No matter how diligent you are at producing a quality product, there can be times when situations beyond your control result in a batch of beer unfit for customer consumption.
If a contaminated batch is caught before leaving the brewery, you face the cost of wasted materials and production time, disposal, and the loss of revenue from not being able to sell the final product.
If the batch makes it to store shelves, it can be even more costly. Not only is there the time and cost of replacing the contaminated product with a sellable one, but there is also the need to protect your brand during a recall.
A poor product experience can be especially damaging for small brewing operations that rely heavily on word-of-mouth advertising. Be prepared to work not only with distributors but also directly with consumers who have received a less-than-quality product.