In working with Collective Motion Brewing and Close Brothers Brewery Rentals, Bristol-based Left Handed Giant has overhauled its keg operation. Here is how they did it.
Left Handed Giant Brewery is known for its innovation, sustainability, and high-quality brewing practices. The brewery’s commitment to eco-friendly production processes has led them to adopt various sustainable practices, including energy-efficient systems and only using locally sourced ingredients, where possible.
One area; however, that presented a significant challenge was keg washing. This vital, but often overlooked, part of the brewing process can directly impact the quality of beer and have a material environmental impact, something they wanted to avoid.
Overcoming keg management challenges
With over 200 kegs in circulation, Left Handed Giant Brewery faced issues with storage, cleaning, and availability. Without an on-site keg washing facility, ensuring kegs were consistently clean was costly, leading to operational delays.
Limited storage space added to the problem because the brewery had to simultaneously manage clean kegs and those waiting for off-site cleaning, ensuring they were kept separate.
Investing in a keg washer
To improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of transporting kegs, Left Handed Giant Brewery invested in a CCC-V2 Automatic Keg Washer, supplied by Collective Motion Brewing. This high-performance washer can clean up to 38 kegs every hour, featuring customisable wash cycles, steam sterilisation, and energy-saving technologies.
Richard Poole, technical brewing director at Left Handed Giant Brewery, explained: “The Collective Motion Brewing keg washer has given us greater control over stock levels and streamlined our operations. It’s been a game-changer for both efficiency and quality.”
Arthur O’Toole, head of sales at Collective Motion Brewing added: “The machine is user-friendly, and staff can be trained efficiently, providing the team with increased flexibility to meet tight deadlines and unexpected demands. Their goal was to optimise the storage on site and reduce operational cost, and I’m delighted we were able to help them achieve this.”
In addition to using its own kegs, Left Handed Giant Brewery has been renting them from Close Brothers Brewery Rentals for several years. With the new on-site washing capabilities, the brewery transitioned to EkegPlus, a flexible ‘pay-as-you-fill’ rental system. This model allows Left Handed Giant Brewery to only pay for kegs when they use them, reducing costs and improving control over their fleet.
Ray Morrisey, business development manager at Close Brothers commented: “Left-Handed Giant is in a great position to benefit from our EkegPlus model.
“There are a lot of Ekeg users in their area and with access to this shared pool of containers, as and when they need them, the brewery can improve stock management, reduce reliance on exact forecasting and respond quickly to last minute demand without waiting for a delivery of kegs.
They are also freeing up space for venues by collecting empty, unwashed kegs and returning them to the supply chain.”
A stronger, more sustainable business
The combination of the Collective Motion Brewing keg washer and EkegPlus has transformed Left Handed Giant Brewery’s operations. The ability to clean and reuse kegs more efficiently has improved their stock management and reduced unnecessary transport runs. This has resulted in significant reductions in carbon emissions, aligning closely with the brewery’s sustainability goals.
Poole noted: “The ability to clean and reuse kegs locally has reduced transport emissions and improved our sustainability. The flexibility and cost savings from EkegPlus have been crucial in maintaining efficiency.”
Looking to the future, this partnership provides a firm foundation for the brewery’s growth and further commitment to sustainability. The brewery can now offer contract cleaning services to other breweries, creating new opportunities.
The collaboration between Left Handed Giant Brewery, Collective Motion Brewing, and Close Brothers Brewery Rentals showcases how suppliers and breweries can work together to solve industry challenges. The benefits of this partnership go beyond cost savings with Left Handed Giant Brewery leading the way in promoting sustainability within the brewing industry.
Poole concluded: “Having the Collective Motion Brewing washer and EkegPlus has given us the flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability we needed. We’re washing more kegs, reducing waste, and operating more efficiently than ever. This partnership has positioned us for future growth and innovation.”
