This is still a long ways out. I have a lot of learning to do before I can justify starting up a meadery. However, it is something that I'm thinking of doing within the next couple of years, and so thought I'd begin gathering information.
Local liquor laws require anyone making alcohol to make and sell a minimum of 6000 liters a year in order to get a license. So my question is what would the miminum amount of major equipment be for producing that amount, preferably of a size that allows for easy expansion should things take off eventually. I've never been to a professional meadery, so I don't have a good sense of the relative numbers of various pieces of equipment that would be needed, nor of what their typical process is like. Also I have this feeling that there's probably something else I'm forgetting about. Any input would be appreciated.
Fermentors:
Cellaring tanks:
Barrels:
Hot box
Temperature control
Other:
I realize that 6000 liters a year will hardly be enough for a sustainable business. However, my thought is to do this as a side job, starting small and increasing sales volume over time. The business doesn't need to support me at first, it just has to not lose money after the initial startup costs.
Separate but related question, how long can you use an oak barrel for and still be able to count on getting some oakiness out of it?
Local liquor laws require anyone making alcohol to make and sell a minimum of 6000 liters a year in order to get a license. So my question is what would the miminum amount of major equipment be for producing that amount, preferably of a size that allows for easy expansion should things take off eventually. I've never been to a professional meadery, so I don't have a good sense of the relative numbers of various pieces of equipment that would be needed, nor of what their typical process is like. Also I have this feeling that there's probably something else I'm forgetting about. Any input would be appreciated.
Fermentors:
Cellaring tanks:
Barrels:
Hot box
Temperature control
Other:
I realize that 6000 liters a year will hardly be enough for a sustainable business. However, my thought is to do this as a side job, starting small and increasing sales volume over time. The business doesn't need to support me at first, it just has to not lose money after the initial startup costs.
Separate but related question, how long can you use an oak barrel for and still be able to count on getting some oakiness out of it?
