Brewing System Sizing - Specific Mechanical Systems

Choose a System Properly Sized for your Business Model

Breweries come in many different shapes and sizes. Let us help you select the proper system for your Brewery, MicroBrewery or Brewpub.

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  • Estimate annual production of barrels (bbls) per year
    • 5,000 barrels of annual production
    • 75% of production are Ales (3,750 barrels), 25% of production are Lagers (1,250 barrels)
    • 50 brewing weeks per year, 2 weeks to ferment Ales (25 cycles per year) and 4 weeks to ferment lagers (12.5 cycles per year)
  • Select the proper brewhouse system size in accordance with planned brews per week

    System Size (Brewhouse Size) x Number of brews per week x 50 weeks per year = Annual Production

    • Option 1 – 10 Barrel System:
      • 5,000 barrels / 10 barrel brewhouse / 50 brew weeks = 10 brews per week
    • Option 2 – 20 Barrel System:
      • 5,000 barrels / 20 barrel brewhouse / 50 brew weeks = 5 brews per week
    • Option 3 – 50 Barrel System:
      • 5,000 barrels / 50 barrel brewhouse / 50 brew weeks = 2 brews per week
    • 2-3 brews per week is common for new operations
    • Labour component must be considered
    • A brewpub should consider the number of beers to serve on tap now and in future

     

  • Select the appropriate cellar size
    • Ales: 3,750 / 25 = 150 barrels of required fermentation capacity
    • Lagers: 1,250 / 12.5 = 100 barrels of required fermentation capacity
    • 250 barrels of total fermentation capacity required
    • A 10 barrel system would require 25 x 10 barrel fermenters
    • A 20 barrel system would require 13 x 20 barrel fermenters
    • A 50 barrel system would require 5 x 50 barrel fermenters
    • Double or triple sized fermenters and conditioning/bright tanks are sometimes used if back-to-back brews occur
    • A brewpub should consider the number of serving tanks required and the use of kegs for serving beer
  • Possible Configurations
    • 50-barrel system with 5 x 50 barrel fermenters and 1 x 50-barrel bright beer tank
      • This will comfortably allow for future expansion
    • 20-barrel system with 3 x 20 barrel fermenters and 5 x 40 barrel fermenters, 8 x serving tanks and serving kegs
    • Factors that influence the selecting of the size of system are:
      • Manpower utilization
      • Floor space
      • Expansion capabilities
      • Price
      • Satisfying system/production requirements