Launch a brand
before a brewery.
Private label — sometimes called contract brewing — is the recommended entry point for LiveSwell. Skip the $500K facility, hire an existing brewery to make the beer, and put a real, shelf-ready LiveSwell product in the market in 3–6 months.
Snapshot
The numbers at a glance
Timing
Not gated on relocation
Private label is not gated on a brewery site — it starts now, alongside K4C. The five green lights govern the full brewery only.
How it works
Four steps from concept to shelf
01
Partner brewery
Contract with an established Oregon brewery, ideally in or near the corridor, with spare capacity. They handle brewing, packaging, and TTB compliance on their license.
02
Recipe & brand
Co-develop one or two recipes from the LiveSwell lineup (start with the Lager and Sol Swell). Lock in label artwork, COLAs, and SKUs.
03
Distribution
Choose self-distribution under an OLCC license (type TBD) (more margin, more work) or sign with a regional distributor (less margin, faster reach). Most brand houses start hybrid.
04
Build the brand
Focus capital on packaging, accounts, and storytelling — not steel. Every dollar earned validates demand for the eventual taproom.
Per-unit economics
Per-case and per-keg contribution
Indicative figures for a contract-brewed low-ABV lager at modest volume. Real numbers vary by partner, packaging, and channel — these represent the moderate case used in the feasibility study.
| Unit | Wholesale price | Production cost | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 BBL keg (15.5 gal) | $180 | $95 | $85 |
| 1/6 BBL keg (5.2 gal) | $75 | $42 | $33 |
| 24-pack 12oz cans (case) | $32 | $22 | $10 |
| 4-pack 16oz cans | $11 | $7.20 | $3.80 |
Distribution
Self vs. third-party — pick your trade-off
Self-distribution
OLCC license — type to confirm
Keep ~30% more margin per case. Direct relationships with accounts. You handle the truck, the cold chain, the invoices, the rejections. Realistic for 5–25 local accounts.
OLCC's Wholesale Malt Beverage and Wine license is $550 a year. A brewery-public house can't wholesale beer brewed for it under a custom order (OLCC). Which license fits: TBD with OLCC or counsel.
Third-party distributor
Faster reach, less margin
Scales to hundreds of accounts quickly. Distributor takes 25–30%. You lose direct buyer relationships and franchise law makes the contract hard to exit. Right answer once volume justifies it.
The hybrid play
Brand house → proven demand → taproom
Private label is not a consolation prize — it's a derisking sequence. Two years of contract-brewed sales generate the three things a taproom investor wants to see: actual revenue, brand recognition, and a customer list.
By the time the taproom decision window opens in 2028–31, LiveSwell either has the traction to justify a $500K+ build or the data to walk away — without ever risking the capital.
Go deeper
The full private-label section in the feasibility study covers TTB permits, distributor contracts, slotting fees, and the 36-month revenue model. Jump to that section →
Recipe lab
For early recipe development before committing to a contract brewer, Citizen Brewers may offer a brew-on-premises option in the region (TBD — cost and yield not yet quoted). Useful for palate validation and K4C pilot pours, not a commercial production route.