TOPIC:

Hi all,

Me and my friend are looking at the idea of starting a microbrewery. One of us owns a hotel & bar, which is really why we are looking into this in a serious way.As this would give us instant route to market. We are trying to get a handle on costs, and peoples views are really welcome

We have an old 2 story grain warehouse around 2,000 sq ft in size. Though this would need some work. We have inquired and a 1000 sq ft industrial unit from the council would cost around 5,000 a year. I'd be interested to know whether people would think that a 2 story building would be more suitable in the long run, as in the brief research that I have done a gravity fed brewing system would be preferable which would suit the old building but not always suitable such as meeting the food safety standards would be easier in an industrial unit.

I have loads of other questions but firstly peoples view on the building would be great.

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Maybe an FAQ section or something similar would be helpful, at least for laying out the basic facts. The thread could still be used to tease out specific points on which there is room for reasonable disagreement or differing opinions.

I don't know very much about this stuff but I'd be happy to organise any information that was submitted for the purposes of a dedicated knowledge basis article (or whatever).

"paleale1993":1cwoy2y6 wrote: We have an old 2 story grain warehouse around 2,000 sq ft in size. Though this would need some work. We have inquired and a 1000 sq ft industrial unit from the council would cost around 5,000 a year. I'd be interested to know whether people would think that a 2 story building would be more suitable in the long run, as in the brief research that I have done a gravity fed brewing system would be preferable which would suit the old building but not always suitable such as meeting the food safety standards would be easier in an industrial unit.

I have loads of other questions but firstly peoples view on the building would be great.[/quote:1cwoy2y6]
2 story or 1 story would not make a difference to the layout of your brewhouse. 1 story is standard as per industrial units and you using pumps to move wort and beer around. The cost of converting your building brewery use is what you need to consider and after is this building pretty enough as a tourist aspect.

Thanks for the replies. We will definitely go and speak to some brewers but first we need to try and build up our knowledge a great deal as I dont want to waste anyones time.

We will definitely need to weigh up the more sterile but maybe more suitable industrial unit versus the older building.

Some amount to go through. If only someone made up a "Starting a brewery" for Dummies book. That would be great.
Is there any new intensives / tax relief / grants / starter business packages to encourage people to take the plunge and turn pro and open up a new brewery?
This is my dreamy go to thread but a more concise list i think would be great for anyone interested in opening. Maybe with the help for some of the micros who have been there and done that.