so what do you guys think?

[one_dead_soul]

i plan on openning a small brewery hopefully early to mid 2010. so my question to all you is this. i can get a b3 2050 for just under $3000 so i'll have a turn key 20g system. or go with 3 blickmann 55g kettle and building the rest of the system myself (wich i'm not aposed to) the 3 blickmann kettle with the false bottom will cost about $2026 without shipping. but then i'll need another pump and burners of some sort. i would like to go all electric with it to. get some temp controllers and shit. so probably another 2 grand by the time thats said and done. then of course fermenters.. but thats a whole nother story. it would be nice to be able to fill some barrels in 2 brews insted of 3 or 4. but would it be going overbourd to get the blickmann's for a part time brewery? free shipping on the 2050 ends at the end of the month. so you guys have till then to help me deside. thanks guys

tom

[Oktober]

A couple thoughts.

1. Way to go in deciding to take the plunge on going pro. Let us know where you are planning on setting up, as a couple of us are certainly within driving distance.

2. Make sure you are planning your brewing capacity such that it will support your project for the next few years. If you are going into this seriously, you should have goals for how much you want to produce in 2010 and how much in 2011 and maybe 2012. Make sure the purchases you take at start-up can support it. Last thing you want to do is have to re-buy equipment because it turns out that a 1 barrel system won't cut it. But also, make sure you are realistic and don’t swing for the fences.

3. All the pricing in your post reflects brand-new equipment. I would highly suggest you be vigilant and look into used equipment. Keep your eyes open for old brewpub equipment etc. With this economy, there is a lot of equipment out there you can pick up on the cheap which will be higher capacity than you could probably be able to purchase new. Just be smart and research the hell out of any piece you might be considering - there are great deals out there, but you have to look under the chassis to make sure the deal isn't a lemon. Make sure to surf through http://www.probrewer.com and other resources.

4. Make your local connections now (if you already haven't). There is a tremendous 'buy-local' movement that will be your low hanging fruit in the beginning. You need to make sure you get that early revenue - but more importantly the reoccurring revenue. Everyone will try something new once, but your job will be to make sure they come back for a second, third, etc.

Lastly, here is an amusing article if you need a little fuel for the fire.

Nanobreweries

Best of luck - keep us informed!

-Okt

[TheDarkSide]

+1 on keeping us updated.

We can have a New England BN Army kick off party!!

[Phil]

I'd go for the B3 not just because they're great systems, but that shipping deal really is insane. get a quote for the shipping you'd be paying, I bet that will settle the question really easily.

[one_dead_soul]

ok. so i figure the 2050 just wont be big enough. like oktober said, i don't want to be upgrading in a year. looks like i might be picking up a bunch of 13.5g kegs also for the brewery. $75 each.. and there in great shape. most of them have been rebuilt already so they will need nothing. so far so good

tom

[Charlie]

I'm in exactly the same position, but thinking brewpub. 20 gal (or 50) is good for a pilot brewery, but my take on it is that bigger is better, to a point, because it's going to take you the same amount of time to brew 4 bbl as it will 20 gal. When you have your own business time is the one thing you will not have.

I looked at 55 gal stainless barrels (new $650, ebay $100.00), but I really don't think 2 bbl is enough. Let's say 100 people drop in and drink 3 beers each: You've got a two day supply! So you're brewing every other day and hoping the stuff doesn't stay overtime in the fermenter. That kind of shit can ruin your day.

Uncle Billy's Brew and Que in Austin is my business model. He's got approx 15 bbl system, a huge conical and 3 bright tanks (or maybe they're fermenters too). I'm thinking 4 bbl minimum for my operation.

I favor gas fired because NG is mucho cheaper than electricity, and direct fired because you'll get some carmelization in the pot (and a steam generator will set you back 4K minimum).

+1 on the used equipment. It's available.

You're going to be generating a huge amount of spent grain, and the stuff smells like dog shit after 3 days, so line up some farmers to pick it up for cattle, hog and chicken food.

Charlie

[one_dead_soul]

well this is only a part time thing for now. i wont be openning my own brewpub for a wile. my mane beers will be sold locally to other bars and such. these places have a bunch of other beer on tap so i don't think i'll have to werry to much about running out. i'll just make sure i have a heeping amount of fresh beer for them on the weekends.
gonna look for as much used stuff as posible, gonna have to look at those 55g stainless tanks you were talking about. you sould send me a link
i think i'm still gonna try to go electric with everything. i can't get ng up here and propain is rather costly. maybe not as much as electric but i plan on getting a bunch of windmils anyway. that will off set the difference. plus i'll be able to easilly set the hlt on a timer so when i get out of work i'll just need to grind my grain and i'll ready to go. future goals would be to run everything off all my own electricity. find a place next to a river and make my own hydro power. that would supply pritty much everything. and make everything as organic as possible.

tom

[TheDarkSide]

Just think how much beer you could sell if the NH Legislature approved expanded gambling.

I don't know how you feel about it but isn't there a lot of talk about wind turbines in your area? You could even put wind mills on your labels and call it "green" beer...the hippies would love it.