Compressed Air – The Unsung Hero Behind Craft Beer
Powerex Oil-Free Air Compressors Quietly Driving Small Brewery Success
When given the opportunity to take a tour of a craft brewery, most folks walk through the doors with visions of barrels and urns, “How It’s Made” bottling runs, and of course, their very own cozy seat in the taproom. For them, the idea of a small brewing operation has been formed by what they see on TV and in the movies. While those photogenic features make for great selfie backgrounds, there really is a lot more going on at the modern brewery than immediately meets the eye. Behind the scenes, critical equipment keeps the beer flowing. Without it, there would be no tours and no taproom epiphanies.
Among the most overlooked but essential systems in a modern brewery is the compressed air system. Breweries require air compressors to operate equipment such as automatic keg washers, bottling and canning machines, and bottle de-palletizers. In the past, any hardware store or industrial compressor would do, even if repair and maintenance were big issues, and even if contaminating oil occasionally made its way into the production run.
These days, however, as quality, flavor, taste, and consistency have become key differentiators in the robust craft beer market, small brewery compressed air systems are increasingly anchored by oil-free air compressors. For Powerex, a company that manufactures oil-free compressed air systems just outside of Cincinnati, OH, the craft beer boom has been great for business. As more craft beer operations have begun looking for ways to set themselves apart from the competition, Powerex oil-free air systems have provided them with a clear strategic advantage.
Powerex oil-free compressed air systems are perfect for brewery applications. Since modern processes involve compressed air coming in direct contact with the product or the container, oil-free air compressors represent the new gold standard (amber standard?) for producers looking to provide only the finest quality product for their customers. Powerex scroll pump technology is well-suited for the intermittent air demands common with craft breweries, and with over 6,000 craft breweries in the US and more coming on line every year, the decision to embrace oil-free technology can make a big difference when it comes to realizing small brewery business success.
On a recent west coast trip, we talked to a couple of craft beer professionals with direct knowledge about Powerex oil-free air systems to learn more. Afterward, we touched base with one of the company’s representatives on the front lines of the brewery business. Here is what they had to say.
Q&A
Greg Balch, Head Brewer at Double Mountain Brewery in Hood River, Oregon
Q: What size operation is Double Mountain Brewery?
A: Currently, we’re producing around 10,000 barrels a year.
Q: Where is compressed air used in your application?
A: We use compressed air for all our draft side pumps, kegs, and taps.
It’s also critical to our keg line (clean & fill) and our bottling line.
Q: Has your Powerex compressed air system stood out for you in any way?
A: Absolutely. We bought our Powerex compressor as part of a package of equipment, and immediately I could tell the difference just in terms of the sound levels. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the reliability of the unit as well. Our last unit was plagued with hardware and maintenance issues, but the Powerex air compressor is solid.
Q: What’s your biggest takeaway when it comes to your Powerex compressed air system?
A: Compressed air is crucial to our operation on many fronts, and Powerex has been a reliable partner. Essentially, Powerex has allowed me to quit thinking about the compressed air system and focus on other things. That’s huge.
John Harris, Owner and Brewmaster at Ecliptic Brewery in Portland, Oregon
Q: What size operation is Ecliptic Brewery?
A: In 2018, we produced about 14,600 barrels, and that
represents a 40% growth over 2017.
Q: Where is compressed air used in your application?
A: At the top of my list is keg washing. We depend on compressed air
to run our keg washer.
Q: Has your Powerex compressed air system stood out for you in any way?
A: Yes. We bought the largest unit we could, with an eye to the future, and it was a great decision. Right off the bat I can tell you that it has made a big impact on overall employee satisfaction. The noise level is so much lower than with our previous air system.
Q: What’s your biggest takeaway when it comes to your Powerex compressed air system?
A: Our Powerex air compressor has helped us improve our work environment dramatically. I had lots of experience with air compressors before we purchased the Powerex unit. Air compressors and air systems aren’t “sexy” like some other equipment at the brewery, but they are mission-critical.
Nathan Woody, Powerex Sales
Q: What is the most important detail you’re hearing from your brewery customers?
A: My craft brewery customers tell me that low lead time and minimum service and maintenance issues are the key driving factors in their decision to go with Powerex.
Q: So down time has been an issue for your customers in the past?
A: Yes, definitely. One local brewery had their compressor unit go down and they were left with 80,000 gallons of beer that they couldn’t can or bottle. They remembered that incident.
Q: Are you saying that “reliability” is more important than “oil free” for your customers?
A: Yes and no. The Brewmasters are definitely excited to be able to say their air systems are oil-free. For them, all they want is to produce the best beer they can. The Owners have to see it as a business first, and they can’t afford to have the air system go down.
Q: What do you say to customers who are considering air systems provided by Powerex competitors?
A: No one has manufacturing lead times like Powerex. We have over 220 distributors, all capable of installation, start-up, and service of our systems. A big feature of Powerex is this ability to provide local manufacturing, short lead times, readily available parts, and a complete slam dunk on the setup and installation. Our competitors just can’t make those claims.
Behind the Scenes, Behind the Success
So, it is clear to see that behind every successful craft beer operation is a solid, reliable compressed air system. While nobody is going to pose for a photo beside a section of process air piping, that doesn’t change the fact that without compressed air the entire operation would come to a grinding halt.
Powerex understands that breweries take great pride in their operations and ingredients. As proud members of the Brewers Association, as well as the Colorado, California, and Ohio Brewers Guilds, Powerex knows that both aspects play a huge role in the overall quality of the finished product, and in the overall success of the business. When choosing your next compressed air system, remember that Powerex oil-free air compressors offer:
- no contamination of product or equipment,
- no need for oil-water separators (more environmentally friendly),
- employee-friendly, low noise levels,
- dramatic energy-efficiency, and
- less filtration, maintenance, and repair.
Find out more about how Powerex supports craft breweries with clean, efficient, low-noise, low-maintenance air at www.powerexinc.com/applications/breweries/.
Read our case studies and see for yourself how Powerex oil-free air can become the star of your next brewery tour.
