Alexander Hinds, process specialist engineer at Krones, said the Steinecker MicroCube is the future for breweries wanting high volumes and rapid batch brewing on proven technology.
He explained: “The MicroCube concept is a cost-effective but polished showcase of best-in-class brewhouse technology.
“We’re leveraging technology that is used day-in, day-out by multinational breweries such as Diageo and AB InBev but in a smaller footprint on a compact scale.”
The Microcube offering starts as low as a 5 hectolitre setup but Hinds said he expects more breweries to find a configuration of 17 hectolitres and upwards as the sweet spot for investment.
“Brewing is defined by creativity but when you’re investing in Krones technology, you’re probably investing in your third brewhouse setup,” he said. “You want repeatability, quality and efficiency. Brewing is very much a business at that point, you have orders to fulfil and you’re looking at six or 12 brews a day and more for industrial brewhouse.”
The system comprises the manufacturer’s Shakesbeer mash conversion vessel, Stromboli internal wort fountain and its Pegasus Lautering technology.
He added: “The Shakesbeer conversion vessel looks like no other mash conversion vessel on the market with internal pillow plates (Golf ball finish) Here a thin turbulent layer of mash is created at the heating surface which increases heat transfer significantly.
The improved heat transfer leads to a reduction of steam and condensate losses of the brewhouse, the subsequent reduction of steam temperature has additional benefits with reduced vessel fouling and any burnt flavours associated with scorching.”
The compact construction of the MicroCube enables it to be installed in very confined spaces, with the entire delivery package of its systems below 17 hectolitres to be accommodated in several 40-foot containers.
Hinds explained: “The brewery is designed for an extremely short install time. For a four vessel brewhouse & two water tanks configuration that also includes a CIP acid and caustic system and six fermentation tanks with full supply and automation of malt handling, we have foreseen 23 days mechanical install and 18 days electrical with two weeks of I/O checks acceptance and ramp up.”
