A 7 BBL brewing system is designed to produce approximately 7 barrels of beer per batch, which translates to about 217 gallons or roughly 588 cases of 12 oz beers. This capacity makes it suitable for small to mid-sized craft breweries aiming to produce distinctive, quality beers while meeting the demands of taproom sales and initial distribution.

Key Components of a 7 BBL Brewing System

A complete 7 BBL brewing system typically includes several essential components:
Brewing Vessels: This includes a 7 BBL brew kettle, mash tun, fermenter tanks, and bright tanks for storage.
Production Equipment: Essential equipment such as milling, lautering systems, a wort boiling kettle, whirlpool, chilling systems, and yeast pitching setups.
Supporting Infrastructure: This encompasses grain handling systems, piping, pumps, controls and automation, steam systems, and cleaning-in-place (CIP) systems.

Brewing Process Overview

The standard brewing process in a 7 BBL system involves several steps:

1. Milling: Cracking malt grain to access fermentable starches.
2. Mashing: Mixing the cracked malt with hot water to convert starches into sugars.
3. Lautering: Separating the wort from the spent grains.
4. Boiling: Boiling the wort with hops for flavor and preservation.
5. Fermentation: Adding yeast to the cooled wort to convert sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
6. Conditioning: Allowing the beer to mature before packaging.
7. Packaging: Kegging, canning, or bottling the finished product for distribution.

Benefits of a 7 BBL System

Capacity: It aligns well with the needs of taproom sales and initial distribution, allowing for a manageable production scale.
Cost-Effectiveness: Lower capital investment compared to larger systems while still providing significant output
Flexibility: Suitable for experimentation with new recipes and scalable to meet growing demand.
Space Efficiency: Designed to fit into smaller operational spaces, requiring approximately 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.

Customization Options

7 BBL systems can be customized based on specific brewery needs, including:
Automation Levels: Options for fully automated or manual systems.
Heating Methods: Choices between steam and electric heating.
Vessel Configurations: Options for single or multi-vessel setups.

This versatility makes the 7 BBL brewing system an attractive option for breweries looking to optimize their production capabilities while maintaining quality and flexibility in their brewing processes.