Last updated on March 31st, 2022
How much does it cost to build a microbrewery?
Home brewing is booming right now! If you’re thinking about building a microbrewery, take a peek at our cost guide, so you know what to pay.
Brits have been brewing beer at home ever since it was created almost 7,000 years ago!
In the UK today, homebrewing is taking the world by storm. If you’re a modern-day brewer and produce quality beer, you may be thinking about launching a microbrewery as a new venture. Great, but there’s a few things you need to think about before starting your business.
Opening a microbrewery will involve obtaining a government permit. Setting up a microbrewery also involves a lot of work and money before getting started.
To help you budget, let’s take a look at a rough cost estimate to build your very own microbrewery.
| Cost provided item | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 1 BBL package including kettle, masher, exchanger, pumps, hot liquor tank, controls | £20,000 |
| Optional: 2 brite tanks, 2 fermentors and one glycol chiller | £15,000 |
| Optional: a yeast keg/brink | £1,000 |
| Delivery, lifting & fitting equipment | £3,000 |
| Qualified electrician | £1,000 |
| Cost to start a commercial microbrewery | £370,000-£750,000 |
| Commercial microbrewery set up cost | £1,000-£1,000,000 |
| Build a commercial microbrewery | £10,000-£80,000 |
Our costs are ballpark averages – get a local tradesperson to quote now
How much does it cost to build a microbrewery?
To build a microbrewery, you can expect to pay anywhere from £1,000 for a small online home brewing kit all the way through to £80,000+ for a commercial one. This is a rough estimate only, so speak to your local builder for more accurate prices.
It’s important to note that costs vary significantly based on where you live and the production output required. A small start-up microbrewery producing 1 BBL (288 pints) would fit in one room, with all procedures being handled by one person. However, microbreweries can go up to 30 BBL (10,376 pints).
In our cost table, we’ve excluded building costs, rental costs, license costs, operational costs, raw materials, bottles, and kegs, as the costs we’ve provided are based on brand new equipment only.
Top tip: A start-up microbrewery can save costs by only buying essential second-hand equipment.
The average microbrewery set up cost
On average, you can expect to pay £1,000 for an online home brewing kit. However, things can get pretty costly – you could fork out as much as £1,000,000, though, for a 30BBL facility, but this includes building costs.
Cost of microbrewery equipment
A 1 BBL package including a kettle, masher, exchanger, pumps, hot liquor tank, and controls will set you back £20,000.
If you like, you can also purchase two brite tanks, two fermenters, and one glycol chiller for roughly £15,000, while a yeast keg/brink will add a further £1,000 to your bill.
Then, you have to factor in the delivery, lifting, and fitting of the equipment, which is around £3,000, plus hiring a qualified local electrician, which can set you back an additional £1,000.
So, in total, microbrewery equipment will cost you £40,000.
FAQs
How much does it cost to start a microbrewery?
As mentioned above, for a small home microbrewery, you’ll most likely pay about £40,000, all told.
To start a commercial microbrewery, you’d probably pay between £370,000-£750,000. However, this is an estimate only. A local tradesperson will be able to provide a quote based on the size of the microbrewery and the special equipment needed to complete the job.
How profitable is a microbrewery?
A microbrewery is incredibly profitable, so long as you plan it well and have robust financial foundations in place.
In the UK, the law states you can’t give away any homebrew if it’ll be drunk on any premises other than yours. Even if you slip a couple of homemade beer bottles into your friend’s bag, theoretically, you’re breaking the law.
Even so, it’s not very likely you’ll be sued for such a trivial offence. Chances are, it’ll go unnoticed.
That being said, if you want to go beyond simply offering a beer to a friend as a birthday present, you’ll need to get a license from the HMRC. This consists of two elements:
- A licence for the premises from which the drinks will be marketed
- A personal license
How much does it cost to set up a home brewery?
To set up a home brewery, you can expect to pay about £40,000. However, this is for a small microbrewery only. Commercial microbreweries, on the other hand, can cost up to £1,000,000.
How much does microbrewery equipment cost?
- A 1 BBL package includes a kettle, masher, exchanger, pumps, hot liquor tank, and controls – £20,000. Brite tanks, two fermenters, and one glycol chiller – £15,000.
- Yeast keg/brink – £1,000.
The delivery, lifting, and fitting of the equipment will cost a further £3,000 then you’ll need to hire a qualified local electrician that can cost roughly £1,000. So, in total, microbrewery equipment will cost you £40,000.
How much does it cost to set up a microbrewery in the UK?
Use our cost table as a guide to help understand the standard costs involved in setting up a microbrewery in the UK. The variables include the equipment for the microbrewery, delivery, lifting, and fitting of the equipment, and the cost of a professional electrician.
While setting up a microbrewery isn’t cheap, it doesn’t have to cost the earth, either.
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