Brewery HVAC design

[Badbird2000]

Ok, so i was handed a new project the other day here at the office : a brewery that will offer co-op. They will let others come in and use the equipment to brew beer. I have some equipment cut sheets from the owner. One question i have for the architect that no one has asked yet is if the hops storage room needs to be maintained at a certain temp/humidity range. Anyone here familiar with how these facilities work? I am hoping to have several site visits after final punch.... just to insure it's all operating properly of course.

 

[DRWeig]

Professional reference:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/indoor-design-humidity-d_110.html

Home brewers' association recommendation:

For optimum preservation of hops' valued qualities, they should be stored as cold as possible (30 to -5 degrees F, or -1 to -21 degrees C) and away from air. The compression of hops into bales, pellets, and plugs helps protect all but the surface layers from air. Even so, air penetrates and causes some oxidation. Cold temperatures slow the oxidation process. Because some hop varieties don't store as well as others, at some point in the season hop brokers take all remaining unsold bales of poor-storing hops and turn them into pellets. Not only do pellets keep out a lot of oxygen, their compact form allows them to be easily vacuum packed to further slow the deterioration.

To slow the aging of your hops, always store them in the freezer at a temperature between 30F and -5F (-1 to -21 degrees C).

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[btrueblood]

A lot of home brew supply shops offer hops in the same poly/foil bags that you get coffee in. A big part of hops is their aromatic content, which will evaporate over time if not stored cold or in sealed containers.

 

[Drazen]

besides processing area, you have bottling area, packaging area, different storage areas like finished products area, reused bottles area, raw materials area, than you could possible have truck loading bay. processing areas can also have different sanitary requirements.

you have to work in tight coordination with architect and someone in charge for technology to have the work done.