Keg Management 101

Set your wine-on-tap program up for success with the right systems and support.

Running a smooth, high-margin wine-on-tap program starts with good communication and efficient keg management. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure your program is successful and cost-effective.

📍 Location, Location, Location

Free Flow has two key locations for full keg pickups:

Biagi Brothers
770 Skyway Ct., Napa, CA 94558

Where will your full kegs be delivered? Will empties be picked up from the same place?
Multiple, 3rd-party, or shared warehouse setups can complicate the collection and credit processes. The more information you provide about your operation, the better Free Flow can customize a system that works for everyone involved.

Key Contacts for Smooth Operations

To get started, Free Flow will need a few points of contact from your team:

Primary Contact
Your main point of contact for everything related to Free Flow kegs. This person will handle any issues or escalation.
Inventory Contact
Monthly reporting of full and empty keg inventory helps Free Flow ensure wine quality and improve throughput. Please have this contact ready.
Accounting Contact
Invoices are sent electronically to this contact. Generic or parent company contacts are fine.
Warehouse Contact
Free Flow works with this person to coordinate keg pickups and deliveries.
Sales Contact
This person should be part of your on-premise sales team, so Free Flow can reach out for market opportunities to move more kegs.

Dollars & Sense: Maximizing Program Efficiency

Free Flow is committed to helping you keep inventory moving. Here’s how we help you increase margins:

Generate demand: Free Flow offers sales and technical training to boost your wine-on-tap program’s success.
Support product quality: Through our network of draft system installation and maintenance partners, we ensure the best dispensing practices for your wine.

🚛 Your Keg Logistics Plan

Yes, empty kegs do need to come back!
Driver training is key — your drivers need to understand that empty kegs should be picked up with each new delivery. Here’s how it works:

Deliver full kegs to accounts.
Pick up empty kegs during each delivery.
Consolidate empty kegs at your warehouse.
Contact Free Flow to coordinate the return shipment.

📍 Special note for control states:
If you're in a market where the government controls alcohol distribution, reach out to us — we’ve got options for you.

Keg Deposits & Credits

A $30 deposit is charged for each keg shipped out of Free Flow’s facilities.
Free Flow tracks each keg by serial number, and it’s recommended that distributors do the same for easy inventory and deposit traceability.
Deposit transfers: If kegs are moved to another distributor or warehouse, we require serial numbers to ensure deposits are properly transferred.
Deposit invoices must be paid in full until the empty kegs are returned. (See section on [Deposit Credits/Refunds] for more details.)

🔄 Reverse Logistics & Best Practices

Free Flow covers reverse keg logistics costs, but when distributors and Free Flow work together to optimize keg handling, costs decrease across the supply chain. This results in higher margins for your wine-on-tap programs.

📞 Need Help?

Whether you’re just starting or scaling your wine-on-tap program, Free Flow is here to support you at every stage.

📧 info@freeflowwines.com
📞 (415) 626-1215

Keg Management 101

An overview of keg management best practices for a successful wine-on-tap program with Free Flow Wines. It covers the logistics of keg deliveries and returns, required contacts for smooth operations, and the importance of monthly inventory reporting.