Page 31 - Beverage MasterOct Nov 2020

Craft Distillery

(See their ad on the Inside Front Cover). “It’s just “Good planning with good future projections is
how it is. By the time we get involved, it’s usually the key,” said Dubose. “With grain, milling and
the last step, and we have to deal with the leftover conveyance equipment, you need to plan as far
space. But that’s okay because that’s what we do.” into the future as you can. Budget will always be
a factor. Get what your budget allows, and add
“Most brewers will mill their grain if they can,” the needed equipment later, but good planning
said Dubose. “If you can do that, you have total and foresight with design and space will make any
control over the coarseness, the makeup and the future additions easy to implement.”
content while saving significant money. You’ll find
out just how quickly you go through grain when Been There, Done That, and Willing to Help
you only buy small bags of pre-milled grain. The
costs will add up quickly, so if possible, it’s best to Starting up a distillery is unlike any other busi-
mill it and start with one silo. Just keep in mind a ness startup. It’s critical to take advantage of the
plan and a place to install two or three more down information and help from those that have traveled
the road.” the path. People like Patrick Heist, Ph.D., Chief
Scientific Officer of FermSolutions and Co-owner of
ABM Equipment helps brewers design a Wilderness Trail Distillery, are a wealth of knowl-
future-friendly brewery layout to efficiently use edge, from questions about the startup process
the available space to maximum advantage. They through full-service consultation and design of your
take the needed time to go through plans and goals distillery.
and develop an agreed-upon design to match each
brewery’s specific needs. This method heads off “We engage with customers from the concep-
potential problems and headaches before installa- tual phase through the distillery construction,”
tion begins. said Heist. “FermSolutions was started in 2006
and works directly with hundreds of distilleries

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