HOW MUCH DOES MICRO BREWERY EQUIPMENT COST

Jul 13, 2021
105
tiantai

Breweries can vary enormously in size, from the smallest micro brewery equipment to the largest multinational brewing corporation. The diversity of processes is likewise diverse, being largely dependent on the type of beer produced and the degree of automation desired.

For example, a larger brewery is more likely to be composed of distinct sections such that each is dedicated to a specific phase of the brewing process.

At the other extreme, a micro brewery is more likely to consist of a single room, where the entire brewing process is performed. Despite the great difference in size, however, much of the brewing process has remained essentially unchanged, as it’s dictated by relatively simple biochemical processes.

A microbrewery, or craft brewery, is typically owned independently and much smaller than the corporate breweries that produce most of the beer appearing in bars and retail shelves. However, this distinction has become blurred in recent years as major brewers have created some very large “craft breweries.”

FACTORS AFFECTING MICRO BREWERY EQUIPMENT COSTS

Regardless of their size, all breweries must estimate their micro brewery equipment costs, which is highly dependent on the volume of beer it needs to produce.

Factors that come into play in estimating the cost of micro brewery equipment include:

_ Brewery equipment material

_ New or used brewery equipment

_ Size of the brewhouse

I.Brewery Equipment Material

Brewery equipment is made of various materials, the most common brewing kettles being made from copper and stainless steel.

(1). Copper Brewery Equipment

Brewery equipment has traditionally been made of copper, especially the kettles in which the wort is boiled. Copper ore is readily available and easily smelted into pure form. Furthermore, copper transfers heat quickly and evenly, which is highly desirable for brewing. However, copper reacts with many chemicals, which can give a metallic flavor to the beer. It can also be corroded by many types of cleaning solutions.

(2). Stainless Steel Brewery Equipment

Today’s commercial breweries predominantly use kettles made of stainless steel, although they’re still known as “coppers” regardless of the materials used to make them. Many modern kettles have copper cladding to provide a more traditional appearance, but this cladding is purely cosmetic as it doesn’t come into contact with the wort. Stainless steel reacts with very few chemicals, although chlorine is one of them.

Brewery equipment made of stainless steel shouldn’t impart any flavors to the beer, provided it isn’t cleaned with bleach. Stainless steel is also much stronger than copper, which is a critical consideration since kettles are pressurized when the wort is boiled.

II.New or Used Brewery Equipment

In addition to size, the cost of brewery equipment is greatly affected by whether it’s new or used. Business owners starting a microbrewery often have a limited startup budget that requires them to make some compromises regarding their purchase decisions.

The major equipment that a brewery needs includes the following:

_Boilers

_Kettles

_Fermentation Tanks

_Storage Tanks

_Kegs

Filters, cooling equipment, bottlers, refrigerators and cleaning tools are essential equipment for a brewery of any size as well.

III.Size of the Brewhouse

A brewhouse may refer to a company that brews beer or the building used for this process, but it’s also a collective term for all the components a brewery will need for the initial brewing stage. These components typically include the following:

_Mash mixer

_Lauter tun

_Hot liquor tank

_Boil kettle

_Whirlpool

A larger brewery may use a five-vessel brewhouse, in which each of these components is a separate vessel.

A microbrewery is more likely to use a two-vessel brewhouse that combines the mash mixer, lauter tun and hot liquor tank into one vessel, and the boil kettle and whirlpool into another vessel. The first of these vessels is used to mash the malt and other grains and extract the liquid wort. The second vessel in a two-vessel brewhouse is used to add hops and other ingredients to the wort and boil the resulting mixture. The wort is then allowed to settle, allowing solid particles to be separated from the liquid. The capacities of brewhouses are typically measured in barrels (bbls), which is 31 U.S. gallons in the United States.

Tiantai Beer Equipment manufactures brewhouses in a range of capacities, such as its 3.5 bbl system that retails for just under $20,000. Its 20 bbl brewhouse is under $60,000.

Fermentation Tanks

Fermentation is the next step in the brewing process after the wort has been prepared. Fermentation tanks hold the wort while yeast converts to sugar in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide. These tanks should have a cone-shaped bottom, which facilities the process of recovering the yeast for later use. Jacketed fermenters allow you to control the mash temperature more easily, but they’re also considerably more expensive.

Stout Tanks and Kettles manufactures fermenters in a range of sizes, primarily for smaller breweries. Its ½ bbl non-jacketed fermenter sells for a little over $400, while its 4 bbl is a little under $2,500. The jacketed fermenters start at over $3,200 for a 1 bb fermenter and go up to nearly $6,000 for a 5 bbl unit. Larger models up to 20 bbl require individual quotes.

Brite Tanks

Beer is filtered and pumped into another tank known as a secondary fermentation or brite tank after the fermentation process is largely complete. A brite tank allows the beer to further clarify and carbonate before being transferred into a bottle, can or keg for consumption. Some brewpubs also serve beer directly from a brite tank.

The cost of non-jacketed brite tanks from Stout Tanks and Kettles range from about $1,400 for a 1-bbl model to about $4,600 for a 7-bbl model. A 5-bbl jacketed brite tank sells for a little over $5,800, and quotes for other sizes are available upon request.

For more detailed estimated cost of micro brewery equipment, please feel free to contact with Tiantai Beer Equipment to get latest offer.

Derrick
Sales Manager
Tiantai Beer Equipment
[email protected]