Do any craft brewers here use a 4 vessel brewhouse? I am looking at opening a brewery in the very near future, and am torn between a 2 vessel(which seems to be the norm for craft breweries) or a 4 vessel system. I have seen larger breweries like Laguinitas and Stone use 4 vessel systems, it seems to be more efficient and a better use of inventory space than a larger 2 vessel system. Any input on this subject would be helpful.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
4 vessel brewhouse
Collapse
X
-
3-Vessel?
Have you considered a 3 vessel brewhouse for your start up? Remember cash is king when opening a business, especially a brewery. Don't over extend yourself. I went with a 3 vessel brewhouse and an oversized HLT and CLT so I could brew all day with no water issues. This is probably the most cost-efficent way to open a brewery because should open with room to grow on your brewhouse meaning you only need larger tanks or more of them to grow, and not a new brewhouse.
Comment
-
Can you go into details of the flexibility? I would think the multi vessel BH would be far more advantageous if you were planning on brewing around the clock, and far cheaper to go with a two for a new brewery.
On the three vessel BH, which three did you go with?Joel Halbleib
Partner / Zymurgist
Hive and Barrel Meadery
6302 Old La Grange Rd
Crestwood, KY
www.hiveandbarrel.com
Comment
-
Mash / Lauter Tun, Boil Kettle, and Whirlpool
I went with a mash / lauter tun, kettle, and whirlpool. With this set up the first beer takes the longest then each brew after the first takes about 3 hours. I can brew 5 batches a day with this set up. The HLT is 2.5 times the size of the brewhouse with a single stage heat exchanger so the CLT (2 times the size of the brewhouse) water coming out of the heat exchanger is around 150F and goes directly back into the steam powered HLT. Highly efficent as far as time and water usage.
Cheers
Comment
-
Originally posted by TricksterI went with a mash / lauter tun, kettle, and whirlpool. With this set up the first beer takes the longest then each brew after the first takes about 3 hours. I can brew 5 batches a day with this set up. The HLT is 2.5 times the size of the brewhouse with a single stage heat exchanger so the CLT (2 times the size of the brewhouse) water coming out of the heat exchanger is around 150F and goes directly back into the steam powered HLT. Highly efficent as far as time and water usage.
Cheers
if you have a MLT/BK/WH and a HLT and CLT wouldn't this be a 5 vessel brewhouse?Scott LaFollette
Fifty West Brewing Company
Cincinnati, Ohio
Comment
-
Originally posted by yapif you have a MLT/BK/WH and a HLT and CLT wouldn't this be a 5 vessel brewhouse?
2 vessel usually means MLT and BK/WP
3 vessel is some other combination like MLT, BK and WP or MT, LT, BK/WP.
4 vessel is MT, LT, BK, and WP.
From what I've seen in my limited experience~Phil
Comment
-
Only the wort/malt handling hot vessels are considered for the brewhouse vessels number. HLT and CLT don't count. Besides increased throughput per given time period, having a mash mixer in the brewhouse allows for easy step mashes and most importantly, a relatively homogenous temperature throughout the entire mash. Some brewers use steam jackets in a mash/lauter tun to do step mashes. While this works to some extent, it is by no means ideal, as the rakes are not designed to mix the mash. You also force a bunch of flour under the screens doing this. Trying a whirlpool in a 30 BBL brew kettle with an internal colandria is challenging. 15-20 BBL without any internal fixtures is about as big as you can go and still be somewhat effective at removing your wort without a pile of trub to boot. As said previously, extra vessels add a chunk to your initial start-up cost, and your ancillary equipment will be expensive no matter how you slice it.______________________
Jamie Fulton
Community Beer Co.
Dallas, Texas
"Beer for the Greater Good"
Comment
-
The flexibility I am speaking of is that if I wanted to do a smaller volume of certain beer, then I am limited to the smallest batch size that I can do and still have an appropriate depth of my mash. So I may have to do double and triple batches for my high volume sellers in a smaller 4 vessel system, but could do a smaller batch of a limited run beer. Where as I could buy a larger 2 vessel system, that works for my high volume brews, but is too much for my limited run stuff.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Pompeiisneaksif I understand it correctly, the HLT and CLT aren't considered part of the brew system's count of tanks. only the MT/LT, BK, and Whirlpool would be. so
2 vessel usually means MLT and BK/WP
3 vessel is some other combination like MLT, BK and WP or MT, LT, BK/WP.
4 vessel is MT, LT, BK, and WP.
From what I've seen in my limited experience
Sorry. Just being picky I guess....Scott LaFollette
Fifty West Brewing Company
Cincinnati, Ohio
Comment
-
limited experience my @$%
Originally posted by Pompeiisneaksif I understand it correctly, the HLT and CLT aren't considered part of the brew system's count of tanks. only the MT/LT, BK, and Whirlpool would be. so
2 vessel usually means MLT and BK/WP
3 vessel is some other combination like MLT, BK and WP or MT, LT, BK/WP.
4 vessel is MT, LT, BK, and WP.
From what I've seen in my limited experience
Cheers to you Phil!Jeff Schrag
Mother's Brewing Co.
Springfield, Missouri
Comment
-
There is also the Mash Kettle, and Wort Receiver to toss a couple more vessels in the mix.
Anyone care to comment on the advantages or disadvantages of a Wort Receiver versus a Whirlpool?Joel Halbleib
Partner / Zymurgist
Hive and Barrel Meadery
6302 Old La Grange Rd
Crestwood, KY
www.hiveandbarrel.com
Comment
Comment