New Tap Technology Lets Loudoun Brewery Increase Speed Of Service

ASHBURN, VA — Lost Rhino Brewing Co., one of the first craft breweries in Northern Virgnia, is partnering with Sestra, a smart beverage dispensing technology, to integrate Sestra's TapWise system into the brewery's Ashburn tasting room. Lost Rhino's 16-line long draw draft beer system was easily retrofitted with TapWise technology, the brewery said.

The technology turns Lost Rhino's beverage taps into Internet of Things-connected (IoT) devices, allowing the brewery to improve inventory yield, lower cost-per-serving and increase the speed of service. TapWise pours a glass at the press of a button, provides real-time data analytics and combines a host of other technology to improve draft beverage dispensing systems.

In 2011, Lost Rhino was the only brewery in Loudoun County. Now with more than 30 breweries across the county, Lost Rhino is hoping to set itself apart from the others by adopting new technologies to better serve its customers.

"As the world becomes increasingly connected, our guests are surrounded by smart devices," Matt Hagerman, CEO and Founder of Lost Rhino, said in a statement. "It only made sense that we adopt the same technology to provide the brewery with a platform that allows us to reduce waste, improve service, and make informed decisions to better serve our guests."

When Sestra was founded in 2015, its smart dispensing technology was geared toward wine. As the company continued to evolve, it started developing technology specifically for beer and used Lost Rhino's input during the process, the company said.