This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating business plan for a craft brewery.
Our business plan for a craft brewery will help you build a profitable project
Starting a craft brewery is an exciting venture, but selecting the right equipment can feel overwhelming.
The challenge lies in knowing exactly what brewing equipment to invest in without overspending or missing essential components.
Every brewery has unique requirements, and equipment costs can quickly escalate if you don't plan carefully from the start.
Complete Craft Brewery Equipment List
Launching a successful craft brewery requires meticulous planning and the right brewing equipment. This comprehensive list covers everything you need to get your brewery operational and producing quality beer.
Brewing Equipment
- Brewhouse system - Essential for mashing, lautering, boiling, and whirlpooling
- Mash tun - Controls temperature and extracts sugars from grains
- Lauter tun - Separates wort from spent grain efficiently
- Brew kettle - Boils wort and adds hops for flavor
- Whirlpool tank - Separates trub and clarifies hot wort
- Heat exchanger - Rapidly cools wort to fermentation temperature
- Hot liquor tank - Stores heated water for brewing process
- Pumps - Transfers liquids throughout brewing system safely
- Grain mill - Crushes malt to optimal consistency for extraction
- Steam boiler - Provides heating for brewhouse operations
Fermentation & Conditioning
- Fermentation tanks - Primary vessels where yeast converts sugars to alcohol
- Bright tanks - Secondary tanks for conditioning and carbonation
- Glycol chilling system - Maintains precise fermentation temperatures
- Yeast propagation system - Grows healthy yeast cultures for consistent fermentation
- CIP (Clean-in-Place) system - Automated cleaning for tanks and lines
- CO2 recovery system - Captures and reuses carbon dioxide from fermentation
- Sample ports - Allows quality testing during fermentation process
Quality Control & Laboratory
- Microscope - Examines yeast health and contamination detection
- pH meter - Monitors acidity levels throughout brewing process
- Hydrometer/refractometer - Measures specific gravity and alcohol content
- Dissolved oxygen meter - Ensures proper oxygen levels for yeast
- Test tubes/beakers - Basic laboratory glassware for analysis
- Autoclave - Sterilizes laboratory equipment and yeast samples
- Thermometer - Monitors temperatures at critical brewing stages
Packaging Equipment
- Bottling line - Fills, caps, and labels bottles automatically
- Canning line - Packages beer in cans with proper sealing
- Keg washer/filler - Cleans and fills kegs for draft distribution
- Bottle/can rinser - Sanitizes containers before filling
- Capper/seamer - Seals bottles and cans securely
- Labeling machine - Applies labels consistently and professionally
- Case packer - Organizes finished products into shipping cases
Storage & Raw Materials
- Grain silos - Stores bulk malt in controlled environment
- Hop storage - Freezer units that preserve hop freshness
- Chemical storage - Safe containment for cleaning and sanitizing chemicals
- Finished goods warehouse - Stores packaged beer before distribution
- Pallet racking - Organizes inventory efficiently in storage areas
Utilities & Infrastructure
- Water treatment system - Ensures consistent water quality for brewing
- Wastewater treatment - Manages brewery effluent before discharge
- Compressed air system - Powers pneumatic equipment throughout facility
- Electrical panels - Distributes power to brewing equipment safely
- Ventilation system - Removes heat, steam, and brewing odors
- Steam distribution - Delivers heating throughout brewhouse
- Floor drains - Manages water and cleaning runoff effectively
Taproom & Service
- Draft beer system - Serves fresh beer directly from bright tanks
- Bar equipment - Taps, faucets, and dispensing hardware
- Glassware - Branded glasses that enhance beer presentation
- Point-of-sale system - Processes sales and tracks inventory
- Refrigerated storage - Keeps packaged beer at proper serving temperature
- Tap handles - Custom branded handles that identify each beer
Safety & Compliance
- Eyewash stations - Emergency equipment required by safety regulations
- Fire suppression system - Protects facility from brewing-related fire hazards
- Safety shower - Emergency decontamination for chemical exposure
- First aid equipment - Handles workplace injuries promptly
- Lockout/tagout devices - Ensures safe equipment maintenance procedures
- Personal protective equipment - Safety gear for brewery staff
Cleaning & Sanitation
- CIP tanks - Stores cleaning solutions for automated washing cycles
- Caustic storage - Contains sodium hydroxide for equipment cleaning
- Acid storage - Holds phosphoric acid for mineral deposit removal
- Sanitizer systems - Applies food-grade sanitizers before production
- Pressure washer - Cleans brewery floors and exterior equipment
- Chemical pumps - Safely transfers cleaning chemicals throughout system
Our financial plan for a craft brewery will help you build a profitable project
What Equipment Budget Should You Plan?
Most craft brewery owners invest between $200,000 and $2,000,000 in equipment, depending on their production capacity and business model. You really can't go below $150,000 for even the smallest commercial setup because you need professional brewhouse, fermentation tanks, and packaging equipment just to operate legally and efficiently.
