Explore the enchanting world of small beer equipment

1、 Overview of the Small Beer Equipment Market

Reasons for the increase in sales of small beer equipment and the growth of entrepreneurial stores

In recent years, the sales of small beer equipment have continued to rise, and the number of entrepreneurial shops for brewing equipment has also increased. There are multiple reasons behind this. On the one hand, with the improvement of people's quality of life and changes in consumer attitudes, craft beer is gradually being recognized by consumers. Chinese craft beer has entered a period of rapid development, providing employment opportunities and wealth opportunities for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. For example, it is suitable for individuals to open bars, breweries, and beer shops, and for collective and enterprise construction of small breweries, craft breweries, etc.

From a device perspective, small beer equipment has multiple advantages. Firstly, the first-class quality of standardized equipment continues to improve. With the innovation of manufacturing industry and the progress of related fields, there are more and more equipment in small distilleries, and people's awareness of them has increased. Operators strive to improve product quality and affordability while also providing comprehensive after-sales solutions. Secondly, the production quality has been improved. In recent years, the increase in the number of employees, strengthened management, and improved resource quality have greatly improved the quality of beer. Furthermore, variety production has diversity. It can be used for flexible production, with a small amount of feed per time, and even if the sales are not completed, the loss is not significant. It is suitable for the production of various small beers, such as yellow beer, black beer, spirulina green beer, low fruit beer, and winter warm pot fresh beer.

The market prospects for small beer equipment are broad

The market size of beer machines in China is expected to reach approximately 11.7 billion yuan in 2024, indicating a broad market prospect. Intelligence, personalized customization, environmental protection and energy conservation, quality innovation, and market internationalization are the main development trends in the current beer machine market. Small beer breweries, mainly focused on craft brewing, will flourish in the next decade, bringing more choices to Chinese beer consumers. At the same time, domestic beer equipment has begun to go global, reflecting the advantages of Chinese manufacturing. In addition, although small, the small-scale beer equipment is fully equipped, including all the equipment in the large-scale production of breweries, which can be selected and configured according to different usage purposes, meeting diverse market demands.

2、 Price range for small beer equipment

（1） Price influencing factors

The price of small beer equipment is influenced by various factors. Different styles, models, configurations, and types of alcohol can cause significant price differences.

Firstly, in terms of styles, there are oak barrel styles commonly used in bars and beer houses, stainless steel styles favored by restaurants and food stalls, wooden board styles suitable for retro decoration styles, and versatile wood grain styles. Different styles are suitable for different business locations, and prices also vary. For example, oak barrel styles may be relatively expensive due to their unique appearance and suitability for specific decoration styles; The stainless steel version, on the other hand, is relatively affordable due to its practicality and wide applicability.

The size of the model is also an important factor affecting the price. Common models include 100L -1000L, etc. Generally speaking, the larger the model, the higher the price. A set of craft beer equipment is usually composed of a saccharification tank and multiple fermentation tanks. As the demand for production increases, the scale of the equipment also expands accordingly, and the price naturally increases.

In terms of configuration, the quality of equipment materials, control systems, pipe fittings, valves, and other components will all affect the price. High quality 304 stainless steel material is more expensive than 201 stainless steel material equipment, but the quality is more guaranteed, less prone to rust, and able to withstand higher pressure. The degree of automation of the control system can also lead to significant price differences, and in pure imported German equipment, the control system may account for half of the price. In addition, high-quality fittings, valves, and accessories can ensure the brewing effect, but their prices are relatively high.

The type of alcohol also affects the price. The more types of wine are made, the more fermentation tanks are required, and the equipment configuration will correspondingly increase, resulting in higher prices. There are currently over 60 craft beer recipes on the market, with the best-selling being yellow beer, white beer, and dark beer. In the early stage, you can consider making two or three types of beer, gradually increasing the taste in the later stage, which will also affect the initial investment of equipment and the cost of upgrading in the later stage. In short, the price of small beer equipment ranges from tens of thousands to over 200000 yuan, depending on the combined effect of multiple factors.

（2） Price trap avoidance

When purchasing small beer equipment, one should not only consider the price, as low-priced equipment may have quality issues. Some unscrupulous manufacturers adopt a low price strategy to obtain customer orders, cutting corners in equipment materials, component quality, and other aspects. For example, it is possible to use inferior 201 stainless steel instead of 304 stainless steel. The inner liner is prone to rusting and has a thin thickness, which can result in low pressure resistance and air leakage, affecting the quality of the wine.

