St. Patrick’s Day: A Celebration of Beer – and 3D Design?

Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I'm something of a beer nerd. So in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time to talk about 3D design software and beer. Not a likely pairing, except when you consider that the team at Enegren Brewing Company used SolidWorks technology to make its beer a reality.

Enegren Brewing started in the dorm rooms of Loyola Marymount University and has grown to a commercial operation with five beers on tap: Valkyrie Altbier, Protector Imperial IPA, and seasonal brews including, Captain’s Summer Session, Fall Foliage Pale Ale and Daniel Irons Oatmeal Stout.

As Enegren expanded, the team relied on SolidWorks to design the Enegren brewery. When the team was looking for the perfect building to set up shop, they made a model of the space that included all of their equipment from grain bags to fermenters.

The brewery layout was used to show government officials to help pass regulation before starting construction, get accurate cost estimates for plumbing and other installations, and help spec out accurate costs for all equipment needed. And it's not often that you actually see SolidWorks renderings on a brewery website. If you're in the Ventura, CA area be sure to check them out. And even if you're not, their website and blog give you a good idea of what goes into designing and building a nanobrewery.

Are you looking to build your own DIY brewery? Take a look at these projects to get some cool ideas. I can guarantee you my own home brewing rig is nowhere near as complex.

Have you used SolidWorks to help with your beer brewing process? What kind of ale (or lager) will you be drinking this St. Patrick’s Day? We look forward to reading your answers in the comment section below. Erin Go Bragh!

Want to learn more about how SolidWorks (and beer) can help your design process? Check out our Beer Can Barbeque Conundrum video!