Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: vendors / manufacturers  (Read 3914 times)

Offline redzim

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 309
vendors / manufacturers
« on: January 09, 2013, 09:23:18 am »
Just kind of blowing smoke out my ear at this point but where would I start looking to get a quote on equipment for a 7bbl or 10bbl brew house, that would include MLT system, mill & auger, wort chilling system, and 2-5 (or more) tanks for fermenting, lagering, and serving,and anything else I have forgotten?

I am looking for both:

1) manufacturers of new equipment

2) forums where I could keep tabs on used stuff being sold

-red

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10678
  • Milford, MI
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2013, 10:05:05 am »
Thinking of a big step up, Red?

In Michigan I know of 2 places. One is GW Kent, they sell systems from various manufacturers. Another is Craftwerk, which is fairly new but making systems for places around the country.

http://www.gwkent.com/brewery.html

http://craftwerkbrewing.com/

There are also many more I don't know.

As for used equipment, try probrewer.com
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline morticaixavier

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7781
  • Underhill VT
    • The Best Artist in the WORLD!!!!!
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2013, 10:56:17 am »
stout tanks? they have most of what you listed.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2013, 06:07:40 pm »
For pro brewer forum go to ProBrewer.com.

Equipment. It depends how much money you have.
There is no used equipment market. A lot of time a used equipment cost as much as a new one.
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10678
  • Milford, MI
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2013, 07:18:35 pm »
For pro brewer forum go to ProBrewer.com.

Equipment. It depends how much money you have.
There is no used equipment market. A lot of time a used equipment cost as much as a new one.
Leos is correct, I know guys who say the only reason to buy used is that you don't have to wait for 6 months for new.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline redzim

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 309
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2013, 05:42:52 am »
Thinking of a big step up, Red?


Dreaming (me and some other folks).....  thanks for the leads, that is enough to get me going for now....

-red

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2013, 05:48:30 am »
As Leos said, it depends how much money you have. We started with very little and decided to invest our money first into fermentors and refrigeration (glycol). You probably will find a better deal if you shop vendors rather than going to a single vendor for everything.

We had out brew house built from dairy tanks by a guy Wisconsin. It ain't perfect, but it works and was under 15K for a 15 bbl brewhouse.

Our first batch of fermentors came from a company in Fla who I'd prefer not to recommend. Second batch were used, and now we have three 30 bbl tanks from GW Kent that are close to flawless.

Our first glycol unit came from afore mentioned company in Fla, but the second is coming from pro-refrigeration (this week, as a matter of fact).

Our next brewhouse will come from Premier. I can tell you the cheap stuff works but with lots of headaches. When you go with the high end you really do get what you pay for. That said, it can be difficult to start out without cutting some corners unless you have serious $$$.

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2013, 02:54:48 pm »
I got my glycol from Pro-Refregiration. It is 5 hp unit and I have it almost one year. Works great no problem so far.

There is always something to buy. Now I am buying filter, manual canning line and tap room expansion.
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline redzim

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 309
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2013, 02:31:22 pm »
manual canning line

...Sounds interesting... care to share a link or manufacturer info?


Offline Pawtucket Patriot

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1367
  • Rebelling against cheap swill since 2005
    • Bauhaus Brew Labs
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2013, 02:43:29 pm »
If you don't mind spending a little money ($195), you can join the Brewers Association as a brewery-in-planning.  You will have access to information on pretty much every supplier/vendor in the country.  In fact, there is a supplier/vendor directory at the end of every issue of The New Brewer, the monthly BA publication.

I joined the BA in December as a brewery-in-planning, and I'm finding it extremely helpful so far.
Matt Schwandt | Minneapolis, MN
AHA Member

Partial-Mash Pictorial
All-Grain Pictorial

Offline Thirsty_Monk

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2514
  • Eau Claire WI
    • Lazy Monk Brewing
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2013, 01:29:25 pm »
manual canning line

...Sounds interesting... care to share a link or manufacturer info?
Wild Goose Engineering out of CO. This is manual line that is expandable to automated line. Stay away from Cask. At least my opinion after dealing with them.
Na Zdravie

Lazy Monk Brewing
http://www.lazymonkbrewing.com

Offline redzim

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 309
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2013, 11:52:02 am »
stout tanks? they have most of what you listed.

Anyone have first-hand experience with Stout's fermenters and brite tanks in the 1-bbl to 3-bbl range (or in any size, actually)? Their pricing (at least based on quotes I've been getting back from a few companies) is extremely competitive and attractive... does that means they are cutting corners???

-red

Offline nateo

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2336
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2013, 12:41:32 pm »
Anyone have first-hand experience with Stout's fermenters and brite tanks in the 1-bbl to 3-bbl range (or in any size, actually)? Their pricing (at least based on quotes I've been getting back from a few companies) is extremely competitive and attractive... does that means they are cutting corners???

-red

No firsthand experience, but I've read they're pretty good. IIRC they use a thinner gauge steel than other manufacturers, and that's why their prices are lower. That might be a good thing when you ship and install them, since they'd be a lot lighter and easier to move, though more fragile.
In der Kürze liegt die Würze.

Offline dcbc

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 280
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2013, 09:47:43 am »
As long as you're looking around, check out Newland Systems as well.

http://www.nsibrew.com/
I've consumed all of my home brew and still can't relax!  Now what!

Offline brianc

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 2
    • http://www.cockalebrewery.com
Re: vendors / manufacturers
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2013, 01:00:58 am »
Anyone have first-hand experience with Stout's fermenters and brite tanks in the 1-bbl to 3-bbl range (or in any size, actually)? Their pricing (at least based on quotes I've been getting back from a few companies) is extremely competitive and attractive... does that means they are cutting corners???

-red
I have a 65 gallon single walled conical from Stout.  I love it so much more than the plastic fermenter I had before.

I have done a couple of mods and added a few things since I bought it though.  I have a stainless coil that I attached to the lid to pump glycol through for temp control.  I swapped the thermowell that came with it for a sample port, and I took off the 1/2" 90 degree TC elbow and replaced it with a 1.5" TC T with a 1" TC fitting for blowoff and a 24" thermowell.

The only thing I wished I would have changed on it is that there is a threaded fitting for the CIP spray ball.  I wish I would have had it changed to a 3" TC fitting as shown on some of the other larger fermenters.  I noticed it on the drawings before I ordered, but just didn't think much about it at the time.  It would make it easier to remove, and give a larger access port for pitching yeast, dry hopping, etc. (instead of taking off the entire lid).