That is a lot of work for very little product going out the door!
It reminds me of a guy who wanted to use our pilot equipment to make a 1 bbl batch of beer. "How long will it take?" he asked. "About 6 hours" we replied. "But how long does it take you to brew your full 28 bbls?" "About 6 hours."
He figured a small batch would only take a couple hours. In reality (the moral here) it takes about the same time to produce a large batch as it does a small one.
But I guess I am missing the nano point - it is about the beer and not the nano money.
You want to make a small fortune brewing? Start with a large fortune.
That's what I don't get. It applies to almost all scales. A batch of beer, doesn't really matter the size takes the same amount of time. So would you like $10 back for your 6 hours or $1000?
That's what I don't get. It applies to almost all scales. A batch of beer, doesn't really matter the size takes the same amount of time. So would you like $10 back for your 6 hours or $1000?
The difference is the cost of equipment and space. Im sure if 90% of the people on this forum had unlimited funds they would set up a 30+ bbl setup in a 10,000sqft warehouse. But when working with limited disposable income, putting together a 1bbl setup in your detached garage is something that could be done reasonably and would be a lot of fun. But brewing 1bbl is excessive for someone whos only feeding beers to his buddies. If you could turn virtually any profit, its worth it, IMO.
I think the cool idea here is that you can start out brewing 10 gallons a few times a week and sell it with almost no investment other than renting the small space and paying whatever licensing fees there are. Most of us can brew 10 gallons already.
Then as you get more sales or accounts, you can move to 20 gallons without much investment, or move to 1BBL with some new pots, etc. No need to get the $3,000,000 loan to open up something with a 7BBL capacity.
I think the cool idea here is that you can start out brewing 10 gallons a few times a week and sell it with almost no investment other than renting the small space and paying whatever licensing fees there are. Most of us can brew 10 gallons already.
Then as you get more sales or accounts, you can move to 20 gallons without much investment, or move to 1BBL with some new pots, etc. No need to get the $3,000,000 loan to open up something with a 7BBL capacity.
Linc
you forget the cost of all the inspections and licenses. They cost a lot. You're probably looking at an absolute minimum of 2k there.
Bah, I hate the problems that come with business dealings with "Sin products"
Uncle Sam will tax you to death to do something like this. Its hard enough for the little guy in America these days, I can't imagine a nano-brewery's problems.
I hear Washington and Oregon just raised their alcohol taxes (although I think in WA it only covers spirits and doesn't go into effect until August... stock up now!)
I saw gilligan's set-up on craigslist for 14 k last week. are they out of business?
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In process- Jamil's 70/-, Ken schramm's vanilla mead, lemon wine Kegged-Flemings Finest IPA
Planning- Black Butte Porter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Clay
Last night, as I cleaned out four carboys, two corney kegs and lots of lines, my 12 year old daughter noted: "Dad, it looks like brewing beer is mostly about washing dishes."
I saw gilligan's set-up on craigslist for 14 k last week.
Not that I uhhh....troll craigslist for brewing supplies 24/7....
ok I do
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In process- Jamil's 70/-, Ken schramm's vanilla mead, lemon wine Kegged-Flemings Finest IPA
Planning- Black Butte Porter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Clay
Last night, as I cleaned out four carboys, two corney kegs and lots of lines, my 12 year old daughter noted: "Dad, it looks like brewing beer is mostly about washing dishes."
This seems like a really hard way to make a little bit of money. Retailers are the ones that make the money (and not much there either) You pay rent, utilities, taxes, license, ingredients, liability and other insurance, kegs, chemicals, delivery costs and time, promotion, spoilage, equipment and repairs and who knows what else. I can't see much left over at the end of the day. It would be interesting to know what they are able to get for a keg.
If you could retail the product/open a pub or tap room, your margin would increase dramatically. A keg that wholesales for what, maybe $100, could bring in $310 at 2.50 a pint. But that would bring its own problems as well. Liquor laws are really dangerous right now for anyone who is serving the public. You would also have sales tax and different insurance concerns.
If you are interested in this I would highly advise some serious number crunching. I don't mean to be a wet blanket for anyone's dreams, but I do want to offer some words of caution and realism so decisions can be made advisedly.
__________________ Before I learned to brew I was poor, sober and lonely. Now I am just poor.
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