Bukama Craft Beer in Zimbabwe has launched its first brewery using Tiantai’s 500L Beer Brewing Equipment. When I first got in touch with the founder, he shared his dream of bringing unique craft beer flavors to the local market.
As the Zimbabwean beer market is dominated by a few major companies, with most other beers being imported, there was little variety in flavor. With his extensive experience in craft beer, the founder wanted to introduce distinct and high-quality beers to local consumers—beers that people would truly love.
Starting a craft brewery is never easy. It requires careful planning, investment, and hands-on effort. In Zimbabwe, where craft breweries are scarce, there was no reference to follow. For a successful brewery, practical aspects such as budget, licenses, brewing equipment, location, beer styles, recipes, and operations all needed to be considered.
The founder tackled every challenge step by step:
Budget: Prepared detailed brewery information and business prospects to convince investors and banks for funding.
Brewing equipment: Evaluated multiple suppliers and finally chose Tiantai’s 500L Beer Brewing Equipment.
Location: Inspected various spaces to find the most suitable site for the brewery.
Recipes: Traveled abroad for inspiration and conducted market research to understand customer preferences.
Watching the founder solve each challenge with determination and passion has been inspiring. It is an honor to accompany him in realizing this dream.
Now, the 500L Beer Brewing Equipment is ready for delivery.
Main Specifications of Bukama Craft Beer’s 500L Beer Brewing Equipment
— Grain milling unit
— 500L three-vessel brewhouse, heated by steam (expandable for future growth)
— Fermentation tanks: 2×500L and 1×1000L (produces ~4000L beer/month based on a two-week fermentation cycle)
— Bright beer tank: 1×1000L (for maturation and packaging)
— Glycol water system (provides cooling for the brewery, with room for expansion)
— Brewery control cabinet (controls pumps, motors, temperatures, etc.)
— CIP unit (for automated cleaning)
— Bottling/capping/labeling machine
— Steam boiler
The system is made of high-quality stainless steel. Auxiliary equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, and chillers are from leading Chinese brands, while control components come from international brands such as Delta, Autonics, and IFM.
Installation and Operation Highlights
Brewing day begins with the 500L Beer Brewing Equipment in action. The process includes mashing, lautering, boiling, whirlpool, cooling, fermentation, and bright beer maturation.
CIP cleaning ensures the system is fully sanitized after each brewing cycle.
The customer successfully completed the installation, overcoming challenges with careful work and dedication.
After shipping, installation, and commissioning, the system will be fully operational, producing a variety of craft beers. We wish Bukama Craft Beer great success, and if you visit Zimbabwe, don’t forget to enjoy a fresh pint!
Whether you are starting a new brewery or expanding an existing one, Tiantai’s expertise in 500L Beer Brewing Equipment can help bring your brewing vision to life. Contact us today to discuss your project!
Email: gbrewing@cnbrewery.com
Edited by Jane