Selecting qualified brewery vendors establishes the foundation for producing terrific craft beer.
Key Criteria for Choosing a Micro Craft Brewhouse Supplier
Consideration |
Guidelines |
Relevant Experience |
Look for hundreds of successful previous micro craft installations |
Product Offerings |
Wide range meets needs from manual to fully automated |
Customization |
Ability to get custom vessels and modify standard packages |
Manufacturing Quality |
All stainless steel hand-welded vessels and parts; reputation for reliability |
Dimensions |
Size and height fits floorplan; measure doorways and aisles |
Lead Times |
Ready sooner than entirely custom fabricated systems |
Service Capability |
Responsive support team handles questions and issues |
Pricing Packages |
Compare proposals across needed equipment and features |
Payment Terms |
Flexible installments plans help secure financing |
Top Questions to Ask Prospective Brewery Vendors
- How long have you specialized in micro craft sized brewhouses?
- Can you share contacts of micro breweries using your equipment I could call?
- Where are your manufacturing and assembly facilities located?
- Do you offer lease-to-own payment plans or financing assistance?
- Is shipping, delivery, and installation included in pricing?
- How soon could my system be operational from order date?
- Who handles warranty repairs and technical support?
- Can you help customize equipment configuration to fit my space?
Have candid conversations to determine the best fit based on needs, pricing, and service approach. Tour existing installations to inspect build quality if possible.
Comparison of Micro Craft vs Macro Brewery Systems
Micro craft breweries face distinct opportunities and challenges compared to large brewers.
Micro Craft vs Macro Breweries
|
Micro |
Macro |
Annual Production Volume |
< 15,000 barrels |
Over 100,000 barrels |
Batch Size |
5-30 BBL typical |
Hundreds of BBL per batch |
Brewing Approach |
Traditional recipes; small batches |
Focused on mass production volumes |
Product Variety |
Constant innovation; seasonal offerings |
Flagship brands; limited specialty options |
Ingredients |
Specialty malts, hops, yeasts |
Commodity adjuncts like corn, rice |
Business Model |
Local taproom sales; limited distribution |
National distribution networks |
Pricing Range |
$4.50-$10 per pint |
Under $1 per bottle at retail |
Ownership Structure |
Often owner operated |
Corporate shareholders |
The scale requires tailored strategies to ingredients, operations, marketing, and financing. As they grow, micro craft breweries make transitions towards more automation. But retaining quality, creativity, and connections with local community remain imperatives.
Advantages and Limitations of Micro Craft Brewing
The intimate micro brewery scale enables artisanal approaches but also comes with financial and operational challenges.
Benefits and Opportunities with Micro Craft Breweries
- Freedom for brewers to experiment with recipes and ingredients
- Focus on flavor, aroma, and appearance
- Engage customers with speciality offerings and seasonal varieties
- Build loyal local following and brand identity
- Charge premium price points for perceived quality
- Lower startup capital investment requirements
- Owner operated maintains flexibility and control
- Capability to grow production incrementally avoids large debt
Potential Weaknesses and Risks Facing Small Breweries
- Consistency batch to batch can be challenging
- Floorspace limitations may constrain growth
- Stainless equipment has high upfront costs
- Securing bank loans difficult without proven financials
- Must price competitively as market saturates
- Expensive Federal and State licensing fees
- Staffing challenges finding qualified brewers
- Distribution without discounts tough for retailers
- High failure rate as fads change in craft beer
The list of considerations highlights how micro craft brewing offers great rewards but requires thorough planning. Learn from other successful breweries while crafting an identity around unique beers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size brewery production is considered “micro craft”?
The Brewers Association defines micro craft breweries as producing under 15,000 barrels per year. That equates to brewing no more than 450,000 US gallons annually.
How much space do I need for a micro sized brewhouse?
Plan for at least 1,500-3,000 sq ft for a small 3-7 BBL micro brewery. This includes the brewhouse plus fermentation room, cold storage, packaging area, ingredients, lab, and offices. More space allows more comfortable production volumes and future growth capacity.
What are important utilities I need to operate brewery equipment?
Key utilities are electricity, water, drainage, ventilation, refrigeration, gas lines for any direct-fired kettles, and steam if applicable. Ensure adequate connection sizes, pressure, drainage slope, and phased electrical distribution.
Is buying used brewery equipment a good idea?
Used equipment saves substantially on upfront capital costs. But results vary greatly depending on age, maintenance performed, upgrades needed for controls and reconditioning, and warranty support. Evaluate operational expenses over lifetime of tanks.