Complete Guide to Craft Beer Equipment

1、 Overview of Craft Beer Equipment

Craft beer equipment has received much attention in recent years, covering various types and providing rich choices for beer enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.

There are many reasons why craft beer equipment has attracted attention. Firstly, with the improvement of national consumption level, people have increasingly high requirements for the quality and taste of alcohol. Craft beer, with its unique brewing process, rich taste characteristics, and personalized store decoration, has left consumers with special memories. Craft beer usually uses wheat, barley, and other brewing materials, produced and sold in-house to ensure the pure taste of the beer.

From the perspective of equipment types, craft beer equipment is mainly divided into integrated machines and split machines. Split machines generally have larger specifications, such as 1000L, 2000L, 3000L, etc., and are commonly used equipment in large craft breweries abroad. Its characteristic is independence. The saccharification tank, fermentation tank, crusher, cooling system, etc. are all separate and self-contained, occupying a large area. However, its advantages are also obvious. Problems can be solved separately, and the liquor yield is high. The all-in-one machine consists of a saccharification tank and a fermentation tank, which generally occupies a small area, is easy to operate, and has a lower cost. For example, the models of all-in-one machines mainly include 100L, 300L, 500L, 1000L, etc., which are suitable for places such as bars, KTVs, night markets, restaurants, etc.

In addition, the composition of craft beer equipment is also quite complex. Generally includes crushing system, saccharification, boiling, filtration system, fermentation system, temperature control system, refrigeration system, CIP automatic cleaning system, etc. These systems work together to ensure the quality and taste of craft beer. At the same time, craft beer equipment also has the advantages of luxury and exquisite design, easy operation, humanized design, no pollution, no noise, no formaldehyde and other chemical additives, making customers' drinking safer.

There are various types of craft beer equipment, including craft beer fermentation systems, saccharification systems of different capacities, and fermentation tanks of different specifications. Consumers can also customize the appearance color and model of the equipment according to their own needs, such as rose gold, mirror stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, oak color, etc. At the same time, the recipe technology for craft beer is also crucial, as a good recipe is necessary to brew delicious beer and win the market.

2、 Key points for equipment selection

（1） Business model determines equipment scale

Different business models have different requirements for the scale of craft beer equipment. For small breweries, the equipment output requirements are relatively high, such as daily production of 1 ton, 2 tons, 3 tons, 4 tons, etc., requiring the use of split machine equipment, focusing on volume, and can cooperate with hotels, bars, large partners, etc. This business model requires high investment and complete documentation. Craft beer houses can register their own brand or use the brand of franchisees, with high decoration requirements and certain characteristics. The material of the equipment is also a factor to consider. Generally, equipment with a capacity of 200 liters, 300 liters, 500 liters, etc. can be selected, which has a small footprint, fast return, and low investment. The production capacity of home brewed beer is relatively low, and the investment amount is also relatively small. The craft beer produced can be delivered to nearby barbecue stalls and restaurants. As the demand increases in the later stage, the equipment can be upgraded.

（2） Investment Plan and Market Research

It is crucial to conduct cost-benefit analysis and market research when investing in craft beer equipment. Firstly, we need to consider the cost of water and electricity. Taking a start-up store as an example, for a store with a monthly output of about 3000 liters, a set of 500 liter craft beer equipment with four fermentation tanks is used. Pure electrical equipment requires three-phase electricity, plus professional factory rental, decoration, and preliminary material procurement, labor and other expenses. A minimum of four to five hundred thousand yuan needs to be prepared. Choosing small-scale commercial brewing equipment, such as the American classic three barrel one pot with a production capacity of 100 liters, is cheap and affordable, and coupled with a 200 liter fermentation tank, the cost is relatively low. At the same time, it is necessary to conduct research on the local beer consumption style and taste preferences, design store sizes, estimate beer consumption, and determine the production capacity of the equipment that needs to be purchased. In addition, site factors cannot be ignored. Water supply, drainage, electricity, ventilation and other conditions should be considered. It is best to provide the site drawings and surrounding environment to the equipment supplier, so that they can provide suitable solutions based on the site conditions. A responsible craft beer equipment manufacturer will design the layout according to the site after purchasing the equipment, in order to achieve equipment functionality with minimal space occupation. We also need to make a good investment plan, estimate the cost of raw materials, water, electricity, personnel, and other management expenses in the later stage, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis in advance based on local prices and consumption levels.

（3） The Importance of After sales Service

After sales service is crucial for the use of craft beer equipment. Good after-sales service includes on-site installation of equipment, ensuring that the equipment can be correctly installed and put into use. For example, Hebei Smiliwei Beer Equipment Manufacturer can provide customers with exquisite craft brewing technology. In 2019, they pioneered more than 30 new craft beer brewing processes, provided full brewing technology support, and can provide long-term brewing masters for customers. At the same time, the main body of the equipment is guaranteed for 10 years, and all equipment is provided with lifelong maintenance services. All customers are also managed through file management, and quick information is provided to customers at any time. Long term technical and quality tracking services ensure timely service to users in various regions. Nanyang Jingde Beer Technology Development Co., Ltd. also provides comprehensive after-sales service. As long as you purchase their beer equipment, you can enjoy long-term after-sales service and lifelong maintenance, from the initial free on-site equipment installation and commissioning to the later maintenance services. The technicians who provide on-site service to customers are technical consultants, and customers have the right to consult all equipment and brewing technology issues anytime and anywhere. At the same time, we can also provide customers with other paid services, as long as we can meet their needs as much as possible. In addition, the China Light Industry Machinery Association has released the "Workshop Beer Equipment After sales Service Specification" group standard, which specifies the terminology and definitions, responsibilities and obligations, basic requirements for establishing service institutions, service foundations, distribution and installation, return and exchange and maintenance service requirements, warranty services, complaint handling requirements, after-sales service evaluation, etc. for workshop beer equipment after-sales service, providing norms and guarantees for workshop beer equipment after-sales service.