Homebrewing beer on a nano scale opens up the ability for specialty craft brewers to experiment with unique ingredients and flavors on a small production system before potentially scaling up to larger commercial brewing. Setting up a 1-3 barrel nano brewhouse allows creative freedom without major capital investment. nano brewery equipment guide covers key considerations for designing and operating a nano brewery.
Nano Brewery Equipment Types
The core components of a nano brewhouse include:
|
EQUIPMENT |
DESCRIPTION |
| Mash Tun | Converts mashed grain starches to fermentable sugars |
| Lauter Tun | Separates sweet wort from spent grain |
| Brew Kettle | Boils wort with hops for aroma/bitterness |
| Fermenter | Ferments sweet wort into beer |
| Brite Tank | Carbonates/clears beer before serving |
| Glycol Chiller | Cools wort quickly for pitching yeast |
| Piping | Transfers liquids between vessels |
| Control Panel | Manual or automated temperature/timing control |
300L beer fermentation tank
Installation & Operation Guidance
Key considerations for installing and operating a nano brewhouse:
| PHASE | ACTIONS |
| Installation | Floor drainage, glycol/steam lines, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, safety equipment |
| Initial Brews | Recipe development, water chemistry adjustment, fermentation tracking, quality control |
| Ongoing Production | Cleaning/sanitation SOPs, lab testing, record keeping, yeast propagation |
| Maintenance | Gaskets, o-rings, pumps, seals, valves, glycol |
| Troubleshooting | Off-flavors, contamination, consistency issues |
300L brewpub system
Additional equipment may include:
Grist Case – Holds/feeds grain
Mill – Crushes malt kernel
Whirlpool Unit – Settles hops/coagulants
Heat Exchanger – Cools hot wort quickly
Air Compressor – Pressurizes fermenters
Filter – Clarifies/sterilizes beer
Kegs – Serves final product
Nano brewery equipment Sizing Considerations
When designing a nano brewery, key factors determining equipment size and layout include:
| PARAMETER | TYPICAL RANGES |
| Batch Size | 1-3 barrel (BBL) = 31-93 gallons |
| Annual Production | ~100-500 BBLs |
| Tasting Room Size | 50-150 person capacity |
| Facility Footprint | 500-1500 sq ft |
| Boil Kettle Size | 3-5 BBL |
| Fermentation Tanks | 3-5 units at 3 BBL |
| Brite Tanks | 1-3 units at 3 BBL |
| Glycol Chiller Size | 5-10 horsepower |
| Electrical Supply | 15-30 kW, 220-480 V |
Layout Options
Standard nano brewhouse configurations include:
Linear – Equipment in row
L-shape – Efficiency footprint
Cluster – Grouped vessels
Multi-level – Save floorspace
Customization
While 1-3 BBL nano systems are available turnkey, customization allows:
Unique vessel shapes/sizes
Specialized equipment like open fermenters
Match brewery design aesthetic
Post time: Dec-18-2023