Brewhouse & Cold Brew Sizing Guide

Brewhouse & Cold Brew Sizing Guide

Find the Right System for Your Business

Whether you’re launching a craft brewery or scaling a cold brew coffee brand, one decision will shape your success: choosing the right system size.

Your brewhouse or cold brew setup isn’t just about equipment — it’s about finding the sweet spot between batch size, demand, scalability, and efficiency. A system that’s too small limits growth, while one that’s oversized eats into your budget and space.

At Redwood Stainless, we design and deliver flexible brewing and cold brew coffee systems ranging from 1 BBL pilot units to 50 BBL production brewhouses. This guide walks you through the options — so you can invest confidently in the system that matches your business goals.


Pilot Systems (1–2 BBL)

Best for startups, product development, and small-batch cold brew

  • Batch size: 30–60 gallons
  • For breweries: Recipe trials, seasonal releases, yeast propagation
  • For cold brew: Flavor R&D, café supply, limited menu additions
  • Advantages: Mobile, cost-effective, perfect for precision quality control

👉 Ideal if you’re testing the waters or want to innovate before committing to larger-scale production. See More

 

Nano Systems (3–5 BBL)

Best for small breweries and boutique cold brew brands entering the market

  • Batch size: 90–155 gallons
  • For breweries: Launching flagship beers, taproom exclusives, community distribution
  • For cold brew: Supplying multiple cafés, pilot distribution, premium small-batch offerings
  • Advantages: Affordable entry point, expandable with demand, versatile for both beer & coffee

👉 A balanced choice if you want commercial credibility while keeping flexibility. See More


Micro Systems (5–15 BBL)

Best for scaling into steady, regional production

  • Batch size: 155–465 gallons
  • For breweries: Consistent flagship production, prepping for kegging/canning
  • For cold brew: Supplying regional retailers, bottled/canned product lines
  • Advantages: Scalable, efficient, precise temperature and process control

👉 Choose micro if you’re ready to expand without leaping straight to full-scale production. See More


Production Systems (20–50 BBL)

Best for established breweries and cold brew manufacturers targeting wholesale & distribution

  • Batch size: 620–1,550 gallons
  • For breweries: Distribution-ready batches, contract brewing, export markets
  • For cold brew: High-volume bottling, wholesale distribution, co-packing supply
  • Advantages: Built for high efficiency, automation-ready, ideal for continuous large-scale runs

👉 Best if your beverage company is scaling to serve regional, national, or global markets. See More


5 Key Factors in Choosing the Right System Size

  • Budget: Smaller systems = lower startup cost; larger systems = lower unit cost.
  • Demand: Match output to taproom, café, or retail sales forecasts.
  • Distribution Plans: Bigger systems reduce cost per gallon/barrel and enable wholesale.
  • R&D Needs: Pilot and nano systems are perfect for innovation and recipe testing.
  • Growth Strategy: Invest in expandable systems to protect your long-term investment.

Why Choose Redwood Stainless?

  • Dual-use design: Engineered for both breweries and cold brew producers.
  • Custom engineering: Tailored to your space, goals, and production needs.
  • Global trust: Installed worldwide in breweries, roasteries, and beverage facilities.
  • End-to-end support: From design and installation to training and after-sales service.

Get Your Free Sizing Consultation

Still unsure what size system fits your vision? Let’s find the right fit together. 

Contact us at: https://redwoodstainless.com/pages/contact

 

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