com/demo to see how Lavu works for your brewpub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lavu track specific beer ingredients like hops and malt?
Yes, Lavu offers advanced inventory management. You track raw ingredients and link them directly to brew batches.
Does Lavu help manage seasonal beer releases and their impact on demand?
Yes, Marty, Lavu’s AI analytics layer, provides insights. It helps predict demand for seasonal releases.
Is Lavu suitable for both the restaurant and brewery side of my operation?
Yes, Lavu is purpose-built for dual operations. It manages both food service and beverage production efficiently.
Can I integrate my kitchen display system (KDS) with Lavu?
Yes, Lavu integrates KDS solutions. This ensures smooth communication between your kitchen and bar staff.
What about my existing hardware? Can I still use it?
Sometimes. Lavu supports a range of hardware, but compatibility depends on your specific devices.
Does Lavu offer loyalty programs for my regular customers?
Yes, Lavu includes integrated loyalty features. Reward your best customers and drive repeat business.
How does Lavu handle employee scheduling and payroll?
Lavu offers built-in employee management. This includes scheduling, time tracking, and reporting for payroll.
Ready to see Lavu in action?
Book a free demo and see how Lavu helps operators like you.
