brewery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal & Informal
Quick answer
What does “brewery” mean?
An establishment where beer is produced commercially.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An establishment where beer is produced commercially.
By extension, any place or situation where a large, ongoing, and often messy process is happening.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciations differ. The metaphorical usage ('a brewery in...') is perhaps slightly more common in UK informal speech.
Connotations
Neutral term for an industrial plant. In figurative use, connotes chaotic productivity.
Frequency
Equal frequency as a noun for the building/business. Figurative use is low-frequency in both.
Grammar
How to Use “brewery” in a Sentence
[ADJ] brewerybrewery in/at/near [PLACE]brewery run by [PERSON]brewery that produces [PRODUCT]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brewery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company plans to brewery a new stout.
- He breweries in his shed at weekends.
American English
- They brewery several ales on site.
- We don't brewery lagers here.
adverb
British English
- The beer was made brewery-style.
- They operated brewery-efficiently.
American English
- The equipment was installed brewery-correct.
- He spoke brewery-knowledgeably.
adjective
British English
- The brewery process is complex.
- He has a brewery background.
American English
- She works in the brewery industry.
- They attended a brewery conference.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in commerce, tourism, and industry contexts (e.g., 'The brewery's annual turnover increased.').
Academic
Appears in historical, economic, or food science texts (e.g., 'The 19th-century brewery architecture was studied.').
Everyday
Common in discussions about local businesses, tours, or beer (e.g., 'Let's go on the brewery tour this weekend.').
Technical
Used in brewing industry manuals and engineering contexts (e.g., 'The brewery's fermentation tanks were sterilised.').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brewery”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brewery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brewery”
- Spelling: 'brewry', 'brewerie'. Pronunciation: stressing the second syllable (/bruːˈer.i/). Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He breweries beer').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A brewery's primary function is to produce beer, often for distribution. A brewpub is primarily a pub or restaurant that brews beer on-site for sale directly to customers.
Typically no. While 'brew' can apply to tea or coffee, 'brewery' is almost exclusively for beer. For other drinks, terms like 'distillery' (spirits) or 'roastery' (coffee) are used.
It is primarily British/Australian. The American equivalent might be 'couldn't organise a two-car funeral' or simply 'very disorganised'. The British idiom is understood but sounds very foreign in the US.
The standard plural is 'breweries' (pronounced /ˈbruː.ər.iz/ or /ˈbrʊr.iz/).
An establishment where beer is produced commercially.
Brewery is usually formal & informal in register.
Brewery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbruː.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbruː.ər.i/ or /ˈbrʊr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery”
- “Run it like a brewery”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BREW' + 'ERY' (a place where something is done). A place where they BREW beer is a BREWERY.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BREWERY IS A PLACE OF PRODUCTION (extended to chaotic situations: 'His office is a real brewery right now.').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common, literal meaning of 'brewery'?