How to Get Your Brewery on Google Maps

When someone opens Google Maps and searches "brewery near me," you either show up or you don't. There's no second page — the map pack shows three results, and the rest are invisible. Getting into that top three is the single most impactful thing a brewery can do for walk-in traffic.

Here's how to do it, step by step.

Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile

Go to business.google.com and search for your brewery. If it already exists, claim it. If not, create it. Google will send you a verification postcard or let you verify by phone or video. Don't skip this — nothing else works until you're verified.

Step 2: Complete Every Section

Google rewards complete profiles. Fill in your name, address, phone number, website, hours (including holiday hours), and category. Your primary category should be "Brewery" — not bar, not restaurant. Add secondary categories like "Beer garden" or "Taproom" if they apply.

Step 3: Add Photos — Lots of Them

Businesses with photos get 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks. Add at least 20 photos: your taproom, your tap list, your food (if you serve it), your patio, and your team. Update them seasonally. Google surfaces fresh content.

Step 4: Get Your NAP Consistent Everywhere

NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. It needs to be identical everywhere it appears online — your website, Yelp, Untappd, Facebook, TripAdvisor. Even small differences ("St." vs "Street") can hurt your local rankings.

Step 5: Collect Reviews Actively

Google Maps rankings are heavily influenced by review count and recency. Ask every satisfied customer for a review — put a QR code on your bar, your receipts, and your tables linking directly to your Google review page. Respond to every review, positive and negative. It shows Google (and people) that you're active.

Step 6: Post Updates Weekly

Google Business Profile has a Posts feature — use it. New beer release, upcoming event, tap list update. These posts show up in your Maps listing and signal to Google that your business is active. One post per week is enough to make a difference.

Step 7: Make Sure Your Website Matches

Google cross-references your Maps listing with your website. Your address, phone number, and business name should match exactly. Having a dedicated page for each location (if you have multiple) helps too. A fast, mobile-friendly site signals credibility.