There has been a huge boom in the craft beer industry in the UK. This has led to microbreweries across the UK trying to champion their own distinguished flavours and brewing processes.
The craft beer movement has had a surge in sales recently and now makes up an estimated 6.5% of all beer sales in the UK. With more than 2,000 microbreweries now in production, the craft beer scene is showing little sign of slowing down. But when it comes to creating quality over quantity, there’s no mistaking that running a microbrewery can be an incredibly energy-intensive process.
One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs may face if they want to start their own artisan beer is their choice of energy supply. Here, LPG gas tank providers, Flogas, have some words of wisdom for those looking to kick-start their own successful brewery.
Equipment is crucial
You can be the most passionate in the industry, but if you’re not making a profit, your dream role may come to a halt sooner than you can imagine. One way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to choose an energy strategy that will reduce your usage and keep costs down. Microbreweries can be notoriously difficult to get off the ground financially, so by doing this, you can help boost your company’s profit margins.
Before you make a final choice on energy, you must first acquire the correct equipment to get you started. One of the main components in the brewing process is the mash system, which is commonly made up of the following:
- Mash tank – Steeps barley into hot water and converts grain starches into fermentable sugars
- Lauter tun – Separates the wort (or liquid) from the solids of the mash (much like a sieve)
- Steam generator – Heats the kettle, which is then brought to a controlled temperature before the hops are added
- Malt mill – Crushes the grain in preparation for brewing
- Wort Pump – Re-circulates the mash for a higher efficiency, enhancing the clarity and quality of the brew
- Plate Heat Exchanger/Wort Chiller – Quickly cools the hot wort ready for fermentation
This only covers the mashing stage, too. Further to this, you’ll need a fermentation system (where yeast is added and sugar turns into alcohol), a cooling system (to prevent bacteria growth and where beer can be stored ready for sale), a filtering system (to get rid of sediment for a higher-quality product) and, of course, not forgetting the sterilisation equipment (to ensure that bacteria doesn’t spoil your next batch of beer).
The proof is in the hops
Once you have your equipment sorted, it’s time to choose the right ingredients. The ones you choose will dramatically impact the flavour and consistency of your beer. With so many variations available, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating something truly unique. But not matter how distinctive the taste, you’ll find all craft beer is made up the following key components:
Water – While it can seem an obvious point, water indeed makes up approximately 90 percent of any beer. The pH and mineral content of your chosen water, as well as if it’s hard or soft, can also affect the end result.
Barley – The percentage of your beer can come down to barley. It can dramatically affect the body, taste and aroma of your finished product.
Hops – Chances are that your favourite flavor is due to the hops in the beer. There are around 170 variations, meaning there’s plenty of choice when it comes to playing with flavour.
Yeast – Although invisible, yeast is a key ingredient to any top beer. Yeast has been used in beer brewing for centuries. Essentially a fungus, yeast eats the sugars created in the malting process. By allowing it to ferment and feed off the sugars, alcohol is created as a byproduct.
Powering your Microbrewery
It’s no easy feat to launching your own microbrewery. Along with all the complications of the brewing process, the last thing you’ll want to worry about is extortionate energy prices, or an unreliable supply.
If you are looking into choosing LPG but are currently using oil or solid fuels, it’s good to know that LPG is actually a cleaner, cheaper and more efficient fuel. This can bring you major savings on your energy costs. With the lowest CO2 emissions of any fossil fuel, it’ll also mean a lower carbon footprint for your microbrewery.
