Logistics for a brewery

Seems 4 barrel isn't a viable business size for a brewery so I've bumped my plan up to 16.  Planning on using 60 gallon conicals (9 of em), 55 gallon brew pots and mash tuns, and a stock pot stove.  Found out kegs are pretty dang expensive.  Looking at something like $120 a piece for 96 (sixtels) to cover what I should be able to make in a month.  Priced out stainless drums, dolly's, clean in place equipment, and drum heaters.  The kegs seem like they are gonna cost almost as much as the equipment.

Spreadsheets and number running

Been working on a spreadsheet forecasting start up costs and projected annual expenditures. I'm still missing stuff, but so far initial costs of the equipment for a 4 barrel capacity brewery and TABC permits are $9,737.92. Spreadsheet is still missing shelves, counters, and kegs (~$50 a piece used, $100 new.)

Monthly costs for brewery and cleaning/sanitizing consumables is $704.68 to make 4 barrels (120 gallons, 24 sixtels, or 960 pints) of beer worth $2,160 ($90 a sixtel) when sold to distributors. If HB660 passes, that beer is worth $4,800 (960*$5 a pint) sold for retail to customers.

The big problem seems to be rent for a commercial zoned place. At 4 barrels a month there is only $1,445 left for things like rent, gas, water, and electricity at the brewery only level. Not enough.

Brewpub would a much roomier $4,095 to work with for rent/etc but then you have to have the whole restaurant and club thing surrounding it because Texas law says a beer pub has to sell 51% food.

Kinda crazy. I don't see how there are any craft brewers surviving at all in Texas. You either need a bar in some crazy expensive place like San Antonio or Deep Ellum with the $200k startup costs, or you have to go ginormous brewery just to be able to cover non-brewing expenses. If HB660 doesn't pass in January I don't think I can do this in Texas. Looks like Colorado is in the lead now.

Bill Murray Baby Steps

Decided I should start a blog to keep track of all this.  I've been brewing beer for about a year now.  It all started last August when the store on base here in Sigonella, Sicily ran out of Guinness.  For 3 months.  After I returned from my trip to London for St. Patrick's Day I couldn't get enough of the stuff.  Finally, after a months withdrawal, I decided I'd just make my own Guinness!  I bought a Mr. Beer kit and an Irish Stout.  The results weren't great, but they were good enough that I stepped up to 3 5 gallon fermenters.  Since then I've made Cream Stouts, Lagers, Mead, Guinness Clones, various types of plain old Stouts, Porters, and a blonde ale.  Right now I've got a Belgian style Witbeer going that's looking to be awesome.

I decided a week or so ago that what I wanted to do when I got out of the military was start my own brewery.  Its something I've enjoyed doing and found very rewarding.  I'm still in the researching stage, building a business plan.  So far not looking so hot for Texas.  I'd love to build it there since its my home, but the laws are really anti-small craft brewery.  Numbers just aren't working out at the 4 barrel brewery level.  I'm hoping the state legislature steps up and fixes the laws come January 2013, cause otherwise I don't think its possible to do it there.