What Equipment Is Needed To Build A Brewery?

1. Milling Equipment

• Grain Handling System: Includes silos for grain storage, conveyors for transport, and scales for measuring.
• Malt Mill: Crushes the grain to increase the surface area, facilitating easier sugar extraction during mashing. Adjustable rollers allow for control over the crush size.

2. Mashing Equipment

• Mash Mixer/Tun: Integrates heated water with milled grain to start the enzymatic conversion of starches into fermentable sugars.
• Lauter Tun: A vessel with a false bottom that allows liquid wort to be separated from the solid remains of the malt.
• Steam Generator/Boiler: Supplies steam for heating mash and boiling wort, critical for temperature control throughout the brewing process.

3. Brewing Equipment

• Brew Kettle (Boil Kettle): Where the wort is boiled and hops are added for bitterness, flavor, and aroma.
• Whirlpool: Separates hop solids and protein coagulates from the wort after the boil, improving clarity and quality.

4. Fermentation Equipment

• Fermenters: Typically cylindrical-conical tanks (CCTs) where yeast ferments the wort into beer. They are equipped with cooling jackets to control fermentation temperatures.
• Brite Tanks: Secondary tanks for maturation and carbonation before packaging. Also equipped with cooling jackets.

5. Cooling System

• Glycol Chiller System: Circulates glycol to control the temperature of fermenters and brite tanks.
• Heat Exchanger: Used to rapidly cool wort post-boil before it enters the fermenter to prevent unwanted bacterial growth.

6. Filtration and Clarification System

• Plate and Frame Filters: For particulate removal before packaging.
• Centrifuges: Used for high-efficiency clarification and separation of yeast from beer.

7. Packaging Equipment

• Kegging Systems: Includes washers and fillers for kegs.
• Canning and Bottling Lines: Automated systems for filling, capping/seaming, and labeling.
• Palletizers and Shrink Wrappers: For bulk handling and shipping.

8. Quality Control and Laboratory Equipment

• Spectrophotometer: For measuring color and clarity.
• Gas Chromatography: For analyzing solvent residues and flavor profile.
• Microbiological Testing Kits: Essential for ensuring yeast health and detecting contaminants.
• Titrators and pH meters: For precise chemical analysis of ingredients and beer.

9. Cleaning and Sanitization Equipment

• CIP (Clean-In-Place) Systems: Automated systems designed to clean tanks, pipes, and process equipment without disassembly.
• Sanitizers and Cleaning Agents: Chemicals used for cleaning must be safe for food surfaces and effective against brewery-specific contaminants.

10. Control and Automation Systems

• PLC (Programmable Logic Controller): Manages brewing processes, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• Sensors and Flow Meters: Monitor various parameters such as temperature, pressure, and fluid flow throughout the brewery.

11. Miscellaneous Supplies and Infrastructure

• Piping, Valves, and Fittings: Stainless steel is preferred for durability and sanitation.
• Pumps: Centrifugal pumps are commonly used for transferring liquids between tanks.
• Utility Sinks and Drains: For general cleanup and waste disposal.

12. Utility Systems

• Water Treatment: To modify the brewing water profile according to the style of beer being produced.
• Waste Treatment Facilities: Important for dealing with spent grains, hops, and yeast.