A GREAT CRAFT BREWERY EXPERIENCE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.
DO IT EXCEPTIONALLY
Transparent Brewing Technology
Brewing as a craft is not just an industrial process. The craft of brewing, the brewers who dedicate their lives to it, and the ingredients that we choose all have the power to inspire, incite consumer revolutions, and make people's lives fuller and richer. The journey from grain to glass is a story worth telling. Our system is the tool to tell that story.
Sell Experience
The right brewery experience has the power to change everything. 4th Wave is providing the tools to provide that experience extraordinarily.
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There have been countless brewing systems developed over the past 25 years, but none has offered a fully transparent view into the brewing process from start to finish. It is an unmatched tool to guide customers on the craft journey. A transparent system changes the brewing experience for the brewer and the customer, and unlocks the final doors for the highest value relationships we can build.
MASH
DELIVER
The process begins with a grain delivery system that moves the whole grain up into a hopper. The grain will stay in the hopper under full view of the customer until the brewer is ready to begin milling. From there the grain gently cascades into the mill. Two 420 Stainless Steel rollers crack the grain to the brewer's specifications with adjustable settings.
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HYDRATE
As hot water is continuously transferred into the hydrator chute, the milled grain falls onto the flowing water, hydrating it completely as the mixture falls in turn into the mash tun, where without stirring our mash mixes and begins to form a grain bed.
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REST
Once the grain is milled and the mash tun is full, our transparent heat exchanger recirculating mash system (THERMS) maintains a constant temperature as the mash rests without any insulation. Over the course of the mash rest, the runnings through the THERMS system will begin to transform for everyone to see. Murky and opaque grainy water will slowly give way to brilliant wort.
LAUTER & BOIL
LAUTER
A three-way valve allows for the transition from recirculation rest to lauter to be completely seamless. Hot water is added through the sparge arm gently to not disturb the grain bed. The volume in the kettle slowly rises as new water is added to the top of the mash. The runnings through the THERMS coil will visibly become paler and paler as the density of the runnings decreases. When the kettle is full, the transfer is complete.
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BOIL
As the wort enters the boil kettle, the angled port provides rotational motion to the liquid, allowing for maximum contact with the two 5500 watt silent electric heat elements. As soon as the kettle is full, it is ready to boil. Solubilized proteins in the wort coagulate. Steam bubbles rise and churn. The visual marvel of boiling in glass comes to life and here is where the first hops are added. The boil kettle supports pelletized hops. Other key features include an optional condensation stack that recycles steam heat generated by the vigorous boil. This system efficiently uses chilled water in a jacketed spool to cool the steam and in turn pre-heat the water for other later uses or the next batch.
HOPBACK
HOP MORE
The ability to add and use whole cone and fresh hops sets this system apart from the pack. Our transparent hopback can accommodate 1 lbs (500g) of whole hops for an unmistakably fresh burst of hop aroma and flavor that adds a new dimension to any style.
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WHIRLPOOL
The last stop in the brewhouse is for refining the product one last time before sending it into the fermentation vessel. The whirlpool spins the liquid by pumping it in at an angle. This forces all of the solid matter to settle into the center as the liquid is pumped out from an off-centered port. The result is an exceptionally clear final product and high yields with no unnecessary additives or finings later in the process.
FERMENT
PRIMARY
A transparent brewhouse only tells half the story of the journey from grain to glass. Now that we have made the perfect meal for the yeast, we introduce them to their feast. This meal is called wort and when we add or "pitch" the yeast, it begins to transform the dense sugary liquid into the beer that we will enjoy. This entire process is on display in our 2 BBL stackable modular fermentation vessels. Their horizontal orientation allows for exceptionally healthy fermentation, as well as completely customizable volumes for batch sizes. Digital displays on the windows of the fermentation rooms tell customers what is in the tank and can be customized to the specs of the application to include vital data if desired. As the beer ferments, countless of customers and community members will watch the yeast perform its work and complete its lifecycle as it creates alcohol and CO2, churning and turning in a mesmerizing tumult. As the process completes anticipation only grows for the clientele as the batch gets nearer and nearer to the taps.
The
4th
Wave Advantage
Small Footprint
With a footprint of only 20 square feet (1.9 square meters), our compact system can fit almost anywhere.
Plug & Play Single Phase
Simpler is better. All controls and process tools are modular components that operate on single phase power and require no extensive hardwiring.
Made in USA
Designed and built during the peak supply chain crisis of 2022, our system utilizes the best of modern on demand fabricating, cutting, and forming to keep lead times short and reliable.