When to consider using a spent grain auger system in a brewery
- Jun 29, 2026
- 54
- tiantai
A spent grain auger system should be considered when the amount of spent grain produced becomes large enough that manual handling is inefficient, labor-intensive, or unhygienic. The decision mainly depends on brew size, brewing frequency, labor cost, and how the spent grain is disposed of or reused.
Here are some general guidelines:
Some factors we can consider:
1. Brewing Frequency
Even a relatively small brewhouse may benefit from automation if it operates:
2–4 brews per day
6–7 days per week
Frequent brewing means grain removal can become a production bottleneck.
2. Amount of Spent Grain, it mainly depends on brewhouse size.
100 kg malt, about 120–140 kg wet spent grain
A 1,000 L brew typically produces 200–300 kg of wet spent grain.
A 2,500 L brew typically produces 500–700 kg of wet spent grain.
A 5,000 L brew may produce 1–1.5 tons of wet spent grain.
Once operators are routinely shoveling several hundred kilograms of wet grain, automation can significantly improve efficiency.
3. Distance to Grain Collection
If the spent grain must be transported to outside the building, a storage silo, a truck, or to a farmer for animal feed, a conveying system greatly reduces labor and cleanup.
4. Labor Availability
If there have high labor costs,limited staffing, or strict workplace safety requirements, automation often provides a good return on investment.
The spent grain auger system, provides several advantages:
- Reduce Labor Cost
- Faster Grain Removal
- Increase Brewhouse Productivity
- Better Hygiene
- Improve Worker Safety
- Easy Disposal or Reuse
- Professional Brewery Design
Tiantai, provides turnkey solutions on brewery equipment, winery equpment, distiller equipment, cider equipment, kombucha equipment, beverage equipment, mead equipment. If you are looking for spent grain handling system, we are at your disposal anytime.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
Here are some general guidelines:
| Brewery Size | Typical Brewhouse Size | Recommendation |
| Pilot brewery | <500 L | Manual removal is usually sufficient. |
| Microbrewery | 500–1,000 L | Manual removal or simple grain cart is generally adequate. |
| Craft brewery | 1,000–2,000 L | Consider a spent grain auger or grain collection hopper if brewing frequently. |
| Commercial brewery | 2,000–5,000 L | A spent grain conveying system is recommended, especially with multiple brews per day. |
| Large brewery | >5,000 L | An automated spent grain handling system is strongly recommended. |
Some factors we can consider:
1. Brewing Frequency
Even a relatively small brewhouse may benefit from automation if it operates:
2–4 brews per day
6–7 days per week
Frequent brewing means grain removal can become a production bottleneck.
2. Amount of Spent Grain, it mainly depends on brewhouse size.
100 kg malt, about 120–140 kg wet spent grain
A 1,000 L brew typically produces 200–300 kg of wet spent grain.
A 2,500 L brew typically produces 500–700 kg of wet spent grain.
A 5,000 L brew may produce 1–1.5 tons of wet spent grain.
Once operators are routinely shoveling several hundred kilograms of wet grain, automation can significantly improve efficiency.
3. Distance to Grain Collection
If the spent grain must be transported to outside the building, a storage silo, a truck, or to a farmer for animal feed, a conveying system greatly reduces labor and cleanup.
4. Labor Availability
If there have high labor costs,limited staffing, or strict workplace safety requirements, automation often provides a good return on investment.
The spent grain auger system, provides several advantages:
- Reduce Labor Cost
- Faster Grain Removal
- Increase Brewhouse Productivity
- Better Hygiene
- Improve Worker Safety
- Easy Disposal or Reuse
- Professional Brewery Design
Tiantai, provides turnkey solutions on brewery equipment, winery equpment, distiller equipment, cider equipment, kombucha equipment, beverage equipment, mead equipment. If you are looking for spent grain handling system, we are at your disposal anytime.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
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