This article discusses various types of beer equipment, including home brewing, hotel craft beer, small brewery, and large-scale brewery equipment, along with their configurations. It also outlines key factors to consider when building a brewery, such as production volume, space, brewing process, scalability, budget, utility requirements, equipment integration, and supplier reputation.
Beer equipment types
Home brewing equipment: Mainly used for personal or family use, suitable for users who like to make their own beer.
Hotel craft beer equipment: Widely used in high-end large and medium-sized hotels, guesthouses, ecological parks, barbecue restaurants and other catering venues, providing high-quality craft beer.
Small brewery equipment: Suitable for enterprises or individuals to invest in and build factories, with a small scale, suitable for start-ups or small production needs.
Large and medium-sized brewery equipment: Suitable for large-scale production in large breweries.
Brewery equipment configuration
Grinding system: Used to grind malt into wort, divided into dry grinding system and wet grinding system, mostly using roller grinder.
Saccharification system: Including gelatinization pot, saccharification pot, filter tank, boiling pot and rotary sedimentation tank and other equipment, used for saccharification of wort.
Fermentation system: including equipment such as fermentation tanks and sedimentation tanks, used to ferment saccharified wort.
Refrigeration system: used to reduce the temperature of beer to a suitable temperature to ensure the quality of beer, mainly including refrigeration units and ice water tanks.
Cleaning system (CIP system): used for cleaning tanks and pipelines, and can be equipped with hot water tanks, alkaline water tanks, acid tanks, disinfection tanks, etc. according to configuration requirements.
Control system: used to control the operating status and parameters of various equipment to ensure the smooth progress of the brewing process.
Water treatment system: used to treat the water quality required in the brewing process to ensure that the brewing water meets the requirements.
Filling system: used for filling and selling beer, including bottling, barreling and other equipment
Factors to consider when building a brewery
1. Production volume
When choosing brewing equipment, a basic consideration is to determine the production volume. Clearly state how much beer you intend to brew within a specific time frame. This decision should take into account market demand, distribution channels, and realistic growth forecasts.
2. Available Space
It is critical to evaluate the physical space in your brewery or planned location. In addition to floor space, consider ceiling height and access points for installation, maintenance, and potential future expansion. The layout of the space will affect the size and configuration of your brewing equipment.
3. Brewing Process and Batch Size
Evaluate your brewing process and determine the typical batch size you plan to produce. Whether you focus on small-batch craft or opt for large batches, your equipment selection should align with your brewing style, recipe complexity, and the number of fermenters and storage vessels you need.
4. Scalability and Growth
Consider your brewery's long-term goals and growth plans. Choose brewing equipment that is scalable and can easily accommodate increased production.
5. Budget and Financial Considerations
When selecting brewing equipment, understand your budget constraints and financial goals. While cost is an important factor, balance your budget with the long-term value and performance of the equipment. Consider factors such as equipment life, warranty, maintenance costs, and potential return on investment to make an informed decision.
6. Utility Requirements
Evaluate the utility requirements of your brewing equipment, including power, water, and gas supply specifications. Make sure your facility can meet these requirements to support the selected equipment.
7. Equipment Integration & Compatibility
Consider how the brewing equipment you choose will integrate with existing or planned systems. Ensure compatibility with auxiliary systems such as glycol chiller units, keg or canning lines, filtration systems, and control systems.
8. Supplier Reputation and Support
Choose reputable suppliers who have a proven track record of providing quality brewing equipment and excellent customer support. Conduct thorough research by reading supplier reviews, seeking advice from industry professionals, and evaluating the supplier's expertise and responsiveness. Reliable support and service are invaluable throughout the equipment selection, installation, and maintenance process.
