Brewhouses come in all shapes and sizes, and the right one for your brewery will depend on a variety of factors, including your production capacity, budget, and brewing style. However, there are key considerations to make when choosing the perfect size brewhouse for your brewery.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Size of Your Brewhouse
- What is your goal for annual production? Brewhouse Size = Annual Production / (# of Weekly Brews x Weeks Brewed Per Year)
- What is your business model? A brewpub with on-site consumption, a brewery with a taproom and no distribution, or a production brewery with a taproom and distribution?
- What space are you contributing to your brewhouse? Typically, max production is about 1BBL/year per square foot of production area.
- How many times per day and per week are you planning to brew?
- How many fermenters are you looking to purchase? Are you planning to add additional tanks in the future?
- How many beers will you have on tap? What will be the predominant style? Ales have shorter fermentation time than lagers. This will affect your vessel capacity.
- What is the ceiling height in the brewhouse? While some equipment can be custom-built for space, this may impact what your brewhouse can hold.
- What heat source do you want for your brewhouse? Do you have room for extra equipment (boiler, etc.)? Are you able to add flues/vents to the space? What is the electrical service?
The brewhouse is the workhorse of your business and a long-term investment. You don’t want to purchase a brewhouse that’s too small and find yourself maxed out before you've even started production, or vice versa. It’s important to think through your production capacity and long-term goals for your business before making your choice.
How to Calculate the Brewing Capacity You Need
To calculate brewing capacity, the first step is to determine the maximum batch size you want to produce.
Once you know your maximum batch size, you can use this formula to calculate the brewing capacity you need: (maximum batch size) x (number of batches per day) = (brewing capacity per day).
For example, if you want to brew a maximum batch size of 10 barrels and want to brew two times a day, your brewing capacity would be 20 barrels a day. Depending on your goal for brew days per year, this may suit your business plan, or you may want to scale up/down your system size.
Once you know your maximum batch size, you can use this formula to calculate the brewing capacity you need: (maximum batch size) x (number of batches per day) = (brewing capacity per day).
For example, if you want to brew a maximum batch size of 10 barrels and want to brew two times a day, your brewing capacity would be 20 barrels a day. Depending on your goal for brew days per year, this may suit your business plan, or you may want to scale up/down your system size.
The Most Popular Brewhouse Sizes
Brewhouses come in all shapes and sizes, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the perfect size. But we can give you a few pointers based on the most popular brewhouse sizes.
If you're just starting out, a 5 barrel or 7 barrel brewhouse might be a good option. These systems are small and affordable, and they're perfect for brewers who are just getting their feet wet. They are also available in different heating options, so can fit into a variety of different spaces and budgets.
If you're looking for something a little more capable, a 10 barrel or 15 barrel brewhouse might be a better fit. These systems offer more brewing capacity and allow you to experiment with more recipes.
And if you're looking to take your business to the next level, a 20 barrel or 30 barrel brewhouse might be the right choice. These systems are perfect for large-scale production and can handle high volumes of beer.
If you're just starting out, a 5 barrel or 7 barrel brewhouse might be a good option. These systems are small and affordable, and they're perfect for brewers who are just getting their feet wet. They are also available in different heating options, so can fit into a variety of different spaces and budgets.
If you're looking for something a little more capable, a 10 barrel or 15 barrel brewhouse might be a better fit. These systems offer more brewing capacity and allow you to experiment with more recipes.
And if you're looking to take your business to the next level, a 20 barrel or 30 barrel brewhouse might be the right choice. These systems are perfect for large-scale production and can handle high volumes of beer.
How to Upgrade Your Brewhouse as Your Brewery Grows
As your business grows, you may need to upgrade your brewhouse. But just as it is important to determine your goals and capacity when starting out, there are important factors to consider when looking to grow as well.
First, think about how much beer you want to be able to produce. If you're planning on scaling up your production, you'll need a larger brewhouse or additional vessels (whirlpool, HLT, etc). Second, consider how much space you have available. A larger brewhouse will require more room in your brewery. Third, think through your heating options. Larger scale brewhouses may need a different heating option to be most efficient, but that may require different permits and codes to follow.
First, think about how much beer you want to be able to produce. If you're planning on scaling up your production, you'll need a larger brewhouse or additional vessels (whirlpool, HLT, etc). Second, consider how much space you have available. A larger brewhouse will require more room in your brewery. Third, think through your heating options. Larger scale brewhouses may need a different heating option to be most efficient, but that may require different permits and codes to follow.
Final Thoughts
When choosing the size of your brewhouse, there are many factors to consider. Your brewhouse should be big enough to handle the production you need, but not too big or expensive that it's beyond your budget.
Brewhouses come in all sizes and there are a number of different types of brewhouses, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Consider your space, your production, and your budget to decide which type of brewhouse is right for you.
If you want a more personal answer, connect with one of our brewery consultants at no cost. They can help walk you through available options for your brewery as you move from launch to growth to production brewing.
Brewhouses come in all sizes and there are a number of different types of brewhouses, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Consider your space, your production, and your budget to decide which type of brewhouse is right for you.
If you want a more personal answer, connect with one of our brewery consultants at no cost. They can help walk you through available options for your brewery as you move from launch to growth to production brewing.
