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Craft Brewery
Larger bulk purchases translate to a lower price to deter any grain from getting stuck and deteri-
point, offer more opportunities for system automa- orating or rotting, and we manufacture our gates
tion, better grain consistency, longer storage times for excellent dust inhibition. We reduce the need
and the chance to free up some valuable indoor for ladders with built-in level indicators, and we
floor space. help navigate any municipal restrictions by using
creative workaround strategies. For brewers that
use bulk bag grain, bulk bag unloaders are available
in an easily installed, low-profile form. They can
use a hoist and trolley configuration to help reduce
grain costs and labor through efficient use of super
sacks.”
Spent grain is a related yet separate issue, requir-
ing its own storage area. Spent grain storage should
alleviate the mess of raking or shoveling the spent
grain into totes and moving them to outside stor-
age by forklift or pallet jack. The type of storage
needed depends on the number of daily brew
cycles and anticipated spent grain pickups. Spent
grain silos are also constructed of stainless steel
to fight corrosive contents, but they’re usually not
polished like the more visible grain storage units
and are elevated for truck access either underneath
or along the side. If using a silo for spent grain stor-
age, the brewery may require an additional pump
at the mash discharge to get the spent grain over
to the silo.
Dubose told Beverage Master Magazine that it’s
crucial for a brewer to partner with a grain handling
and storage provider that works within the brew-
ery’s desired layout and approaches it in a com-
“We recommend silos with a minimum 65,000- plete system mode versus a supplier that sells and
pound capacity so a brewer can receive a typical provides only equipment and nothing else.
48,000-pound grain delivery without having to run
their silo dry,” said Dubose. “Larger capacities are “We look at all facets of the operation and the
available if desired. Bigger may be better when it speed and throughput of your process to make sure
comes to needing only limited grain deliveries, but it all works in unison. Control panel automation
it’s more common to link silos for the addition- helps brew consistency and labor control, but it’s
al capacity and then use an automated sourcing also a way to keep your equipment from damag-
system. With more than one source available, ing itself. A brewer has to know their limitations
a brewmaster can mix the contents of multiple regarding their knowledge in certain areas, and
sources for new, seasonal or different mixtures and they have to partner with a supplier that will work
recipes. We can link up to eight sources from one with them as if it is their own business. Another
system, allowing the brewmaster to choose which thing to look for is a supplier that carries spare
product is needed and from which source. Quality parts in their inventory like chains and gearboxes to
stainless-steel silos have a minimum 20-year life help out when the OEMs don’t have the part. We
expectancy with proper maintenance, which usu- at ABM Equipment will do that for our clients.”
ally means keeping them touched up with paint
to reduce any chance of corrosion. Silos situated “It’s really about taking the brewery’s concept,
closer to saltwater or in coastal locations normally including the amount of storage or bulk bag stor-
get a paint upgrade to help reduce the corrosive age needed and projected, and then providing
effects of saltwater. Our silos feature smooth walls the proper mix within the space allotted,” said
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