What is a Pilot Brewery System?
The brewing process is both science and art. A Pilot Brewery System is a blank canvas for brewers to develop and create. And the primary system is reserved for leveraging science to make consistently high-quality beer. Both are required and both have value.
In craft beer, you have to push the envelope to continue attracting customers. One way is through new beers. But not every new beer is a winner. So breweries use smaller brewing systems to test new recipes. These pilot brewing systems are one of the ways they are able to bring new products to market and continue to make a splash in their breweries.
What is a pilot brewing system?
Every brewery has a brewing system. That's why it became a brewery in the first place. Depending on the needs, goals, size and financial resources of the brewery, the size, functionality, etc. of the brewing system may vary. This main system is where they produce the vast majority of beer.
Pilot brewing systems are auxiliary systems used in breweries. Typically, they produce only a small fraction of beer compared to the main system. Just like the main system, pilot brewing systems vary in size. These smaller systems often lack some features of the main system. Brewing on these pilot brewing systems is more labor-intensive.
The goal of the pilot brewing system is to produce small batches of beer to complement their flagship beer, experiment with new recipes, and create limited/special edition beers.
Why breweries have pilot brewing systems?
There are two factors: risk and sales.
Pilot Brewing Systems In many cases, experimental beers are made on pilot brewing systems. If the beer isn't going well, they'd rather handle a small amount of beer. This minimizes financial risk.
Even if the beer turned out as expected, that doesn't mean there's a need for that particular style or flavor. Therefore, producing small amounts of beer is often ideal for limiting quantities. Larger brewing systems do not allow for this volume or risk control.
This thought process applies to all breweries. Pilot systems are valuable to every brewery, regardless of size. As breweries grow, they often require more brewing capacity than their systems can handle. In this case, breweries cannot waste time brewing experimental beers on their main systems. All of their brewing capabilities must be focused on making their flagship beer.
On the other hand, breweries with completely new systems may find that their extra brewing capacity is too risky for test batches of new recipes.
All that said, these breweries all need to test new recipes without disrupting their normal brewing schedule. They all want options to limit their risk if the new beer doesn't meet their taste or quality standards.
Types of Pilot Brewing Systems
As mentioned earlier, the size of the pilot brewing system is relative to the main brewing system. Some are as small as a home brewing system, while others are larger than the main brewing room at other breweries.
The challenge is balancing a system that delivers the amount of beer the brewery can sell quickly, while still delivering a quality product.
The goals of the brewery must also be considered. For those who just want to test new recipes, they will want to make small batches often.
Other breweries will use their pilot brewing systems to produce special versions of the beer. These will need to be very high quality but limited quantities.
Next time you're at a brewery, ask them about their brewing system. Then ask them about their pilot brewing system and how they use it.
评论
发表评论