How Much Does Large Brewing Equipment Cost?
Large Brewing Equipment Cost
The equipment needed to produce your beer is one of the largest costs involved in starting a brewery. You can save money by purchasing used equipment, but make sure you research any major purchases before committing.It is also important to ensure that you have adequate space for your brewing operation. This includes the space needed for brite and fermenting tanks, which can be very tall.
Fermentation is an ancient method of food preservation that has been modified and refined throughout the years. It is believed to preserve food, promote digestion, and enhance taste and aroma. It is also used to make beer.
A fermenter is a vessel that holds the wort while yeast converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The brewer needs to ensure that the temperature of the wort is stable and does not drop below freezing during this process.
Breweries often use brite tanks to clarify and carbonate their products. These tanks allow the beer to further refine its characteristics before it is transferred into bottles, cans, or kegs for distribution. A non-jacketed Large beer brewing equipment costs about $1,400. Jacketed brite tanks cost about $5,800. The price of a brite tank depends on its size and manufacturer.
How Much Does Large Brewing Equipment Cost?
A keg (also called a Cornelius or “Corny”) is the container that most people think of when they think of beer. The full half barrel keg that you see carted into bars and dragged up steps at house parties is a large object that weighs 160 pounds when filled with beer and 30 when empty.
A keg is designed to maintain the carbonation of the liquid it holds by storing the beer under pressurized gas. The most common types of kegs are the Pin Lock and Ball Lock kegs, which are more popular with homebrewers because they can be used with a disconnect to connect them to gas and liquid lines. These kegs can hold up to 53 four-packs of 16-ounce cans or 40 pints.
Breweries consume a lot of power and energy, which results in monthly expenses ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. It’s important for breweries to estimate their energy costs when planning and budgeting for their brewery.
Depending on how much beer you plan on producing, and whether or not you want to offer a brewery food menu (and purchase the necessary license), your startup costs can vary greatly. But one thing is for sure: your equipment will be a large part of the overall cost. And as a small business owner, you’ll need to carefully select the right size equipment for your operation. You’ll also need to consider the cost of filters, cooling equipment, bottlers, refrigerators and cleaning tools. Each of these items can add up quickly and significantly increase your startup costs.
The pump system is the heart of any brewery, adding power to move liquids from a lower pressure system into a higher one. Pumps come in many forms including lobe pumps which are commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as they do not damage products with metal-to-metal contact.
The size of your brewery determines which other pieces of equipment you need to purchase. For instance, you may need to buy keg storage supplies and hand trucks to transport kegs throughout your facility.
Another essential item for breweries is refrigeration equipment. This includes countertop bottle coolers as well as walk-in freezers. Breweries also need to invest in brewing supplies and equipment to package their beer. These supplies can include labels, bottles, and packaging equipment.
A brewery needs tanks to hold the wort during fermentation, when the yeast converts sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The tank must have a cone-shaped bottom to facilitate the removal of the spent yeast and wort. Some breweries use jacketed fermenters, which are more expensive than non-jacketed tanks.
Breweries also need brite tanks, where the beer is clarified and carbonated before it’s transferred into bottles, cans, or kegs for distribution to bars and restaurants. These tanks can be non-jacketed or jacketed, and cost from $1,400 for a 1-bbl brite tank to $5,800 for a 5-bbl model.
A brewery needs heavy brewing equipment and large storage tanks, which can be a significant investment. Additionally, the equipment requires a lot of power and energy to operate, which can significantly increase your monthly electricity costs.
