Equipment

What’s really going on in that lauter tun, anyway—and how long’s it going to take? Stuck or slow sparges can disrupt production and quality. Let’s zoom in on how best to manage the process and avoid surprises.

The beating hearts of a brewery aren’t glamorous and won’t impress casual visitors, but they can do a great deal to improve how brewers do their jobs. They can also make a lot of noise.

It’s 2023, and the beer market and supply chain may never return to whatever “normal” once meant. Likewise, the market for brewhouse equipment has changed in significant ways. Whether you’re starting a brewery or making adjustments, here’s what to know.

Buying equipment is one of the most expensive things a brewery can do—and the process is fraught with risks. Here are some dos and don’ts from two experts on evaluating, buying, and transporting major gear.

Does slow, subtle cask ale still have a place in today’s variety-driven, can-cluttered American scene? Along with a primer on the gear and vocabulary, here’s why this is an endangered tradition this side of the Atlantic—and why it refuses to die.

Great lager depends upon exacting attention to details—and not only when it comes to fermentation and conditioning. Here we look at brewhouses specifically designed with lager in mind, to better appreciate what makes them different.

The rising interest in hard seltzer and other not-so-beery beverages—including kombucha, wine, coffee, and more—has led to new looks at existing gear in the brewhouse—as well as investments in equipment or partnerships that could have wider benefits.

When uncertainty rules the day, brewhouse-equipment purchases need to offer trusted ROI. Breweries should look for equipment that solves today’s problems—but also tees up future flexibility.

The times, they are a-changin’. Gone is the old startup mantra of “plan big for growth,” replaced by a lean “test the concept and grow with demand” philosophy. That's pushing equipment manufacturers toward innovative, scalable solutions.

There are infinite ways to spend on newer, fancier, bigger, more automated, and more efficient brewhouse gear. But which upgrades get the best ROI? Here we delve into the decisions and upgrades that get better returns for breweries of varying sizes.

Be skeptical. Do your due diligence, diligently. Boost the odds that your new brewhouse will actually reach your brewery, and your fermentor purchase will improve your future—not tank it.