The energy consumption of the equipment is also a factor that needs to be considered. Low priced equipment may have poor insulation material, low compressor power, unreasonable pipeline design, and astonishing power consumption in the later stage. Poor quality of pipe fittings, valves, and various accessories can easily rust and damage, leading to unsatisfactory brewing results. Electrical components may also frequently malfunction, affecting the normal use of equipment.

Therefore, when purchasing small beer equipment, price and quality should be considered comprehensively. We cannot make a choice just because the price is low. We need to carefully examine the material, configuration, component quality, and other aspects of the equipment. You can refer to products from different manufacturers, understand market trends, and choose equipment with high cost-effectiveness. At the same time, it is necessary to choose manufacturers with good after-sales service, so that when equipment problems occur, they can be resolved in a timely manner, avoiding greater losses caused by equipment failures.

3、 Key points for selecting small beer equipment

（1） Key component considerations

The mixing pump of saccharification irrigation is one of the core components, and the quality of its water seal and impeller is crucial. A high-quality mixing pump can ensure the uniformity and efficiency of the saccharification process, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent fermentation process. The cooling system of saccharification irrigation is divided into two types: internal cooling and external circulation cooling, which play a key role in the saccharification system and affect the efficiency and quality of saccharification. The quality of copper pipes in fermentation tanks is an important reference for measuring the quality of fermentation tanks. The quality of copper pipes directly determines the performance of the cooling system in fermentation tanks, which in turn affects the fermentation effect of beer. The quality of these key components directly affects the quality and production efficiency of beer, and must be given special attention when selecting small-scale beer equipment.

（2） Appearance and internal structure

When purchasing small beer equipment, one should not be misled solely by appearance. Some devices may have a bright exterior, but there may be internal structural issues. Devices with similar appearances may have vastly different internal structures and qualities. For example, some low-priced devices may cut corners in internal temperature control systems, drainage systems, and pipelines. Although they may look similar to high-quality equipment in appearance, various problems may arise in actual use. Therefore, when choosing equipment, it is important to have a deep understanding of the internal structure and quality of the equipment, and not subjectively assume that equipment with a bright appearance is of good quality.

（3） Material and Polishing

The materials and polishing requirements inside and outside the equipment have a significant impact on quality. Generally speaking, the interior and exterior of the equipment are all made of 304 or above stainless steel material, polished to within 0.4 um, with the best quality; The interior of the equipment is made of 304 or above stainless steel material, polished to within 0.4 um, and the outer skin is made of 400 or 200 series stainless steel material, with good quality; The interior of the equipment is made of 304 or higher stainless steel material, and the internal tank body is not polished. The pipe fittings and outer skin are made of 400 or 200 series stainless steel material, with average quality; The equipment is made of stainless steel material below 304, with polished or unpolished internal tanks, fittings, and inner liner outer skin made of 400 or 200 series stainless steel, which has the worst quality. Different materials and polishing levels can affect the corrosion resistance, aesthetics, and service life of equipment.

（4） Valve fittings and vulnerable parts

Valve fittings should be made of food grade materials, generally SUS304. If 201 material valve fittings are selected, the price difference can be up to 7 times, but the quality cannot be guaranteed. Vulnerable parts mainly refer to sealing components, which should be regularly inspected and replaced during use to ensure the sealing and normal operation of the equipment.

（5） Heating method selection

Electric heating and steam heating each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Electric heating is cheap, but for larger equipment, it heats up slowly and locally becomes too high, making it unsuitable for concentrated saccharification. The steam heating temperature is constant, the heating area is large, and it can ensure that the heating process of the mash is relatively uniform. The degradation of starch and protein in malt is ideal, and there will be no phenomenon of electric heating sticking the pot. It is also easy to clean. Generally speaking, electric heating can be chosen for saccharification batches of 100 to 1000 liters, in which case the efficiency of electric heating can ensure the heating rate; For batches of over 2000 liters, the cost of electric heaters may be higher than that of boilers, and the heating efficiency cannot meet the process requirements. At this time, only boiler heating or saturated steam heating can be selected.

（6） Other key points

Whether heating and stirring are linked during saccharification depends on the process. Generally, when heating up, stirring is used to increase the temperature quickly and evenly. The filtration tank only needs to be insulated during the filtration process to ensure that the temperature does not drop too much and cause the bed plate to tighten, without the need for heating function.