- Nano Brewery
A nano brewery producing 1-3 barrels per batch needs around $150,000-$300,000, with most of the budget going toward a compact brewhouse system and basic fermentation tanks.
- Microbrewery
A microbrewery with 7-15 barrel capacity typically runs $300,000-$800,000, including automated systems and expanded fermentation capacity.
- Regional Craft Brewery
A regional brewery producing 15+ barrels can easily hit $800,000-$2,000,000, especially when you add automated packaging lines and advanced quality control systems.
Equipment Budget Examples
Nano Brewery ($150,000 - $300,000)
Nano breweries focus on essential equipment that can handle small-batch production with emphasis on quality over quantity. The goal is getting professional-grade basics without overspending on automation you won't need initially.
| Equipment Category | What's Included | Budget Range |
|---|---|---|
| Brewhouse System | 3-barrel brewhouse with mash tun, lauter tun, brew kettle, and whirlpool, manual controls, gas-fired heating | $40,000 - $80,000 |
| Fermentation | 4-6 stainless steel fermentation tanks (3-5 barrel capacity), basic glycol chilling system, temperature controls | $30,000 - $50,000 |
| Packaging | Semi-automatic bottling line with counter-pressure filler, manual capper, basic labeling equipment | $15,000 - $25,000 |
| Quality Control | Basic laboratory setup with pH meter, hydrometer, thermometers, testing supplies | $3,000 - $6,000 |
| Utilities | Basic water filtration, grain mill, pumps, hoses, fittings, cleaning equipment | $10,000 - $15,000 |
| Storage & Handling | Grain storage bins, hop freezer, finished goods storage, basic warehouse equipment | $8,000 - $12,000 |
| Taproom Equipment | 4-tap draft system, glassware, basic bar setup, POS system | $5,000 - $8,000 |
| Installation & Setup | Equipment delivery, basic installation, plumbing connections, initial testing and commissioning | $10,000 - $20,000 |
Microbrewery ($300,000 - $800,000)
Microbreweries need increased capacity and semi-automated systems to handle higher production volumes. You're investing in efficiency and the ability to distribute beyond just your taproom.
| Equipment Category | What's Included | Budget Range |
|---|---|---|
| Brewhouse System | 10-15 barrel automated brewhouse with PLC controls, steam heating, CIP integration, heat recovery | $100,000 - $180,000 |
| Fermentation | 8-12 fermentation tanks (15-20 barrel capacity), advanced glycol system, automated temperature control | $80,000 - $150,000 |
| Bright Tanks | 4-6 bright tanks for conditioning and serving, carbonation stones, sample ports | $40,000 - $70,000 |
| Packaging Lines | Automated bottling line with rinser and capper, semi-automatic canning line, keg washing station | $40,000 - $80,000 |
| Quality Control | Complete laboratory with microscope, dissolved oxygen meter, advanced testing equipment | $8,000 - $15,000 |
| Utilities & Infrastructure | Steam boiler, water treatment system, compressed air, electrical panels, ventilation | $25,000 - $45,000 |
| Storage & Materials | Grain silos, hop storage, chemical storage, finished goods warehouse with racking | $15,000 - $25,000 |
| Installation & Commissioning | Professional installation, system integration, staff training, permits and inspections | $20,000 - $40,000 |
Regional Craft Brewery ($800,000 - $2,000,000)
Regional breweries operate with industrial-scale equipment and fully automated systems. The focus shifts to maximizing efficiency, consistency, and the ability to handle wide distribution networks.
| Equipment Category | What's Included | Budget Range |
|---|---|---|
| Brewhouse Complex | 30+ barrel fully automated brewhouse with multiple vessels, energy recovery systems, advanced process control | $250,000 - $500,000 |
| Fermentation Hall | 15-25 large fermentation tanks (30-60 barrel capacity), automated CIP systems, environmental controls | $200,000 - $400,000 |
| Conditioning & Serving | Multiple bright tank farms, automated carbonation systems, quality monitoring sensors | $100,000 - $200,000 |
| Automated Packaging | High-speed bottling and canning lines, automated case packing, labeling and coding systems | $150,000 - $300,000 |
| Quality Assurance | Complete analytical laboratory, microbiology testing, automated quality monitoring systems | $25,000 - $50,000 |
| Utilities & Support | Industrial steam system, comprehensive water treatment, wastewater processing, backup power | $60,000 - $120,000 |
| Material Handling | Automated grain handling, bulk storage silos, ingredient delivery systems, warehouse automation | $40,000 - $80,000 |
| Process Control | SCADA systems, automated recipe management, real-time monitoring, data logging systems | $30,000 - $60,000 |
| Installation & Integration | Complete turnkey installation, system integration, comprehensive training, regulatory compliance | $50,000 - $100,000 |