250L Beer Brewing System

The 250-litre microbrewery brewhouse per batch is the ideal solution for anyone looking to start producing craft beer. It is particularly recommended for those opening a microbrewery, as it delivers solid production capacity and fully complies with the latest Unionbirrai guidelines, which require fixed stainless-steel piping and a certified flow meter (OIML R117). This microbrewery is an innovative, high-quality system while remaining cost-effective compared to typical market standards.

The system features a brewhouse with a two-vessel setup plus a hot water buffer tank and is designed for single-batch operation, with mash-step control managed via a touchscreen control panel. The brewhouse is supplied as a fully assembled monoblock, ready to run once connected to the electrical supply, gas and water lines.

The brewhouse includes a touchscreen operator panel mounted on a dedicated platform (both in stainless steel) that houses all controls. From the panel you can manage and fine-tune the different brewing stages for the best process consistency.

Technical specifications of the microbrewery system

• System type: flame-heated monoblock (optional electric version);
• Material: AISI 304 stainless steel;
• Fixed piping;
• Flow meter: OPTIFLUX 6300 C model;
• Mash/boil vessel volume: approx. 325 litres;
• Filtration/whirlpool vessel volume: approx. 440 litres;
• Hot water buffer tank volume: 400 litres;
• Number of vessels: 2 + hot water buffer tank;
• Wort/boil/whirlpool pump: 0.37 kW;
• Inspectable plate heat exchanger;
• 1 stainless-steel control panel with touchscreen PLC for system control;
• Power consumption: 5 kW (16 kW for the electric-heated version);
• Electrical supply: 400 V;
• Overall dimensions: width 1300 mm – length 3750 mm – height 1700 mm.

Below are the brewhouse technical details, broken down by component.

Mash & boil vessel

The mixing and saccharification process is carried out in the brewhouse in the mash vessel.

Crushed malt is combined with water according to precise proportional ratios.

The vessel features an innovative heating system, a stirrer with adjustable speed, and a thermal probe. By managing temperatures and holding times, the brewer activates the malt enzymes responsible for breaking down starches and converting them into sugars.

This biochemical reaction produces sugars of varying complexity, which determine key characteristics of the final beer: body, alcohol content, and foam stability.

On average, mash times range from 90 minutes up to two or three hours.

Required temperatures range from 35°C up to the threshold at which enzymes are deactivated, around 78°C. During saccharification, pH should also be monitored because enzymes act not only at different temperatures but also under different acidity conditions.

It is also important to regulate the mixer speed: excessive agitation can create vortices that lead to oxygen uptake, oxidation of the water–malt mixture, and the formation of beta-glucan gels.

These reactions make subsequent wort filtration more difficult and can reduce the stability and quality of the finished beer.

The boiling process takes place in the brewhouse in the boil kettle. The filtered wort is transferred into the kettle for a vigorous boil at atmospheric pressure, typically lasting 60 to 90 minutes.

During this stage, hops are added according to the recipe; heat triggers their bittering action.

Boiling causes polyphenols to coagulate with wort proteins and helps dissolve bitter components (alpha-acid isomerisation).

It also sterilises the wort and, through water evaporation and wort concentration, increases sugar density. It promotes the formation of aromatic compounds between sugars and proteins, such as melanoidins (colour and flavour compounds), while reducing the impact of dimethyl sulphide (DMS), whose cooked-corn aroma is easily perceived.

Vessel specifications:

• Total vessel volume: approx. 325 L;
• Flat bottom;
• Top inspection manway with upper closure;
• AISI 304 stainless-steel construction, Scotch-Brite external finish, BA mirror-polished internal finish;
• Side insulation with high-density rock wool;
• Flame heating (natural gas/LPG) with 24 kW internal burner – Ø 500 mm in AISI 304 stainless steel;
• 24 V solenoid valve for burner fuel open/close (natural gas/LPG);
• Stainless-steel thermowell with PT100 temperature probe;
• Mechanical agitator with mechanical speed variator from 5 rpm to 25 rpm, complete with fully removable/extractable AISI 304 stainless-steel shaft and impeller;
• Stainless-steel flue stack for heat and combustion fumes;
• Condensate drain line;
• Cleaning line with 1 spray ball;
• 1 main drain DIN 32;
• Internal level for fruit breaker.

Filtration & whirlpool vessel

Filtration takes place in the lauter tun. This operation separates the wort (the liquid fraction of the saccharified mash) from the solid residue known as spent grain.

The filtered liquid is collected in the boil kettle, which is the same vessel used for mashing. Filtration speed varies depending on the recipe. The primary goal is to extract a particularly clear wort.

A key parameter to assess wort quality is acidity (pH), which should be between 5.2 and 5.4. During filtration, the spent grain is also rinsed (sparging) to extract additional sugars.

Hot wort is clarified by removing precipitates—tannin–protein coagulates (trub) formed during boiling—through a whirlpool effect.

