Commercial Brewing vs Home Brewing
For the most part, beer is brewed using the same steps and ingredients. However, there are some additional steps in the commercial brewing process that are not required for home brewing. These additional processes and steps are due to the equipment used by commercial breweries and the capacity required to brew beer. In this article, we will discuss the differences between commercial brewing and home brewing processes.
1. Different Definitions
Commercial brewing refers to the brewing of beer or other types of wine by a business or brewery that sells to consumers or wholesalers for a profit. On the other hand, home brewing refers to the small-scale brewing of beer, mead, or cider at home, usually as a hobby, and not intended for sale.
2. Different Capacities
The brewing process for commercial brewing and home brewing is essentially the same: grains are mashed, hops are added, the wort is fermented, the beer is aged, and finally bottled. The major difference lies in the scale of production. Commercial breweries can produce significantly larger quantities of beer compared to homebrewers.
3. Different Equipment
Homebrewing requires minimal equipment and tools. With just a few sample cans or barrels, one can start making 1-5 gallons of quality beer. On the other hand, commercial brewing necessitates the purchase of complex equipment, raw materials, and utilities, even for small breweries. Here is a list of supplies to consider when starting a microbrewery:
Equipment:
mashing equipment (kettles, boilers), barrels, cooling systems, bright tanks, fermenters, filters, pipes, CIP systems, waste management systems, filling or bottling equipment, etc.
Supplies:
hops, malt, yeast, bottles, labels, and packaging.
Utilities:
electricity, steam, and water.
4. Limitations of Commercial Brewing
Commercial brewing has certain limitations compared to home brewing. With home brewing, if a batch turns out bad, there is less loss since it is only made in small quantities. However, commercial brews are produced in larger batches for wholesalers. If a batch is brewed poorly, the losses can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Of course, many breweries have dedicated brewers for small-batch brewing, and large-scale brewing is only carried out once the beer style and taste meet the requirements.
The above information highlights the differences between commercial brewing and home brewing. If you want to learn more about beer, feel free to browse our news blog. We welcome you to leave a message to initiate a discussion!
