Authors: Patrick Thornton & Alex Smith - Sixmo Architects and Engineers

Breweries are a unique project type that carries with it a very specific set of challenges. Brewery design and construction is best done after ‘deep planning’. This type of planning is concerned with identifying all the moving pieces – and with a brewery, there are a LOT of moving pieces. Developing a plan of attack for each challenge, even if they come near the end of the project, is essential.

Ultimately, breweries are unique in the beer they produce, but they are not unique during design and construction, as they all encounter similar challenges. Below are some of the most common items you should carefully consider when beginning to look for property to house your new brewery. As you plan your facility, you should keep these concepts in mind so that you can find the perfect space to realize your vision.

Is the building sprinkled?

Most breweries with tap rooms or tasting rooms attempt to achieve some level of visibility of the production equipment for their walk-in visitors. The space that visitors will occupy, as defined by most building codes, is actually more restrictive than the production space. This means that the floor area of a tasting or tap room has a size limit before you need to sprinkle the space or separate the space from the production area. The last thing you want to do is be forced into using expensive fire rated glass so that people can see a small portion of the production process you worked so hard to create. Careful planning along with an intimate understanding of the local building codes will reveal this issue early in the process and allow designers to develop solutions that are best for the project and the brewer’s/owner’s objectives.

Where is the best location for a boiler and glycol chiller?

Most likely, the local building code will require that you enclose your boiler equipment in a fire rated room as a life safety measure. This equipment needs a large volume of air to operate, and normally is ideally placed near an outside wall. It also needs to vent combustion gases, so having an easy venting route through the roof or wall is a plus. Condensate from steam piping systems need to drain by gravity, so avoid extra expensive pumping equipment by allowing an uninterrupted path back to the boiler room from steam driven equipment.

Glycol Chillers remove heat from the glycol used to chill vessels and heat exchangers. Placing your chiller outside will allow easy access to environmental air. Glycol piping systems, which are normally heavily insulated, can be expensive. Identifying a potential outdoor location for your chiller that is relatively close to your production area can impact construction costs by reducing piping length.

How will you deliver, ship, and install your equipment?

It’s important to think about the ways in which you will bring your brewhouse, fermenters, brite tanks, boiler, and other equipment into your building. Having a roll-up door or opening large enough to bring in the largest piece of planned equipment is ideal. Deciding at what point during construction the equipment is delivered can help reduce conflicts as well. It may also be convenient to install permanent or temporary rigging points to facilitate the movement and arrangement of large tanks, both initially and for the future as equipment is repositioned or expanded along with your operation. If we know one thing about brewers, we know you plan on expanding.

Do I need an Architect and Engineers?

Yes! Please hire a professional. Chances are you’re looking to find an existing building to renovate. Existing buildings come with lots of complicated conditions that may need to be overcome. We know that it’s tempting to tackle the design yourself, or to find a contractor that promises to engineer all these systems, but it’s extremely important to have a thorough design. Having experienced professionals from the start makes sure that the project is coordinated across all disciplines, eliminating surprises in the field. Breweries are complex, and the equipment requires a tremendous amount of coordinated technical design that cannot be overlooked. Any City you might be working in, along with other authoritative organizations, need drawings to review for building permits, operating licenses, and other approvals. Relatively speaking, the cost of hiring designers is minor compared to the investment you will make in your brewing equipment and facility. You wouldn’t buy a private jet and not hire a pilot, would you? With an expert design team on board, your project will be a smooth, simplified success, and it will allow you to focus on other facets of your brewing business.

These concepts are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to selecting the right property for your brewery. Ultimately the success of your project will hinge on decisions made very early in your process, such as site selection. Take the time to discover what is most important to your vision, consider how your potential property impacts your business model, and select your new home based on the factors that are most important to you.

We would love to hear feedback from talented brewers looking to make the leap. Feel free to give us a call if you want to know more from an architect’s perspective on brewery buildouts. Cheers!