Propane usage

[jbs]

Hello,
Will anyone share their propane expense per barrel of production? Ours is painfully high at $18.00/bbl.
Thanks

[Moonlight]

I use just under a gallon per barrel for a 20 bbl direct fire kettle.

[gitchegumee]

Just like everything else, it depends. What is your water supply temperature? Do you have a HLT? Electric or propane? What is your evaporation rate? Length of boil? If you're inclined, you could do a quick spreadsheet with "heat rate" of your propane fuel balancing BTUs of heat needed to warm water & boil your wort. We use propane to heat and boil 10hl for 90 minutes with about 5% total evaporation and use about 10 gallons of propane per batch. Our efficiency is about 46%. Much of the heat goes up the stack.

[jbs]

Thank you for the info. I want to compare prices all the way through production---including any steam sterilizing, keg cleaning, heating, hot water, etc. Basically, how much propane contributes to different breweries cost of goods sold independent of equipment and technique.