After months of deliberation and planning, you have decided to open a microbrewery. Congrats! But, before you start investing – you need to know that a brewing system is expensive. So, you need to make doubly sure that you’re making the right choice.
Here, in this guide, we list 3 factors to keep in mind, before you invest in a microbrewery, so that you can save time, money and effort.
#1: Purchase a Brew System in Advance
Brewhouses are available in a range of sizes and shapes. While purchasing a brewing system you have to factor in the time it takes to manufacture the system as per your requirements. Most leading brewery equipment manufacturers do not carry spare stock. Instead, they manufacture equipment based on the exact specifications and needs of customers. Also, note that the demand for equipment is high during certain times of the year.
Hence, it’s essential that you place orders well ahead of time so that you can open your brewery on time. Plan in advance. We recommend that you place orders at least six months ahead of time so that you don’t delay your brewery opening, even if there are unexpected delays in the manufacturing pipeline.
As the best microbrewery set up a company in India, we have a strong network of international brewery equipment manufacturers. When you place your orders with us, we source the best microbrewery equipment from all over the world, providing you with state-of-the-art equipment at the most competitive rates.
#2: Size Matters – Make sure to choose the Right Sized Brewing System
Before you choose the equipment for your brewhouse, you need to know certain criteria like the size of the upcoming brewing facility and production goals. Make sure to consider your current as well as future needs while choosing a brewing system.
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide the right-sized brewing system.
Start with your brewery’s estimated production volume. Use this formula to help you calculate the annual production volume of your brewery:
Annual production volume = Brewhouse size x number of brews per week x production weeks per year
Using a 5 BBL (Beer Barrels) system,
Annual production = 5 BBL x 2 brews per week x 50 weeks per year = 500 BBL
You can achieve 500 BBL production volume annually when you brew 2 times per week.
Alternatively, you can increase production to 700 BBL, when you brew 3 times per week.
Annual production = 5 BBL x 3 brews per week x 50 weeks per year = 700 BBL
Once you know your annual production volume, finding the right brewing system is a breeze. Generally, most nano and craft breweries use a brewing system of size ranging from 5 to 15 BBL. It can produce 500 – 3000 barrels in a year.
Larger breweries use bigger brewing systems ranging from 15 BBL or more. Using this system, a brewery can manufacture up to 3000 barrels in a year.
Bottom Line: Make sure to know your targeted current and future production volumes before you choose the right sized system. If you need further help on choosing the right brewhouse size, you can check out this handy guide.
#3: Choose the Right Brew House based on your Brewing ROI
Just like all other businesses, running a microbrewery is a business at the end of the day. Though you may be extremely passionate about the venture, your business needs to show profits at the end of the day.
Make sure to factor the ROI (Return on Investment) before purchasing equipment. Sometimes it’s worth to invest in a premium piece of equipment, while at other times, it’s not worth the cost. Make sure to use ROI calculation to determine whether you are making the right choice.
The cost of a brewery system depends on several factors like:
- The scale of the brewhouse
- Size of the brewery
- Whether the equipment is built by a local manufacturer or a foreign supplier
- The material of the brewery system
- Whether the equipment is new or used
- Installation and maintenance cost of the brewing system
Make sure to consider all these costs against your business goals. There’s no single answer to whether you should invest in a particular piece of equipment or not. It all depends on your objectives. So, calculating the ROI helps you avoid making the wrong investment decision.
Make an Informed Choice
Use the three factors listed above to help you make a smart choice while investing in a brewery system. Ready to take the next step? Get in touch with our experts to find the right brewing system that perfectly matches your requirements.
As the leading equipments supplier for microbrewery set up in India, we help you source the best brewhouses at the most affordable prices. Get in touch to know more.