If there is no craft brewery in your town yet, but you love beer, are well versed in it, and know the best types and combinations of flavors, it’s time to think of establishing a business. The chances of success are much higher if you also know that such products will be in demand and have ideas and a desire to develop and try something new.
The number of people who consume natural products is increasing every day. Many useful substances are saved in natural beer, including nutrients, vitamins, proteins, and amino acids. Large industrial giants cannot meet this demand since a variety of additives are used in production to increase the shelf life of the drink. Owners of establishments can install a microbrewery right in a bar, restaurant, or cafe and offer their visitors delicious and natural beer every day. Or you can start brewing your own beer and doing retail, selling beer in a taproom or opening a cozy bar.
Where to Begin?
The process of transforming yourself into a good brewer takes time, investment, experience, and, most importantly, knowledge. It is worth taking online courses before starting your beer journey, but it is still better to go through real training. The advantage of such training programs (courses, schools) for an inexperienced beginner brewer is a great reasonable way to produce the first type of unique beer. With such training and practice, you can not just get acquainted with the modern technological process but also directly use professional equipment. A nice bonus is a certificate that you can use to decorate the space.
Business Plan
To create a successful brewery, it is very important to come up with a realistic and proper business plan. If you are looking for investor support, it is worth recording financials for at least three years as they always want to see not just a plan of action but facts. If you have the initial capital, such a plan will become a good basis for the future business. You can try to do it yourself, but to receive recommendations on legal issues, financial management, and attracting investments, it is best to contact specialists.
What about Expenses?
When organizing a brewery, it is necessary to take into account several areas that require investment. The first thing you cannot do without is the equipment itself.
You will need boilers, barrels, cooling systems, filters, pipes, pumps, cleaning equipment, canning or filling equipment (filling lines and/or keg washers and fillers). Do not forget about containers for storing and fermenting products. When choosing the last ones, it is better to take a look at the stainless steel tank. This option is also great for transportation. You can choose the size solely according to your needs, from 300 liters up to 1,000. Also, you will find additional systems, for instance, a cooling one. To save money, you can start by purchasing used equipment or renting it with a buyout option. Over time, as production increases, you will get your own equipment.
The next thing worth paying attention to is the costs of the premises. These, as a rule, include all possible nuances related to the placement, including rental costs, various types of inspections, re-equipment of the water supply system, reinforcement of the floor. Redevelopment of premises for production, sale, and visitor services may be required. Delivery and collection of equipment are also important. At the same time, the possible extension of beer manufacturing should be kept in mind.
Also, consider utility costs, possible business and property insurance, permits and licenses, special professional services (services of a brewing consultant, accountant, marketing, legal services), and much more that may arise specifically in your situation.
Materials
A good, high-quality, tasty beer should contain three main components. Brewer’s yeast helps in the production of ethyl alcohol from sugar wort. This stage in brewing is considered the key one. The quality of the yeast forms the properties of the finished product: taste, aftertaste, smell, and aroma.
Next comes malt – rye, wheat, barley. It is a type of cereal that is first soaked and then germinated and dried in the sun during the malting process. This ingredient directly affects the aroma, smell, taste, and color of the finished product. Basically, the brewing process is associated with barley malt.
Hops belong to the hemp family. They have been a traditional part of any beer recipe for centuries in a row. This component is responsible for the formation of foam and its stability, acts as an antiseptic, removes some of the unwanted proteins from the wort, and gives the beer a delicate aroma and light bitter taste.
To attract new consumers, it is worth thinking carefully about the design of the final product. Bottles, labels, and packaging play an important role for your brewery, and they should be pleasing to the eye. They will create an association with you, and your products will be recommended and bring you more profit. The originality of the design will be beneficial if it is easy to remember and it carries a little humor and brightness. There can be costs at this stage too if you need to work with a designer. But they might not be that high if you use the offer of young professional freelancers. At this stage, think over the concept as a whole because a small room can be used as a bar where people will come for a glass of aromatic and tasty drink. The interior can be designed so that the atmosphere is a little remindful of industrial production, which makes it special. Mini-brew boilers located in restaurants or bars are decoratively coated with copper and installed behind a glass partition in full view of the visitors.
Bottom Line
Having started brewing beer, a novice brewer joins a deal that is several thousand years old. To truly become a member of the respected caste of brewers, in addition to knowledge and money, you need to feel the brewing process, give it a piece of your own soul, and sincerely love your brainchild.