Are you passionate about beer brewing and consider starting your own business, but don’t know where to begin? Look no further! In this article, we will talk about the crucial components that are required to start a microbrewery.
For both expert brewers and beginners it is important to understand the key pieces of equipment needed to make high-quality beer: from 50l keg to cooling equipment. Let’s dive in and learn more about microbrewery equipment!
Mash/Lauter System
It is a primary piece of any microbrewery setup because the brewing process starts here. The basic ingredient for all beer – wort – is made here by mixing the grains with hot water. The mash/lauter tun allows the brewer to control the pH, gravity of the wort, and temperature.
Its size and shape depend greatly on the brewer’s requirements. Some microbreweries prefer wooden tuns, others use stainless steel or plastic models. The choice depends on the size of your brewery, the features of the brewing process, and your preferences.
Brew Kettle
The brew kettle is the place where the wort is boiled with hops and other ingredients to create the finished beer. Boiling is vital because it helps to eliminate undesirable compounds, extract flavor and fragrance from the hops, and sterilize the wort.
While choosing a brew kettle, consider such features as temperature control and heating elements. Internal heating elements make cleaning easier, and the temperature control option helps to maintain uniform heating during the boiling process.
Fermentation Tank
After the completion of the boiling process, the wort is cooled and transferred to the fermentation tank, where the yeast is added and the beer’s fermentation process starts. Depending on the variety of beer being brewed, the fermentation process may take a few days to several weeks.
The fermentation tank is crucial due to its capacity to regulate the temperature and pressure of the beer during fermentation. This has an impact on the final product because the beer’s flavor, aroma, and alcohol level can all be affected by temperature and pressure. The fermentation tank also prevents contamination and provides uniform fermentation.
Conditioning Tank
Upon the completion of the fermentation process, it is time to move the beer to a conditioning tank, where the beer ages and matures. These two processes significantly impact the final aroma and quality of the beer. Conditioning is crucial because it helps to make the beer smoother, more refined and with a better flavor.
Cooling System
Beer tanks have cooling jackets. They are made of insulated, double-walled stainless steel, and feature big sections for the circulation of propylene glycol – the coolant.
Glycol chilling keeps the beer stable, stops bacteria growth and prepares the beer for sale.
