If you had $20,000 | HomeBrewTalk.com - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Community.

Homebrew Talk

Help Support Homebrew Talk by donating:

  1. Dismiss Notice
  2. We have a new forum and it needs your help! Homebrewing Deals is a forum to post whatever deals and specials you find that other homebrewers might value! Includes coupon layering, Craigslist finds, eBay finds, Amazon specials, etc.
    Dismiss Notice

If you had $20,000

Discussion in 'All Grain & Partial Mash Brewing' started by Estocker, Mar 16, 2012.

 

  1. #1
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    If you had $20,000 to start a 50 Gallon Microbrewery kitchen, how would you set it up?

    I could really use some suggestions and layout ideas as I've only been brewing 5-10 gallons and am now in the position of having a designated brewing kitchen (500 square feet of space).

    My goal is to pump out three 15.5 kegs per session, so the equipment should be able to brew up to about 50 gallons at a time.

    Throw me some sweet brewery layout ideas if you've got em. Thanks guys!
     
  2. #2
    Phunhog

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    The very first thing I would worry about is how are you going to control fermenation temps. You will need to build some sort of fermentation room/chambers. I would also install a tankless water heater it will let you have unlimited hot cleaning water. It will also come in handy for your strike/sparge water. You will also need a walk in cooler of some sort to keep all the beer cold. I would also want floor drains.
     
  3. #3
    CPFITNESS

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    A regular water heater would be more than fine for cleaning purposes. AS for fermentation, kegs fit inside of chest freezers so thats really not much of an issue either. And why does he need a walk in cooler to keep it cold? once it's brewed it doesn't need to be chilled til it's time to drink it?

    I'm a newb so I don't know much but I see some guys with some pretty sweet computerized setups to monitor everything. are you doing this just for you or ultimately are you looking to sell your product?
     
  4. #4
    Polboy

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    i guess it depends if you want to brew outside or inside the house (choice between electric and gas fired system) also im guessing its still a hobby and not a plan for business as 20k would be eaten by rent and fees before you done setting up actual brewery
     
  5. #5
    Phunhog

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
     
  6. #6
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    This will be part of a large commercial kitchen facility so the basics like floor drains, refrigerators (walk-ins and large temp controlled freezers) and hot water is completely taken care of. I'm more worried about what sort of equipment would be ideal and how the floor plan would be most efficient.
     
  7. #7
    william_shakes_beer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    So you're adding a microbrewery to, say a commercial restaurant kitchen? Have you reviewed the Health department requirements if you're selling your product, as well as the tax requirements for the local and state government? Sorry for the wet blanket, just want to keep you out of jail :)
     
  8. #8
    onthekeg

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    20K would be a tight budget, but with an existing building all you would really need is a brewhouse, a hood, a temp controlled area for fermentation and a cold room or refrigeration for aging/dispensing the beer.
    Usually restaurants are already cramped, and 20k would eat up the budget just to add a room. It could be done though.
     
  9. #9
    ReverseApacheMaster

    Banned

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    Additional heating elements and liquid storage may require additional fire control systems, floor drains, etc. There might be some health code issues with installing more equipment in a commercial kitchen. Additionally you are probably looking at burning a lot of cash on licenses and taxes. Even if you are giving away beer from the kitchen you are likely still required to obtain permits and pay taxes.
     
  10. #10
    GilaMinumBeer

    Half-fast Prattlarian  

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
     
  11. #11
    CPFITNESS

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
     
  12. #12
    bigbeergeek

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
     
    944play likes this.
  13. #13
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    Thanks for the legal advice, everything is taken care of we are just expanding the existing brew area. Just looking for cool equipment setup ideas for 50 gallon batches. I've never used a setup larger than for 15 gallon home brewing.
     
  14. #14
    rustym

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 16, 2012
    Really??!!!
     
  15. #15
    two_one_seven

    Well-Known Member

  16. #16
    Ramitt

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 17, 2012
    Probrewer.com might be the better place to ask these questions, not sure many people are brewing on that scale here. Good Luck.
     
  17. #17
    thatjonguy

    Now with 57.93% more awesome!

    Posted Mar 17, 2012
  18. #18
    JoshuaW

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 17, 2012
    I was just going to reference that thread, but if he is expanding an existing brewhouse, I would assume he knows the pitfalls.

    I would look around at existing 2bbl setups. There are several turnkey options that you could purchase or use for ideas.
     
  19. #19
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 17, 2012
  20. #20
    Phunhog

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 17, 2012
    I don't know how much you plan on brewing but you might just want to brew say 25 gallon batches. Yes you will have to brew twice as much but you will at least have two styles of beers. 50 gallons of one style of beer is a lot... something like 400 pints. Since you said you were upgrading your current brew area how much are you brewing right now?
     
  21. #21
    thatjonguy

    Now with 57.93% more awesome!

    Posted Mar 18, 2012
    Oops...guess I missed that...

    Sorry to waste your time dude.
     
  22. #22
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 19, 2012
    Thanks. I think I'll see what Probrewer has to say.

    I'm taking the idea of brewing a little less and just doing it more often into consideration. It might be nice to get more brewing time in.
     
  23. #23
    thatjonguy

    Now with 57.93% more awesome!

    Posted Mar 20, 2012
    Talk to the guys at Sabco (BrewMagic), they hinted recently they had a 2 bbl system in the final stages of testing. Might be a new option in the nano brewing market. Not sure about price, but as you know, it never hurts to look into everything.
     
  24. #24
    Bsquared

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Mar 20, 2012
    The stout tank's 3bbl system with three fermenters prices out at 14K, but you would need to figure out a way to fire the system. The Julian brewing company just started with a 3.5bbl system form these guys, you should take a trip out there and check it out. see how they like it. I think they have done a couple brews on it so far. Also check out Portland kettle works, they build a nice 3bbl system for ~11k, and glacer tanks has 3bbl fermenters for ~3k each.

    best of luck.
     
  25. #25
    joelrapp

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2012
    Stout Tanks, and the idea of a on demand water heater is good.
     
  26. #26
    Estocker

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2012
    Our water comes out at 165-170f. Would you still recommend a water heater?
     
  27. #27
    frankstoneline

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2012
    If you arent opposed, a 4 vessel system (2 mash tuns, 2 HLT's) will allow you to simultaneously brew 2 batches to fill fermenters. HDPE conicals are the way to cut costs for ferm vessels, you could build a cold room using some window ac units or look into used walk ins at restaurant supply places. Lots of options for a rig really, but with some DIY work you could set something up.
     
  28. #28
    Bsquared

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Mar 21, 2012
    Oh you are in Chico, for some reason I read Chino.Forget about going to Julian to check out their 3bbl brewery.

    Where in Chico is this going to be?

    As for your water, 165-170 should be good a single infusion mash, but for sparging I think you will need to get it up to 180º. What kind of water heater do you have? is it a tank? if it is it will need to be larger than 100 gallon if you want to brew 3bbl's. With a commercial tankless you can get all the water you need for mashing and sparging, and have greater control of the temp water you are using.
     
  29. #29
    mmonacel

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 21, 2012
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page

Group Builder