In the whirlpool vessel, wort enters tangentially. Circular motion pushes the liquid towards the walls and the solids towards the centre. Whirlpool efficiency—generated by a pump connected to the piping system—depends on inlet speed, which should not exceed 3.5 m/s.

Vessel specifications:

• Total vessel volume: approx. 440 L;
• Conical bottom;
• Fully AISI 304 stainless-steel construction, Scotch-Brite external finish, BA mirror-polished internal finish;
• Rectangular discharge door 420 x 320 mm with airtight closure;
• 1 inlet for transfer and sparging;
• 1 total drain DIN 32;
• Stainless-steel filter screen with 1 mm slots, easily removable;
• Fully AISI 304 stainless-steel support structure for the filter screen;
• Tangential inlet for whirlpool effect;
• Internal ring welded to the bottom for whirlpool containment;
• Top lid.

Wort/boil/whirlpool pump

Pump for transfer between the mash/boil/whirlpool vessels and the filtration vessel:

• Non-self-priming stainless-steel centrifugal pump, 0.75 kW, 2900 rpm, with special mechanical seal CER/GRAF/VITON;
• Open impeller in AISI 316L stainless steel;
• Front shimming of the impeller in AISI 316L stainless steel;
• Pump casing and seal housing disc in AISI 316L stainless steel, without diffusers or dead zones for easy maintenance and cleaning;
• Suction DIN 32;
• Discharge DIN 32.

Fittings & piping

All connections are made using sanitary, expanded (mandrel) fittings.

Great attention to detail in the “plant piping” ensures:

• Ease of use;
• Faster and simpler sanitisation;
• Reduced production losses.

Piping includes:

• Sanitary tubing, polished inside and outside;
• Mandrel fittings DIN 11851;
• Suction DIN 32;
• Discharge DIN 32;
• Butterfly valves with high-temperature gaskets;
• Materials in AISI 304 stainless steel;
• TIG welding with internal inert gas (argon) shielding, performed by highly specialised technicians.

Control panel

Main electrical cabinet with touchscreen monitor. AISI 304 stainless-steel cabinet manufactured in compliance with applicable regulations.

The cabinet is installed on the stainless-steel platform of the brewhouse.

Satin finish, front door, main grounding: the cabinet houses all controls and protections for electrical components, pumps, transformers, etc.

The touchscreen control allows you to view vessel status and operate all semi-automatic functions with a simple touch. The PLC integrated in the cabinet automatically manages the mash and boil cycles (times and temperatures).

All temperature controls for the mash/boil vessel are located on the cabinet.

The software can automate the entire mash–boil and whirlpool cycle, ensuring consistent and high-quality output.

From the panel you can manage:

• 1 wort pump via start/stop button and speed control via inverter;
• 1 boiler pump via start/stop button;
• 1 brewhouse gearmotor via start/stop button;
• Temperature display for mash/boil vessel;
• Recipe input for the mash phase, with automated temperature step control;
• Temperature display for the hot water buffer tank;
• Control of the hot water tank pump and its flow meter;
• Audible and visual alarm siren;
• Tank priority option;
• Temporary heating lock option.

Inspectable plate heat exchanger for cooling

Consisting of a containment frame that encloses, by means of tie rods, the assembled plate pack. The herringbone pattern stamped into the plates creates two perfectly separated channels—one for hot fluid and one for cold fluid—where the two fluids are evenly distributed and flow in opposite directions. The corrugated plate surface generates high turbulence, improving heat exchange.

The plates are fitted with rubber gaskets that ensure a perfect hydraulic seal even under high pressure.

Main advantages of inspectable plate heat exchangers include:

• High heat-transfer coefficient;
• No cross-contamination between fluids;
• Flexibility (the exchanger can be adapted to changing conditions by increasing the number of plates);
• Long service life thanks to the possibility of regenerating the plate pack and/or replacing components.

Base frame

Base frame with single-tube structure in AISI 304 stainless steel, supporting:

• Mash/boil vessel;
• Filtration/whirlpool vessel;
• Electrical cabinet with control panel;
• Wort pump;
• Plate heat exchanger;
• DIN piping connections;
• Electrical connections.

Hot water buffer tank

• Capacity: 4 HL;
• Made of AISI 304 stainless steel with satin external finish;
• Welds pickled, ground and satin-finished;
• Insulated;
• 1 electric heating element, 3 kW each, IP65 protection;
• Top lid;
• Stainless-steel thermowell with PT100 temperature probe;
• 1 stainless-steel centrifugal pump;
• 1 flow meter.

Flow meter:

• OPTIFLUX 6300 C model (OPTIONAL). Krohne IFC 300 C flow converter.

NB: Shipping costs will be calculated based on the destination location. Contact us for a quotation.

If you need larger systems or different configurations, contact us. We can provide solutions up to 25 HL production capacity.