You started brewing at home, found a passion, and now you want to start your own commercial brewery. The National Brewers Association reports almost 9000 breweries in the US. So, you need to know how to hit the ground running.
Scaling your brewing operation from a small home setup to a larger commercial operation takes skills and adaptability. Even the equipment gets more complicated at this level.
Don’t panic! We put together our top 3 tips for using brewing equipment on a commercial level. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know before starting your first batch.
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Maintaining Your Boilers
One of the most important pieces of commercial brewing equipment to maintain is the boiler. Damaged boilers can cause serious injuries and cost tons of money to replace.
Check your pump seals, vacuum valves, and steam solenoids often. Also, watch for signs of wear on the float because those will push out the condensate and flood the boiler with O2 filled water.
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Keep Your Brewing Equipment Clean
We can’t express how important it is to keep your beer brewing equipment clean. Failing to do so reduces the efficiency of your equipment and sullies your beer over time.
If you notice parts and equipment with major damage or have worn down, you should replace those damaged parts and used brewing equipment. Visit www.glaciertanks.com for a great place to find all your replacement tanks and parts for brewing.
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Choose the Right Heating Source
Many factors play into the type of heating you use for your hot liquid tank. These are the three most common heating sources for beer brewing on a commercial level.
Natural Gas-Fed Fire
This is the most old-fashioned way to heat, but it’s also the least expensive. Keep in mind that the flame from the burner may scald your equipment and leave messy soot.
Steam Jackets
This modern heating method encases the tank in a jacket. Then steam circulates around between the jacket and the tank. This creates even heating that surrounds the tank.
Heat Exchanger
The most efficient way to heat your tanks is to use a heat exchanger with a shell and tube. They are way less taxing on your boiler and don’t need a condensate tank or return pump.
A Recipe for Brewing Success
Having a great recipe for crafted beer isn’t enough to make it in the brewing industry. You need to know how to operate a commercial-sized brewery.
Keep these tips in mind as you start your journey as a small brewery and you’ll find success a little bit easier. As time goes on, you’ll absorb tons of knowledge about running a brewery also.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned some great brewing equipment tips. If you’re looking for more helpful articles about business, technology, and more, check out the rest of our blog today!
