Pilot brewing systems, 5 gallons to 1 BBL

Electric pilot brewing systems for breweries and nano start-ups

A pilot brewing system is a small brewhouse a brewery uses to develop and test recipes before committing a full production batch. It is also where many nano breweries start: a 1 BBL system proves the recipes and the market before a larger brewhouse goes in.

Bräu Supply pilot systems are electric, run on single-phase power, and use standard tri-clamp fittings throughout. They are designed and assembled in Vancouver, BC.

Who they are for

Production breweries

Test a new recipe at 5 to 32 gallons before it goes to the production brewhouse.

Nano breweries and taprooms

Start on 1 BBL. With four 1 BBL fermenters and two brews a week, that is about 90 BBL a year, roughly 22,000 pints.

Advanced homebrewers

Move up from a 20 gallon system and keep the same workflow.

The systems

Prices in USD, delivered to the lower 48.

System	Batch size	Vessels	From
BräuPro Homebrewing	5 to 20 gal	Mash tun and jacketed Unitank	$4,499
BräuPro 1 BBL	10 to 32 gal	50 gal mash tun and 39 gal jacketed Unitank	$7,049
HERMS Electric Brew System	10 to 50 gal	Hot liquor tank with HERMS coil, mash tun and boil kettle	$6,899

How the BräuPro works

Two vessels do the whole job.

The jacketed Unitank heats the water, boils the wort, then ferments and carbonates the batch and pressure-transfers it to keg.

The mash tun holds the mash and sparge.

A counterflow chiller cools the wort after the boil.

BräuPro 1 BBL at a glance

Batch size: 10 to 32 gallons of finished wort.

Power: one 5.5 kW element on 240V single-phase, on a 30A circuit.

Footprint: about 3 by 6 feet of floor space.

Pressure rating: 30 psi working pressure, for closed transfers, spunding and carbonating in the tank.

Controls: separate hot-side and fermentation controllers, so you can brew the next batch while the first ferments.

Warranty: 2 years, with lifetime parts support.

Delivery: free shipping to the lower 48, at a delivered price with no customs charges. A live commissioning call is included.

Growing the cellar

Add a Unitank 1BBL with a heating element. It becomes the kettle for the next brew, then ferments that batch. The mash tun is shared, so each extra Unitank adds a batch without a second brewhouse.

For cooling, the MCED High Capacity glycol chillers run up to four fermenters, each at its own temperature.

FAQ

What is a pilot brewing system?

A small brewhouse used to develop and test recipes at low volume before brewing them on a production system. Many nano breweries also use a 1 BBL pilot system as their first brewhouse.

Is 1 BBL enough to run a taproom?

Two batches a week sustain a single house line. With four 1 BBL fermenters and two brews a week, a 1 BBL brewhouse makes about 90 BBL a year, roughly 22,000 pints.

What power does the 1 BBL need?

One 5.5 kW element on 240V single-phase, on its own 30A circuit. Many commercial units have 208V or three-phase power, which changes the sizing, so check your panel before you order.

Can I brew again while a batch is fermenting?

Yes. Add a Unitank 1BBL with a heating element. It becomes the kettle for the next brew, then ferments that batch. The mash tun is shared.

Do I need a glycol chiller?

Most 1 BBL buyers choose glycol. Tap water cooling works for ales held at 60 to 70°F when your cold water supply runs cold enough all year. It is not suitable for lagers, for summer brewing in warm climates, or for any temperature below room temperature.

How is it delivered?

Systems ship from Vancouver, BC, with free shipping to the lower 48. The price shown is the delivered price, with no customs charges. A live commissioning call is included with every 1 BBL.

Do you build systems larger than 1 BBL?

For 3 and 5 BBL, join the waitlist for pricing and the spec sheet.