Alishahi InsuranceIndependent Insurance Broker
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Who insures it · 2 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures breweries and distilleries?

Breweries and distilleries is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

2 markets publicly write breweries and distilleries: Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), Illinois Casualty Company (ICC). 2 admitted carriers. 1 on admitted paper.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

MarketWhat they say they writeWherePaperSource
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY)
Admitted carrier		Craft Brewery & Distillery package: microbreweries, regional craft breweries, craft distilleries, craft hard cideries; property and liability with sub-limits for processing water, contamination & adulteration and product withdrawal expense.
“We offer property and liability insurance solutions for Craft Breweries and Distilleries.”		not statednot statedphly.com · read 2026-10-28
Illinois Casualty Company (ICC)
Admitted carrier		Brewery, distillery and winery insurance program from start-up breweries to multigenerational wineries; food-and-beverage-only carrier.
“We're the brewery, distillery, and winery insurance specialists.”		18 states (homepage: "ICC is an admitted carrier in eighteen states.")Admittedilcasco.com · read 2026-10-28

Four markets verified. Novatae's page lists "Wineries/breweries" as a binding class under the quoted sentence. Society Insurance's site has no brewery page, Erie's breweries/wineries/distilleries page returned no text, and Hanover's industries page returned 404, so they were dropped.

How breweries and distilleries gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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