Creating Container Types
Individual container types should be set up for all your base beer packaging, be it a firkin, non-returnable keg or 440ml can. To create a container type, go to Containers → Actions & tools → Add new container type. You can then choose your container type name, gross capacity, taxable capacity and type. The three types to choose from are cask, keg or smallpack. It is important that your container types are for the base containers only, not multipacks. For example, “440ml can” can be a container type, but not “24 x 440ml can”. Multipacks are products made from multiple single container types.
Within a container type, you can specify which stock items (if any) are always used when racking into that specific container type. For example, a 330ml bottle container type may always use a 330ml bottle from your stock, in addition to a bottle cap. This is especially useful for tracking cost and inventory during the racking process. You will always be asked to confirm the use of these items during racking so that you can ensure the correct usage of any stock items and add or remove any items if needed.
Creating containers and Non-returnable containers
Once you have created your container types, you will need to create your containers in Breww. There are two ways to do this, the first way to create containers is by going to the data importer tool. You can locate this by going to Settings → Data imports and updates → Containers. Please note, this importer is only used for containers you own and not for non-returnables.
The second way to create your containers is from the Containers tab. Under the containers section of the page, you will see a green button called Add container (pictured below).
Non-returnable containers
If you use containers that don’t need to be tracked and collected, Breww’s non-returnable (NR) container feature can help you account for them. Once a container type is set up in Breww, you can choose the number of NRs to rack into when racking a batch, and Breww will automatically create the NR containers for you and assign each its own NR number. Breww tracks these NR’s throughout the time they’re with you, can even account for their cost in your reports, and ends their life cycle when you deliver them to a customer.
Adding default packaging stock items to your containers
You can set “default packaging stock items” for a container type that defines which stock items should typically be used when packaging something into this container type. For example, for a 330ml can, you might use 1 x can lid and 1 x 330ml can, and for a firkin, you might use 1 x shive and 1 x keystone. These items will be used by default when packaging directly from a vessel or container, in addition to any stock items assigned directly to the product. Default packaging stock items can either be set up when creating a container type or be added by editing an existing container type.
Non-returnable container stock can be recorded in the Stock items section by creating a stock item for them, e.g. Kegstar 30L keg. You can then assign these stock items to the relevant container type (see above), to be used automatically when packaging the container type. If you’ve already assigned packaging stock items to products and would like to make them a default for a container instead, Breww has a tool to help, and if there are any duplicates, this tool will appear to assist you.
When you assign stock items to a container type, Breww will automatically calculate the number needed on the “Stock items used” page of the racking process. However, you can always adjust the number if needed.