Brewery

There have been some changes in the brewing world, that's for sure.  The cost of malted grains has gone through the roof.  So has the cost for other ingredients.  Barley malt which was $.32 per pound I bought for $.53 and is listed by one supplier at $.65.  Hops which had shot up to $4.00 a pound 18 months ago were over $8.00, now listed at $16 per pound.  Hop suppliers no longer have hops on the shelf for immediate delivery.  Cost of yeast is up 20%.  Water and sewer charges, also up.  I almost forgot energy for boiling and chilling and wort and keeping it cold after that.   Any one for $5.00 a pint beer?

Many of us small timers in the Beer Biz are thinking of beer styles which traditionally are not as strong (less malt) and have  lower bittering rates (less hops), but still have lots of flavor.  Heffe Weizen, Mild Ales, British Bitters, etc.  Expect to see, and drink, fewer Belgian Triples and Imperial IPAs.  Painful facts of life in the world of beer.  But enough gloom and doom.

Our brewery is a modern, 15-barrel brew house capable of making up to 3,000 barrels of beer per year. I an make ales or lagers, but mostly it has been ales, which tend to have a more complex flavor profile.  I can use a simple one step infusion mash, or more elaborate multi-temperature steps.

On the navigation bar to the left under "Making Beer" is a complete photo essay on the brewing process.  There is also a Virtual Tour link which will take you to a QuickTime virtual reality tour of the brewhouse. You will need Apple QuickTime to view it.  The tour opens in a separate window.  When you visit Brewery Creek you will see some changes in the Brew House.  I have moved the kitchen stove over to #28 Shake Rage Street and I also have a new bike.

Promise to come back!