Brewhouse plus cellar expansion at Cervecería Centroamericana

Cervecería Centroamericana in Guatemala plans on modernizing its brewhouse this year, while at the same time extending the cellar area of the brewery. In addition, a second, very modern brewhouse is to start operating in 2017. With the corresponding cold block adaptation, this will increase the capacity of the brewery to 4.3 million hl per year. As was the case with the existing brewhouse and the current extension, the corresponding order was once again awarded to Ziemann Holvrieka GmbH in Ludwigsburg.

The new brewhouse is to produce 12 brews a day, each of approximately 1,050 hl. It will be equipped with a mash tun with a Colibri agitator, a lauter tun, a Shark internal boiler and a whirlpool. Cervecería Centroamericana deliberately chose the variable Shark boiler in order to be able to produce various aroma profiles, ranging from "mild" to rather "edgy". Other components of the order are a hop dosing plant and a CIP plant. The malt intake system will also be extended by adding the innovative T-Rex milling system.

Yet another feature is the hot water operation of the new brewhouse. This will provide Cervecería Centroamericana with the option of converting to sustainably generated energy such as solar thermal energy at any time.

The new cold block comprises eight cylindroconical fermentation tanks with a diameter of 7,200 mm and a capacity of 6,000 hl, which will be manufactured on site. All other tanks and the brewing vessels will be shipped to Guatemala from Bürgstadt. The fermentation tanks will be equipped with very light yet robust domed lids made of polyurethane. The order also includes a filtration line with a capacity of 500 hl/h, including stabilisation, and a yeast cellar with propagation.

The entire project will be handled by Ziemann Holvrieka on a turnkey basis, i.e. comprising engineering, production, transport, installation, pipework, automation and commissioning.