Brew pub contract brewing

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Indian
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Brew pub contract brewing

Post by Indian »

Can anyone explain the economics of contract brewing on a small scale (brew pub)? I understand that Guinness is
brewer13210
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Post by brewer13210 »

It depends on a few different factors. First, it's very common for a brewpub to contract out bottled products, as bottling lines take up a lot of space and tend to be very expensive. Not something that most brewpubs have room for.

If a brewpub has a particular beer that sells well, and they have off premise accounts for it, then it's also possible that that product can't be produced efficiently on a 7-10bbl pub system. In that case, you may also want to find a micro to contract it with.

Todd
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7-10bbl pub system

Post by Indian »

Thanks Todd,

Please excuse my naivety as this next inquiry demonstrates how little I know.

When brewers discuss economies of scale like a 7-10bbl pub system, how does that translate into production?

For example: a local brewer told me their system produces 20,000 liters a day. What type of bbl system do you think he is using?
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Post by brewer13210 »

1 US bbl = 31 gallons, so they are producing 170 bbls a day.

If he is measuring his output in liters, then they probably have a metic kettle, thus they are producing 200 hl (hectoliters) a day. Chances are that they are brewing 2-3 times a day, so they probably have a 66 or 100 hl kettle...that's a pretty good sized brewery.

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I am an idiot as mathe is not my strong point.

Post by Indian »

Bad on math!

I visited a brewery last week where they claimed to produce 60,000 bottles a day. Since a bottle is 330ml am I correct in deducing that it is 1687 bbl?
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Post by PieOPah »

330ml / 1000 = 0.33 Litres

0.33 * 60,000 = 19,800 Litres

19,800 Litres = 5230.58 Gallons (US)

5230.58 / 31 (1 US bbl) = 168.73

So, 60,000 bottles is 168.73bbl

Now, what is a bbl???? A barrel?
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Post by brewer13210 »

Yes, a bbl = a US barrel.

Todd
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