Description and Use of a Miniature Brewery for Studying Brewing Variables¹

1 Presented at the 45th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, April 1979.

Abstract

A miniaturized brewery having capacity intermediate between those of the usual pilot plant and bench-scale operations is described and construction details are given. The utility of the unit is exemplified by investigations into the effect upon extract yield of varying the distribution of water between the mash mixer and lauter tun. Results were statistically analyzed. The precision of the miniature brewery was comparable to that of the laboratory mash procedure. Increasing the grist-to-liquor ratio in the mash mixer enhanced the extract yield in the kettle. Although the miniature brewery may not replace the established laboratory mash procedure for determining malt extract, it is a useful tool for examining a variety of brewing variables.

• Extract yield
• Grist-to-liquor ratio
• Laboratory mash
• Precision