50-100 Liter Pilot System Recommendation & Comments

[Reubob]

I am exploring the concept of starting a craft brewery brew pub. I would like to purchase a 50-100 liter pilot system that mimics the bigs system in process but not scale. What do you recommend and why? What about the "Beer Sculptures"? How much should I expect to pay.

I appreciate your helping this noob.

Thanks again,
Robert

[Graydon]

My partner built our 50 L pilot brewery and it works exceptionally well. We use standard half barrel kegs for vessels. I would suggest that you look into buying your fermentors from a well known supplier, but with such a small system cost dictates being as frugel as possible. I also suggest that you purchase fermentors that are two to four times the size of your brew house. We can brew a batch in 5 hours. Go over the finacials very carefully, because this size brewery requires a lot of labor per BBL. Good Luck

Graydon:)

[Reubob]

We want a system that we can brew on that creates recipes that are scalable to larger commercial systems. Our goal is to open Brewpub and sell bottled beer locally. We do not wish to work on a system this small.

Thanks.

[bootleg]

Hi, read the book from Sam Calagione 'Dogfish head brewery' book is called 'Brewing up a business' He started a brew pub using a beer sculpture, a hard slogg, but it shows what can be done.
Good luck

[Indian]

Building a system is very rewarding and cost effective. Overcoming challenges and compromises is an excellent way to gain experience. No one I know was given a brewing degree and the dream system and then went on to become successful. The more I research brewing, a pattern emerges. Brewers have traditionally brewed with what was available, (equipment and ingredients).

I just finished fabricating my first 100 liter conical fermentor and it was interesting, fun, and cheep. I bottle condition about 14 cases a month and enjoy every moment of the process. I learned how to build a system and brew from reading these discussions. Good luck!