A 5-barrel (5bbl) direct-fired brewhouse system is a brewing setup designed for small to medium-scale beer production. In a direct-fired system, a flame directly heats the vessels used in the brewing process. Here’s an overview of the components and functionalities typically found in a 5bbl direct-fired brewhouse system:

Mash Tun:

Vessel for mixing milled grains and hot water, initiating the mashing process to convert starches into fermentable sugars.

Equipped with a direct-fired burner underneath or within the vessel to apply heat for mashing.

Lauter Tun:

Used for separating the liquid wort from spent grain solids post-mashing.

Features a false bottom or a lautering screen to allow wort separation while retaining the grain bed.

Brew Kettle/Whirlpool:

Functions for boiling the wort and performing whirlpooling to separate solids.

Equipped with a direct-fired burner for boiling the wort and achieving precise temperature control.

10BBL Hot Liquor Tank (HLT):

Stores and heats water used in mashing, sparging, and other brewing processes.

Equipped with a direct-fired burner for heating water to specific temperatures needed for different brewing stages.

Pumps, Plumbing, and Valves:

Facilitate the movement of liquids (wort, water) between vessels and throughout the brewing system.

Plumbing connects vessels and components, directing the flow of liquids.

Control Panel:

Manages and regulates the brewing process, controlling the firing of burners, temperature control, and other brewing parameters.

May include controls, sensors, timers, and safety features for precise and safe brewing operations.

Heat Exchanger:

Rapidly cools down the hot wort by exchanging heat with cold water, preparing it for fermentation.

5BBL and 10BBL Fermentation Tanks:

Vessels where the cooled wort undergoes fermentation, converting sugars into alcohol and other compounds.

Cleaning and Sanitation Equipment:

Systems for cleaning and sanitizing brewing vessels and pipelines between batches.

Utilities and Support Equipment:

Chiller units, glycol systems, and other utility equipment may be used to maintain specific temperatures during different brewing stages.

This 5bbl direct-fired brewhouse system is suitable for small to medium-sized breweries, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for brewing smaller batches of beer with direct heat applied to the vessels, enabling control over the mashing and boiling processes.

We recommend direct-fire heating for brewhouses from 600L/5BBL as this gives enough area for the firebox under the vessels to work efficiently.