Effect
Hop extract brewer
- Joined
- 22/8/08
- Messages
- 1,666
- Reaction score
- 1
I have been throwing around the idea of opening up my own brewpub (in 5-6 years though mind you when I turn 30 and the micro scene is much bigger) and I have been thinking about how to build my brewery for this venture. Ideally I would like to buy a 500 litre microbrewery system from canada that is all shiny - but I think the money will be better spent on operating costs and making sure the business survives rather than having good kit to show off. Another reason why I am thinking of making my own system is because I most likely won't be able to brew on premise as the local council will probably not give me permission to produce beer within the city for whatever reason they can think of at the time. So production of the beer will most likely take place off site but be sold within the brewpub/brewcafe. The final reason for building my own gear is that it is going to be cheaper to do so and can produce the same quality beer - it won't matter what it looks like because no one will see it.
So how does one go about building a 400 - 500 litre system. I know that some of you have this size system or at least have friends with this size system - so your input would really help. I'll try and get in contact with the kooinda mob about how they built their equipment to start out with.
I can build a 50 litre system no worries, that is what I brew on at the moment, but I feel that it won't be as simple as making the equipment 10 times bigger. Basically I would just like some advice on what direction I should go. Some people have told me that I could build a 500 litre system for under $5000 (not including fermenters etc) then spend a fair whack on a good bottling line. So how would one build a $5000 brewery? What parts would get more money than others and what areas could I get away with making short cuts etc. What size fermenters should I aim at getting and how much is a fair price to be looking at one.
Ideally, I would want to brew on site (or atleast ferment on site - which may still be a possibility) and have the beer served straight from bright tanks - instead of having to keg every batch of beer. Your thoughts on this would be great.
I have been reading a few books on how to do this, 'open your own microbrewery/brew pub' from fabjob, 'brewing up a business' by sam calagione and the Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery. From these books I have now got a realistic view on what it will be like to run a microbrewery - for me it is for the lifestyle and not for the money. I have just started my own business which will probably make more money than owning a brewpub, and hopefully I can have both business running at the same time to ease the financial pain of the first year or two.
So if you could please offer me some advice on building a 500 litre system, I will greatly appreciate it and you will also be helping a fellow brewer do things right from the beginning.
Cheers
Phil
So how does one go about building a 400 - 500 litre system. I know that some of you have this size system or at least have friends with this size system - so your input would really help. I'll try and get in contact with the kooinda mob about how they built their equipment to start out with.
I can build a 50 litre system no worries, that is what I brew on at the moment, but I feel that it won't be as simple as making the equipment 10 times bigger. Basically I would just like some advice on what direction I should go. Some people have told me that I could build a 500 litre system for under $5000 (not including fermenters etc) then spend a fair whack on a good bottling line. So how would one build a $5000 brewery? What parts would get more money than others and what areas could I get away with making short cuts etc. What size fermenters should I aim at getting and how much is a fair price to be looking at one.
Ideally, I would want to brew on site (or atleast ferment on site - which may still be a possibility) and have the beer served straight from bright tanks - instead of having to keg every batch of beer. Your thoughts on this would be great.
I have been reading a few books on how to do this, 'open your own microbrewery/brew pub' from fabjob, 'brewing up a business' by sam calagione and the Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery. From these books I have now got a realistic view on what it will be like to run a microbrewery - for me it is for the lifestyle and not for the money. I have just started my own business which will probably make more money than owning a brewpub, and hopefully I can have both business running at the same time to ease the financial pain of the first year or two.
So if you could please offer me some advice on building a 500 litre system, I will greatly appreciate it and you will also be helping a fellow brewer do things right from the beginning.
Cheers
Phil
