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  • Startup system for a brewpub

    Greetings fellow brewers.

    This is my first post and I'd like to thank you for all your inputs in this discussion board, it's been really helpful so far.

    I'm planning on starting up a brewpub in Colombia, South America (I live here), and after doing some market research I think i can manage around 80% markup on my beer selling retail, so I'm thinking about starting small and take it from there. My thoughts on initial equipment are:

    4 BBL Brewhouse (Mash/Lauter, Boil/Whirlpool, HLT)
    4 BBL Fermenter x 1
    4 BBL Brite Tanks x 3

    I'm thinking on brewing once a week, so I'll send a batch to ferment for a week, then transfer the beer to a BBT for conditioning and carbonating, which frees me up the fermenter for another batch, and so on... at least until demand picks up, in which case I'll get another fermenter and brew twice per week.

    I was hoping to get some feedback/suggestions on this system, I'm open for ideas!!!

    Thanks guys and keep on brewin' and remember "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy"

    Prost!

  • #2
    Late reply but a serious question?

    Originally posted by kaiserparanoid View Post
    Greetings fellow brewers.

    This is my first post and I'd like to thank you for all your inputs in this discussion board, it's been really helpful so far.

    I'm planning on starting up a brewpub in Colombia, South America (I live here), and after doing some market research I think i can manage around 80% markup on my beer selling retail, so I'm thinking about starting small and take it from there. My thoughts on initial equipment are:

    4 BBL Brewhouse (Mash/Lauter, Boil/Whirlpool, HLT)
    4 BBL Fermenter x 1
    4 BBL Brite Tanks x 3

    I'm thinking on brewing once a week, so I'll send a batch to ferment for a week, then transfer the beer to a BBT for conditioning and carbonating, which frees me up the fermenter for another batch, and so on... at least until demand picks up, in which case I'll get another fermenter and brew twice per week.

    I was hoping to get some feedback/suggestions on this system, I'm open for ideas!!!

    Thanks guys and keep on brewin' and remember "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy"

    Prost!

    The main question I have is the size you wish, 4bbl?

    By using a 4bbl system you are seriously limiting you expansion in the future. The multiples don't work. I would suggest either a 3.5bbl or a 5bbl system so when you expand you are not #1 Needing custom fermenters (Very limited 8bbl market) #2 Wasting capacity (4bbl x 2 + 8bbl, 7bbl is very common).

    Do your research, an 8bbl fermenter is simply rare and if the economics say you need one you are locked into only a couple that say they make them stock and they can set the price wherever they wish.
    Apex Brewing Supply
    Ashley at 916.250.7700 or Joe at 916.250.7950
    Ashley@apexbrewingsupply.com or Joe@apexbrewingsupply.com
    www.apexbrewingsupply.com

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by APEX Brewing Supply View Post
      The main question I have is the size you wish, 4bbl?

      By using a 4bbl system you are seriously limiting you expansion in the future. The multiples don't work. I would suggest either a 3.5bbl or a 5bbl system so when you expand you are not #1 Needing custom fermenters (Very limited 8bbl market) #2 Wasting capacity (4bbl x 2 + 8bbl, 7bbl is very common).

      Do your research, an 8bbl fermenter is simply rare and if the economics say you need one you are locked into only a couple that say they make them stock and they can set the price wherever they wish.
      Thank you very much for your reply, I didn't think about that and you have proven a very good point, however, my question is still unanswered. What would you suggest the startup system be? if I choose to go with a 5BBL brewhouse?

      Thanks in advance!

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by kaiserparanoid View Post
        Thank you very much for your reply, I didn't think about that and you have proven a very good point, however, my question is still unanswered. What would you suggest the startup system be? if I choose to go with a 5BBL brewhouse?

        Thanks in advance!
        Are you looking for specific equipment manufacturer recommendations?

        I agree that you should look at multiples and that at MINIMUM it should be 5bbls. With your plan you will be able to brew 250bbls of beer at once per week and 50 weeks a year (have to figure down time and some time off always). I would recommend that you adjust your numbers to 1 Brite and 3 fermenters. Then buy kegs to serve and store from. They are less expensive and this will give you much more leeway for production.

        I have personal experience on a Premier 5bbl PubTech system. I liked it but there are things I would have changed. Lots of this process depends on what your budget is also.

        I am happy to help with specific questions and am available for consulting if you need more formal help. Columbia is a beautiful place! I did some work for Bogota Beer company a few years back and loved my visits there.
        Mike Pensinger
        General Manager/Brewmaster
        Parkway Brewing Company
        Salem, VA

        Comment


        • #5
          Agreed, your math is off. In a brewpub scenario (where the brites are the serving tanks) you want somewhere around a 1:1 ratio of fermenters to brites. Maybe 4:3 or 3:2 if you're doing any packaging. In a production setting it's more like 4:1, or higher for filtering breweries that don't need to allow for sedimentation time in the brite.

          As far as brew length, if you're sourcing things in hectoliters then 4 bbl is a reasonable size. That's ~5 hL.

          I'd also suggest finding a way to work or volunteer in a brewery on that scale for at least a few weeks. 7 days is a really aggressive turnaround - you won't be making any lagers, hoppy ales, high-gravity beers of any kind?
          Last edited by a10t2; 06-25-2015, 02:13 PM.
          Sent from my Microsoft Bob

          Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
          seanterrill.com/category/brewing | twomilebrewing.com

          Comment


          • #6
            Two things to add here. I totally agree on the 3.5 bbl or 5 bbl system. You are doing yourself a disservice by going with a 4 bbl system. I am in that predicament now, needing to increase fermenter space.

            Also, as already stated, your turn-around is super-aggressive. My lightest beer takes a week and a half in the fermenter, minimum.

            And now, a friendly warning. Do not do business with urleybird and brew-stuff.com. He is an absolute scam artist. There are better companies to go through, and the head ache isn't worth the "savings".

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