Author: CASSMAN Publish Time: 2025-09-05 Origin: CASSMAN BEER BREWING EQUIPMENT
Project Title: Delivering a UL-Certified, Skid-Mounted 5BBL Electric Brewery for a Community-Focused Ohio Startup
Client: "Main Street Brewing Co.," a new brewpub founded by a passionate homebrewer and his business partner, aiming to become their town's go-to spot for fresh, high-quality craft beer.
Location: A suburban community near Columbus, Ohio, USA
The American craft beer dream often starts in a garage, with a passionate brewer perfecting recipes and sharing them with friends. The founders of "Main Street Brewing Co." were no different. After winning several local homebrewing awards, they decided to take the leap. Their vision was not mass distribution, but to create a warm, inviting taproom where they could serve their beer at peak freshness, directly to their neighbors. They secured a prime location on their town's main street but faced the classic startup challenge: how to build a professional, compliant brewery on a tight budget and in a limited space.
Entering the competitive US craft beer market requires navigating a specific set of hurdles that can make or break a new brewery before it even opens.
UL Certification and Code Compliance: This is non-negotiable in the United States. Local electrical inspectors require control panels and electrical components to be UL-certified for safety. A non-compliant system can lead to months of delays and costly modifications.
Space and Installation Efficiency: The client leased a 2,000 sq. ft. space, which had to accommodate a bar, seating, and a full brewery. They needed a compact system with a minimal footprint, and an installation process that was fast and simple to reduce labor costs and get them open for business quickly.
Budget-Conscious Quality: As a startup, every dollar mattered. They needed a system with the quality and reliability of high-end domestic manufacturers but at a price point that wouldn't exhaust their startup capital. Sacrificing weld quality or material integrity was not an option.
Ease of Use for a Small Team: The head brewer would also be the CEO, cellarman, and janitor. They needed a system that was intuitive, reliable, and easy to operate and clean by a single person.
CASSMAN engineered the perfect solution for the American startup: a complete, pre-piped, and pre-wired 5BBL Electric Brewhouse on a single stainless steel skid.
Key System Features:
UL-Certified Control Panel: We partnered with a US-based panel shop to build a fully UL-listed control panel. It featured a Siemens touchscreen PLC, Allen-Bradley components, and NEMA 4X enclosures, guaranteeing it would pass electrical inspections without issue. This was the most critical feature for the client.
Compact, Skid-Mounted "Plug & Brew" Design: The 2-vessel brewhouse (Mash/Lauter Tun + Kettle/Whirlpool), pumps, heat exchanger, and all interconnecting piping were mounted on a single, heavy-duty stainless steel frame (a "skid"). This system was fully assembled and tested in our factory. Upon arrival, it was simply moved into place with a forklift, dramatically reducing on-site installation time from weeks to just a couple of days.
Efficient Direct Electric Heating: The system used low-density electric heating elements in the kettle. This provided precise, instantaneous temperature control without the risk of scorching, and eliminated the need for a costly and complex boiler, gas lines, or ventilation hoods—a perfect fit for their indoor, public-facing space.
Complete Turnkey Package: We provided the full package beyond the brewhouse skid: four 5BBL fermenters, one 5BBL brite tank, a glycol chiller, a portable CIP pump, and all necessary hoses and fittings. This single-source approach ensured perfect compatibility and streamlined the purchasing process for the client.
Our process was optimized for speed, compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
Collaborative 3D Layout Design: We provided a detailed 3D model of the entire brewery system overlaid on the client's building plans. This allowed them to visualize the workflow and optimize the layout for their limited space long before the equipment was shipped.
UL Panel Fabrication & Factory Acceptance Test (FAT): The UL panel was built in the US and shipped to our factory. We then fully assembled the skid, wired the panel, and conducted a complete water brew test (FAT), sending videos to the client for approval.
Streamlined Logistics: The entire system was carefully packed and shipped in a single container. The skid-mounted design protected all the intricate piping during transit and made unloading and placement incredibly simple.
Remote Commissioning & Support: With the "plug & play" nature of the skid, extensive on-site support was unnecessary. We provided comprehensive manuals and guided the client's local electrician through the final power connections via video call, saving the client thousands in on-site labor costs.
The CASSMAN solution was instrumental in the successful launch of Main Street Brewing Co.
Passed Inspections with Ease: The UL-certified control panel was the first thing the inspector checked. It passed immediately, avoiding what is often a major bottleneck for new breweries.
Dramatically Reduced Installation Costs: The client estimated the skid-mounted design saved them over $10,000 in local plumber and welder fees and cut their installation timeline by three weeks.
Day-One Consistency: The intuitive controls and reliable performance allowed the brewer to immediately produce consistent, high-quality beer, scaling up his recipes perfectly. The brewpub opened with four different beers on tap, all of which were praised for their quality.
The American Dream, Realized: The co-founder was ecstatic. "CASSMAN delivered a professional brewery that fit our startup budget and our small space. The UL panel was the key to a stress-free opening. We went from an empty building to serving our own beer in record time. They didn't just sell us equipment; they helped us launch our dream."
The Main Street Brewing Co. project demonstrates CASSMAN's deep understanding of the American craft beer startup. We provide a crucial bridge between homebrewing and professional brewing, offering solutions that are compliant, efficient, and affordable. By focusing on key requirements like UL certification and "plug & play" skid-mounted designs, we empower the next generation of American brewers to turn their passion into a thriving community business.
For the American brewing dream, CASSMAN provides the professional, compliant, and cost-effective foundation.
