In the vast world of brewing, there are various types such as craft brewing, micro brewing, nano brewing, and many others. The key differentiating factor among them is the scale of beer production.
What is Micro Brewing?
The term “micro” often conveys the idea of something small or on a millionth scale. Microbreweries are independent breweries that produce beer on a smaller scale. Specifically, microbreweries produce less than 15,000 barrels per year. They are also commonly referred to as craft breweries. Microbreweries typically employ beer production systems with unit outputs of 100L, 300L, 500L, and so on. These breweries have small production volumes but cater to a high consumer demand. Although microbreweries have the flexibility to adjust their production processes in order to create beers with different characteristics and tastes, they generally distribute their products within a specific region without expanding nationwide.
What is Nano Brewing?
As the name suggests, a nano brewery is even smaller in scale compared to a microbrewery. It often serves as a stepping stone towards becoming a microbrewery. A nano brewery is defined as a brewery that produces three barrels or less of beer per batch. The specific annual production volume for a nano brewery can vary, with some regions considering it to be fewer than 2,000 barrels per year while others use a threshold of 5,000 barrels. Due to its small size, a nano brewery has the advantage of being more experimental and innovative compared to larger breweries, allowing them to create new and unique flavors.
Can Nanobreweries Generate Profit?
An important consideration when starting a nano brewery is calculating the necessary earnings and day-to-day operational costs. The good news is that most of the beer sold by nano breweries is profitable. While some beer can be distributed, the primary focus for a nano brewery is typically to sell as much as possible on-site.
How to Start a Microbrewery?
If you have been contemplating starting your own microbrewery, there are several steps you need to follow to get started. As with any business, it all begins with budgeting and creating a business plan that outlines your financial projections and goals. Financing your venture can be done through loans, investments, or personal savings. Additionally, apart from general start-up costs, bear in mind that the beer industry is subject to taxation and regulation.
Once you have your funding plan in place, the next step is to obtain a federal brewing license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Administration. This process can take up to a year.
Following that, you will need to find a suitable location and invest in equipment such as kettles, kegs, boilers, fermentation tanks, storage tanks, refrigerators, cleaning equipment, filter tanks, pumps, and canning and bottling equipment.
Choosing the Right Brewery Type
Before making a decision on the size of your brewery, it is important to assess the sales channels available for your beer and estimate potential sales. This will help you determine the appropriate scale for your brewery. If your beer becomes highly popular and demand exceeds supply, you can always expand your brewing capacity by investing in additional equipment. Therefore, the initial decision regarding brewery size is crucial for beginners. If you need assistance or further guidance, you can reach out to ACE, where we provide turnkey brewery solutions. We offer professional customization services and equipment solutions, and we look forward to collaborating with you on your brewing journey!
To obtain a turnkey solution for your brewery equipment or to discuss plans for opening or expanding your brewery, feel free to contact us directly. Our team of engineers will design and manufacture brewery equipment tailored to your brewing process. We are also equipped to offer comprehensive turnkey solutions and customized strategies for brewery expansion.
