The brewery is one of the three Specific Mechanical Systems turnkey systems in San Francisco.  It is the only brewery in the city to feature a mirror ball.

Specific brewhouses feature a diverter panel that keeps the brewhouse compact.  The challenge in building a brewhouse is always how to get things from one place to another - without having to reconnect hoses or valves - while keeping it compact.

In order to get water/wort from one place to another on a Specific brewhouse, U-shaped pipes are put onto the diverter panel to divert the flow from one vessel, through a pump, to another vessel.  It looks confusing at first, but there are many configurations that can get anything anywhere in the brewhouse.

This is a 12 barrel system with (4) fermenters and (6) serving tanks - all 12 barrels.  They also use a DE filter - which you can kind of see in the fermenter picture on the left.

The system doesn't have a hot liquor tank, which is where the hot water used for brewing is usually stored.  Instead they pump the hot water into an empty, clean fermenter.  The near boiling water sanitizes (180 degree water will sterilize surfaces in 20 minutes) the fermenter while it holds the hot water until it is needed for brewing.  This allows for the compact size of the brewery.

This is a very company brewery.  It is amazing how much equipment fits into such a small area.  I was there when all the tanks were delivered (through the skylight), and it didn't seem like it would all fit.  But it does fit, and it allows Shaun to brew some great beer.

21-A is also the only brewery to feature a mirror ball.  Check it out: