Two things are certain in the brewing industry:
- You will have a market for your product.
- You will have fruit flies in your establishment.
Statistics show that 6 out of every 10 Americans drink alcohol. Due to the many flavors available, the amount of alcohol per ounce in comparison to hard liquor, and the decreased likelihood of the dreaded hangover from consuming beer, the beverage has become the first choice of many alcohol drinkers. Therefore, you WILL have a market for your product! And, just by the process of brewing, you WILL have fruit flies, as they are attracted to the yeast required for the production of beer. Yeast is what gives beer its odor, and sometimes that odor smells like ripening fruit. Hello, fruit flies! But is this a problem for your brewery? The simple answer is yes.
You may see articles that say fruit flies are good for your brewery and may even improve the taste of your beer. This relates to the fruity essence of the yeast and the fruit fly’s attraction to it. Without reading those articles, you wouldn’t know that the way the flies improve the flavor of beer is through transfers of yeast, even some yeasts that are in the wild and not fully discovered. The fruit flies bring these yeasts to the attention of scientists who can then collect the yeast and develop it into an effective brewer’s yeast. So, fruit flies in the wild doing their thing = good for beer. Fruit flies in your brewery spreading their nasty germs = not good for beer.
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting fruits and vegetables, sugar, and damp environments. They don’t necessarily eat the fruit, but rather the fungus that grows on the rotting fruit. Not only do they eat the fungus, but they also lay hundreds of eggs at a time in the rotting fruit to allow the larvae something to eat when hatched. When the flies land in your brewery, acetic acid bacteria from the rotten fruit could be transferred to your beer. This is not good because acetic acid changes ethanol into vinegar which will ruin a perfectly good batch of brew.
If the threat of turning your tasty brew into vinegar isn’t enough incentive to eradicate the fruit flies in your business, consider that fruit flies also visit garbage bins and sink and sewer drains where they can pick up pathogens that can cause contamination of food and beverages. This not only applies to fruit flies but to other flies as well. Keeping your brewery free of flying insects should be a priority to keep your batch of tasty beer at its highest possible quality.
Beyond the annoyance of buzzing wings and tiny invaders hovering over your taps, flies pose a serious risk to cleanliness and customer confidence. However, it’s not just flies you need to worry about. Termites can quietly and steadily wreak havoc on wooden infrastructure, damaging barrels, shelving, and even the very walls of your brewery. In environments where precision and hygiene are non-negotiable—like breweries—pests of all kinds have no place. A single infestation can undermine months of hard work, putting both product integrity and your reputation on the line.
That’s where Cura Pest steps in as a game-changer for breweries and other businesses in the food and beverage industry. Specializing in targeted, industry-compliant pest control solutions, they understands the unique challenges faced by establishments like yours. From proactive fly control strategies to discreet inspections for termites, and eco-conscious treatments for all types of pests, their approach ensures pests are handled swiftly and professionally—without disrupting your operations.
In high-stakes commercial settings like breweries, kitchens, warehouses, and restaurants, maintaining a pest-free environment isn’t just a matter of comfort—it’s a critical component of daily operations. Pests like termites can silently gnaw through structural wood, while ants, spiders, and other crawling insects may nest in overlooked corners, jeopardizing sanitation standards and worker safety.
Even small, seemingly benign intruders like pantry bugs can spiral into significant problems if left unchecked. That’s why partnering with a knowledgeable and responsive pest management provider is essential. Ultimate Pest Control Services brings a level of expertise tailored for businesses that can’t afford downtime or contamination. With discreet, results-driven strategies, they help prevent infestations before they start, using environmentally responsible treatments that align with industry regulations. Their team is trained to identify vulnerabilities unique to commercial operations, from loading docks to storage areas, ensuring that no pest—flying or crawling—threatens your workspace.
Fruit flies, often a hidden nuisance, can quickly become a headache in environments like breweries where fermentation and freshness are critical. These tiny pests not only spoil the aesthetic of your production areas but also carry the risk of contaminating your product with bacteria, potentially compromising the flavor and safety of your brews. Their rapid reproduction and ability to thrive in even the smallest food scraps make them an ever-present threat if left unchecked.
A Termishield Pest Control takes a strategic approach to eliminating fruit flies, focusing on prevention through expert inspection and tailored treatments. By identifying breeding grounds and removing attractants, their team minimizes the risk of re-infestation, ensuring that your facility remains clean and compliant. Their discreet, non-invasive methods keep your operations running smoothly while protecting the integrity of your product from unwanted pests.
Fruit flies can cause problems in your brewery operation, but if you have a taproom where guests can sample your brew, you will definitely want to keep that free of all flying insects. Nothing is more unappetizing than a fly in your drink! Keep your fruit garnishes covered and your drink spills to a minimum to reduce the occurrences of fruit flies and other flies in your taproom.
While fruit flies may be the most visible intruders in a brewery or taproom, they’re far from the only ones to worry about. Termites can silently eat away at your building’s structure, mosquitoes bring health risks and discomfort to patrons and staff, and larger wildlife—like raccoons or squirrels—can cause chaos if they find a way inside. Maintaining a pest-free space isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about protecting your investment and your guests’ experience from every angle.
That’s why working with seasoned professionals matters. Atlanta pest control experts bring a comprehensive approach to pest management that goes beyond a single species. They assess your property inside and out, crafting a multi-layered defense against everything from winged annoyances to four-legged intruders. Whether you run a high-traffic taproom or a quiet brewing facility, their customized, eco-conscious solutions ensure your operations stay safe, clean, and pest-free—season after season.
Much of this is true for our winery friends as well. With fruit and fermentation being the key ingredients in producing wine, fruit flies are bound to find their way into these establishments as well. And, just as a good brew can be turned to vinegar, a good wine can too.
One last interesting tidbit: Fruit flies have been shown to self-medicate with alcohol. Studies have indicated that male fruit flies will search out beer or wine to mend their broken hearts when their sexual advances are not well-received by female fruit flies. In fact, a study done by the University of California showed that spurned male fruit flies consumed four times more alcohol than the male fruit flies who were able to mate.
The bottom line? Do what you can to keep fruit flies to a minimum in your brewery and taproom. The 6 out of 10 Americans that consume alcohol will thank you for providing many different, flavorful versions of their favorite drink, free of flying insects and their yucky germs! While fruit flies may be friends to scientists in the development of yeasts for brewing, they are a foe to the brewers who need to put that yeast to use.
Be the first to comment