John Blichmann, President of Blichmann Engineering joins me this week to discuss starting a nano-brewery including equipment options as well as many of the business considerations that come into play with starting a beer brewery on a shoestring.
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Topics in This Week’s Episode (32:37)
- John Blichmann, the President of Blichmann Engineering joins me this week to discuss beer brewing options for really small (sub 1 to three barrel) “nano-breweries” and also provides some great tips on selecting equipment and starting a tiny brewery on a shoestring. Blichmann Engineering is a world leader in dedicated home and craft brewing equipment and his products can be found in most major brewing retail stores.
- Thank you to our sponsor Craft Beer and Brewing Magazine who is still offering a 15% discount with your subscription or other items when you use the new offer code beersmith2015 when you purchase.
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- This episode was recorded on the noisy show floor at the 2015 National Homebrew Conference, so there is some background noise which I apologize for.
- John tells us why he’s seen a significant uptick in the purchase of nano-brewery size equipment recently.
- We discuss why a nano-brewery size (typically 1-3 barrels) appeals to someone who might be trying to self-fund a small brewery startup.
- John explains what a typical equipment setup looks like for this type of brewery.
- We talk about some of the advantages when using an electric heating element with these systems including heating efficiency and less venting required.
- John tells us about fermentation options from simple large buckets to conical fermenters with full temperature control.
- I ask John about why you need to brew frequently with a small system and managing fermenters.
- We talk about the advantages of being able to brew a lot of different small batches.
- John shares some options for automating your small nano-brewery.
- We discuss some of the equipment options offered by Blichmann Engineering in the nano-brewery size.
- John explains some of the difficulties of taking a successful nano-brewery to the next level including funding and expansion of equipment as well as making the switch from selling beer on site to wholesaling.
- We discuss how you can often use your nano-brewery setup as a test pilot system for your large brewery after upgrading.
- John shares a few of the new products coming from Blichmann engineering along with his closing thoughts.
Thanks to John Blichmann for appearing on the show and also to you for listening!
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The insights shared in this Beersmith podcast with John Blichmann are a goldmine for everyone dreaming of launching a nano-brewery. Blichmann’s ride and pointers are invaluable, making it an remarkable useful resource for aspiring brewers. It’s a must-listen, offering a clear roadmap for a profitable nano-brewery startup. Cheers to Beersmith for this informative gem!