WASHINGTON · NAICS 3121
Washington brewery, distillery, and winery projects sit in the country's second-largest wine producing state, with production from Walla Walla and the Columbia Valley flowing into Woodinville's tasting room cluster alongside one of the deepest craft brewing scenes in Seattle. Studies translate production capacity, taproom and tasting room revenue, distribution mix, and inventory cycles into projections, and reconcile build-out and equipment structures against coverage under stress.
FEASIBILITY TRIGGER
Production capacity, taproom revenue, and inventory cycles make these projection-heavy deals where studies are routinely required.
Between FY2010 and FY2026, SBA lenders approved and disbursed 255 7(a) and 504 loans for brewery, distillery, and winery projects in Washington, totaling $106.0 million in approved financing at an average of $416,000 per loan. Washington ranks #5 of 38 states tracked for brewery, distillery, and winery SBA lending volume and accounts for 3.6% of national brewery, distillery, and winery SBA dollar volume. 89.8% of these loans were made under the 7(a) program, the remainder under 504. 32 loans have been approved since FY2024.
| Disbursed loans (FY2010–FY2026) | 255 |
| Approved volume | $106.0 million |
| Average loan size | $416,000 |
| 7(a) share | 89.8% |
| Approvals since FY2024 | 32 |
| State rank by loan count | #5 of 38 |
Among the 184 seasoned loans in this segment (approvals FY2010–FY2021), 5.4% reached adverse resolution — purchased, liquidated, or charged off. The national benchmark for brewery, distillery, and winery is 8.1%, against 7.3% across all industries. That performance runs below the national benchmark for this asset class, a credit-positive signal for lenders.
Source: SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level data, as of March 31, 2026. Disbursed loans only. See data methodology.
A 5.4% adverse-resolution rate below the national brewery, distillery, and winery benchmark of 8.1% supports the credit story for well-underwritten Washington projects in this class. Across 255 SBA loans averaging $416,000, that track record does not eliminate the need for a third-party feasibility study, but it means a rigorous study reinforces rather than defends the projections.
Every Washington breweries, distilleries and wineries project we underwrite follows the same lender ready process: independent market analysis, site and technical review, and financial projections tested against SBA SOP 50 10 8 standards. Our SBA feasibility study consultants guide explains scope, timing, deliverables, and what lenders and CDCs expect in the report.
The national SBA brewery feasibility study tests practical capacity, on-site coverage, distribution law and aging-inventory funding. Its lending ledger benchmarks a Washington brewery file against 5,393 disbursed SBA brewery loans.
Washington projects most often pencil under SBA 504 because the 50/40/10 structure delivers up to 90 percent financing on owner-occupied real estate at a fixed debenture rate, decisive in a Puget Sound market where land costs run high. SBA 7(a) covers acquisitions, working capital, and equipment, and from July 4, 2026 eligible borrowers can combine 7(a) and 504 for up to $10 million in total program credit.
Washington is the second-largest wine producing state in the country per the state wine commission, with roughly 1,050 to 1,070 licensed wineries on more than 35,000 acres of wine grapes, from Walla Walla and the Columbia Valley production base to Woodinville's tasting room cluster, alongside one of the nation's deepest craft brewing scenes in Seattle.
For a national view of this asset class, see our brewery, distillery, and winery SBA feasibility overview, and read our related analysis in the brewery, distillery, and winery lending research on our blog.
Compare neighboring markets: Virginia, West Virginia, Texas.
Public SBA and CDC program records, cited as program evidence
$2.8M SBA 504 ground-up through Florida First Capital plus $300K state working capital
7,500 square foot brewery, taproom, restaurant, and event space, national program evidence
Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida
Fifteen-minute scoping call, written proposal inside one business day, firm fixed fee before you sign.
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