Table of Contents
Brewery Types
Home Breweries
A home brewery is a small-scale system where an individual or small family makes beer at home. It usually includes some basic equipment and tools that allow the hobbyist to carry out the entire process of making homemade beer at home, from raw material preparation to final bottling.
- Scale: very small, usually carried out in a home or personal workshop with very limited production.
- Equipment: simple household equipment and tools are used and the process is highly manual.
- Market: mainly for self-drinking or a small group of family and friends, usually not for commercial sale.
- Purpose: More of a personal interest and hobby, exploring different brewing techniques and flavors.
Microbrewery
Microbreweries are smaller commercial beer production facilities that specialize in producing limited quantities of high-quality beer.
- size: annual beer production is typically between 1,000 and 15,000 liters. Microbreweries produce lower volumes compared to large industrial breweries.
- High quality: focus on the selection of raw materials and the brewing process to ensure the quality and flavor of the beer.
- Flexibility: the ability to quickly adjust production schedules and launch new products to meet changes in market demand.
Medium-sized commercial brewery
Typically produce 15,000 to 500,000 barrels per year. These systems are more complex and require more investment. Medium-sized breweries are commercial beer production facilities that fall between the size of large industrial breweries and microbreweries.
- Size: medium capacity, producing thousands to tens of thousands of liters of beer per day.
- Equipment: more advanced equipment, but may not be as automated as large industrial breweries.
- Markets: primarily serve regional markets, producing a diverse range of beer varieties that may include some specialty or innovative flavors.
- Flexibility: able to respond quickly to changes in market demand, suitable for launching new products and small batch production.
Large Brewery
Large breweries produce large quantities of beer, typically more than 500,000 barrels per year. The cost of these systems can run into millions of dollars, depending on size, technology, and automation.
- Size: huge production capacity, typically producing hundreds of thousands to millions of liters of beer per day.
- Equipment: Equipped with advanced automated production lines covering the entire process from raw material handling to packaging.
- Markets: mainly for large-scale markets, producing commonly branded beers, usually supplying national or international markets.
- Cost Advantage: Reduced production costs through economies of scale.
Cost of beer brewing equipment
The cost of beer brewing equipment varies depending on the size of the plant, type of equipment, and technical complexity. Below is an overview of the cost of equipment needed for different sized breweries.
Home brewing equipment costs
- Fermentation Bucket: used for the fermentation process, usually equipped with a sealed lid and airlock.
- Malt Sugar Kettle: heats malt and water for mash.
- Boiling pot: used to boil wort and add hops.
- Cooler: cools the boiled wort to fermentation temperature.
- Bottling equipment: includes bottles, caps, cappers, and cleaning equipment.
| Brewing equipment | Cost |
| Fermentation tank | $30 – $150 |
| Malt mash pot | $100 – $500 |
| Boiling pot | $50 – $200 |
| Coolers | $50 – $150 |
| Bottling Equipment | $50 – $150 |
| Total cost | $300 – $1,200 |
Cost of microbrewing equipment
Breweries that produce on a smaller scale and focus on quality and uniqueness. Their equipment configurations typically fall somewhere between small home brewing equipment and mid-sized commercial brewery equipment, with a degree of automation while maintaining a certain level of flexibility and manual handling.
Brewing equipment | Cost |
Mash tun | $5,000 – $20,000 |
Boiling pot | $3,000 – $15,000 |
Fermentation tank | $400 – $2500 |
cooling system | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Packaging equipment | $5,000 – $30,000 |
Total cost | $20,000 – $100,000 |
Medium Commercial Brewery Costs
The main equipment of a medium-sized commercial brewery includes large mash kettles, boiling kettles, fermentation tanks, cooling systems, filtration systems, and packaging lines.
Brewing equipment | Cost |
Mash tun | $50,000 – $200,000 |
Boiling pot | $30,000 – $150,000 |
Fermentation tank | $4000 – $25000 |
cooling system | $15,000 – $70,000 |
Filtration system | $1000 – $5000 |
Packaging equipment | $5000 – $20000 |
Total cost | $20000 – $1,00000 |
Large Industrial Brewery Equipment Costs
The main equipment of a large industrial brewery includes high-capacity mash kettles, boiling kettles, fermentation tanks, cooling systems, filtration systems, and advanced packaging lines.
Brewing equipment | Cost |
Mash tun | $20000 – $1,00000 |
Boiling pot | $15000 – $80000 |
Fermentation tank | $25000 – $1,50000 |
cooling system | $10000 – $50000 |
Filtration system | $5000 – $20000 |
Packaging equipment | $200,00 – $1,500,00 |
Total cost | $1,000,00 – $10,000,00+ |
Factors affecting the cost of brewing equipment
- Size and capacity: the capacity of brewing equipment directly affects the cost. Large-scale equipment usually requires a higher investment but offers higher production capacity. Equipment that is customized to meet demand (e.g., special sizes or features) is usually more expensive than standard equipment.
- Type of equipment: Highly automated equipment (e.g., fully automated bottling lines) usually costs more but improves productivity and consistency. Equipment that uses premium materials (e.g. stainless steel) and advanced processes are usually more expensive.
- Branded Manufacturers: Brewing equipment from well-known brands usually costs more, but may offer better quality assurance and after-sales service. Prices of equipment from different manufacturers also vary greatly and are usually related to the manufacturer’s experience and skill level.
- New or Used Equipment: The production cost of brewing equipment also depends on whether you buy new or used brewing equipment for your startup. Of course, new equipment will be more expensive than used equipment, but if your used commercial brewing equipment is in good condition, it won’t affect your brewing at all and can be considered an option.
FAQ
What factors affect the cost of brewing equipment?
- Size and capacity of production: The larger the size and capacity of the equipment, the higher the cost.
- Degree of automation: Fully automated equipment is usually more expensive than semi-automated or manual equipment.
- Equipment materials and processes: High-quality materials (e.g. stainless steel) and complex processes will increase the cost.
- Brands and manufacturers: Well-known brands and experienced manufacturers may charge more.
- Features and add-ons: Extra features (e.g., advanced temperature control systems, and filtration systems) can increase equipment costs.
- Technical complexity: equipment with advanced technology (e.g., smart control systems) is usually more expensive.
- Installation and maintenance: the cost of installation, commissioning, and maintenance services can also affect the total cost.
How to reduce the cost of brewing equipment?
Choose the right size of equipment according to actual needs and avoid over-investment. Subsequent purchases of multiple equipment may get a better wholesale price. You can consult Micet Craft, we will provide you with quality brewing equipment.