TRANSCRIPT: Chris Ellenbecker: Welcome to Yee-Haw Brewing Company in Johnson City, Tennessee. We're brewing beer.
Yee-Haw Brewing Company has been heading in the right direction since opening in a renovated train depot in Johnson City, Tennessee in the first half of 2015. And choosing a Miura LX200 boiler as its steam engine. Since then, the company has expanded distribution to Nashville. And picked up some prestigious awards. Says brewer Chris Ellenbecker:
Chris E.: It all comes back to quality. From how we're brewing the beer, the ingredients we're using, our meticulous care for packing, and microbiology. We're making sure that everything that leaves this facility is at the highest quality it can be.
While planning for the brewery, it was quickly evident that space would be at a premium. Combustion and Control Solutions of Chattanooga, Tennessee, represented by David Flowers, handled Yee-Haw's boiler system design, installation, and ongoing support.
David Flowers: Our biggest challenge here, from day one was space. Space was very limited for the steam plant. So, with what Miura is able to do in a smaller footprint, it was just a perfect fit.
Miura's LX200 SG gas, low NOx series, low and high-pressure steam boilers use natural gas or propane, and are available in a range of steam options, from 50 to 300 horsepower. The Miura LX200 that was chosen would require less space than a traditional boiler, and provide additional capacity beyond the initial steam load. Ease of use was also an important consideration.
Chris E.: I mean, it's never easy to go into work anywhere as early as we start. So, getting to just come in and push a button, throw two valves, and have steam in five minutes, is a huge benefit. And we can just start our day right away.
Producing full steam in a matter of minutes, allowed Chris to fire the boiled up, and start mashing in, and heating up his mash right away. This unique Miura advantage allows brewers to start cleaning their tanks and start brewing right away. Saving time and money. It wasn't always that way for Chris who came to Yee-Haw from another brewery that didn't have Miura.
Chris E.: The place I used to work in Milwaukee was this really rickety, old boiler. It looked like it could have been 80 years old. I'm sure it wasn't, but it took forever. I mean, we'd get in there at six o'clock, and we're maybe starting by 8:00, 8:30. It just took forever to get going, and the shutdown process was insanely lengthy and complicated. And you had to make sure that every single step was followed or something could go wrong.
But with the Miura boiler, it's killer. Starts right up, shuts right down. Couple of hand valves, and a button.
Because it starts up so quickly and shuts down so easily, there's no question about the efficiency and the savings on fuel and water. Noted Chris, he wasn't surprised to learn that the average customer saved about 20% in fuel costs when switching to Miura. But it was also the outstanding reliability that impressed Chris, who suggested that as long as you do your regular maintenance, which is easy, you'll be way ahead of the game.
Chris E.: The Miura boiler has handled all of our growth to this point, including adding extra steam lines to it. And there's still plenty of room to grow.
David Flowers: You know, a lot of times, we're looking at a traditional boiler. If the boiler is oversized, the efficiency falls way off, at a lower firing rate. The Miura's are able to maintain that high efficiency rate, even at low fire. So it hasn't hurt them at all, in these first couple of years to have an oversize boiler. Now, they've got room to grow.
Asked whether he would consider recommending Miura to another brewer, Ellenbecker responded without hesitation.
Chris E.: I would highly recommend Miura boilers. Especially for the steam in five minutes, the easy maintenance, and the significantly small footprint.
