When it comes to electric brewing, there are a host of misconceptions that might deter one from considering electric as an option for their system. Each heat source comes with its own advantages and trade-offs, with consideration to system size, ease of automation, efficiency, and the equipment, installation, and operating costs. (See our VBC presentation for an overview.) What’s right for the taproom down the road might not be right for you, so it’s important to consider all the factors as you plan out your brewery. Let’s take a few minutes to look at the first myth and set the record straight.
Electric Brewing Requires More Power Than I Have
Many of our customers come to us believing that an electric brew house requires well over 300 amps of 3-phase 480-volt power. While you may need such service for a larger brew house, it is not the case for most craft breweries. The power requirements depend on the size of the brew house, the pump setup (2, 3, or 4 pump), and the system design.
3 Barrel System
A 3 barrel brew house fitted with three 6,000W heating elements in the HLT and three in the boil kettle, along with two small pumps, is a common setup for a micro brewery or brewpub. Options include:
- As little as 90A single phase service, or 60A three phase service, running three elements at once with an interlock.
- 125A single phase or 100A three phase power, running four elements simultaneously.
- 200A single phase or 125A three phase service for all six elements at full power.
7 Barrel System
Moving up to a 7 barrel brew house, each vessel includes three 15,000W elements, or 45kW per vessel. Options:
- 200A three phase feed: run either the HLT or boil kettle at full power, not both simultaneously.
- 175A three phase feed for HLT/BK with separate 25A feed for the rake and plow.
- Two separate 175A three phase feeds for full power to both vessels simultaneously.
- 200A single phase feed (if three phase unavailable).
- 300A three phase service for full power to both HLT and BK (recommended for 2-3 turns per day).
10 Barrel System
Each vessel includes four 15,000W elements, or 60kW per vessel:
- 225A three phase service with interlock for four elements (60kW total) at once.
- A second control module and feed for simultaneous HLT and BK operation.
15 Barrel System
Each vessel is set up with six 15,000W elements, or 90kW per vessel. Two control panels feed the HLT and kettle: the first receiving 200A three-phase power for eight elements and pumps, the second fed by 125A three-phase power for four elements and the mash tun rake. An interlock allows six elements to run simultaneously.
Above 15 barrel systems, steam heating is typically preferred. While 20BBL systems can run on electric, the power requirements and electricity cost usually tilt in favor of steam.
Power Requirements Table
| Brewery Size (BBLs) | Power/Tank kW | Single Phase (amps) | Three Phase (amps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 6 | 30-60 | 60 |
| 1-2 | 12 | 60-125 | 60-100 |
| 3 | 18 | 100-175 | 60-125 |
| 3-4 | 24 | 125-200 | 100-150 |
| 5 | 30 | 150-200 | 125-150 |
| 5-7 | 45 | – | 150 |
| 7-8 | 60 | – | 200 |
| 10 | 66 | – | 200-225 |
| 15 | 90 | – | 300 (multiple) |
The common thread is that with more power, your brew house becomes more flexible. If you’re brewing once a week, running both vessels at the same time diminishes in importance. Supplying full power to the HLT during the initial heat, then transferring full power to the kettle to build to a rolling boil, will be the standard operating procedure.
We’ve worked with thousands of breweries to spec out the best heating solution for their setup. With nearly 20 years of putting electric breweries into operation, Brewmation considers this first myth to be busted. In the next post, we’ll look at another myth surrounding electric brewing.
