A brewpub is a restaurant that produces its own beer on premise. A common misconception is that a brewpub and a microbrewery are one in the same. In fact, these entities are not the same. A microbrewery can produce up to 15,000 barrels per year and can only sell its products through wholesale distributors. A microbrewery cannot sell their products on premise like a brewpub can.

 

One of the first things you will notice upon entering Belle Isle is the impressive array of stainless steel vessels and pipes towering behind the glass walls on the first and second levels. Although this equipment is very attractive and eye-catching, it still serves a fundamental purpose at Belle Isle. All of our Handcrafted Beers are produced in these tanks. The Pub Brewing Company from Santa Rosa, California manufactured our equipment to have a brewing capacity of 15 barrels per batch. One barrel is equivalent to two kegs. The system includes one Combo, one steam-fired Brew Kettle, three glycol jacketed fermenters (glycol is basically antifreeze that is circulated between the inner and outer walls of the fermenter to precisely control the temperature of fermentation), and five non-jacketed Serving Tanks. The five Serving Tanks are located in the cold room on the second level. The cold room is kept at 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The Serving Tanks are also referred to as the "tax determination tanks" for state and federal tax purposes.