LED Lights for Breweries

What is LED Brewery Lighting?

Breweries need lighting that withstands demanding production environments and meets food-safe standards. With experience from over 200 brewery installations, we typically recommend LED high bay lights for fermentation halls and packaging areas, LED wall pack lighting for loading docks, and LED vapor tight fixtures in wash-down zones. Food-grade operations benefit from NSF-certified fixtures that meet sanitary requirements.

Glare control is important in taprooms and quality control areas. Acrylic dome shielding on UFO high bay fixtures helps eliminate harsh shadows and reduces eye strain during long shifts. Most installations use 100-150 watt fixtures with 120 degree beam angles for broad, even coverage, depending on facility size and layout.

What are the Benefits of Using LED Lights in a Brewery?

• Superior Light Quality - Professional-grade LEDs provide consistent 130+ lumens per watt output without the color shift issues of fluorescent systems. This ensures accurate color assessment during quality control, which is essential for batch consistency.
• Dramatic Energy Reduction - Expect 65-75% lower energy costs when upgrading from metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixtures. A typical 400W metal halide replacement uses only 100-120 watts while delivering equivalent output, reducing operational expenses.
• Wet Location Performance - IP65-rated housings withstand direct spray during CIP cleaning cycles without compromising electrical integrity. NSF certification ensures surfaces resist bacterial growth and can be sanitized with approved cleaning agents.
• Extended Service Life - L70 ratings exceeding 100,000 hours eliminate frequent maintenance cycles common with traditional lighting. This is especially valuable in high-ceiling installations where lift rental costs can be significant.
• Adaptable Power Settings - Wattage-selectable drivers adjust from 80W to 200W on-site, allowing precise light level optimization. Color temperature switching between 3000K and 5000K accommodates different operational needs within the same facility.
• Zero UV Emission - LEDs produce no ultraviolet radiation, preventing alpha acid degradation in hops and off-flavors in finished products. This is critical in packaging areas where bottles receive extended light exposure.
• Minimal Heat Generation - LED fixtures emit 80% less radiant heat than halogen alternatives. Reduced heat load helps maintain fermentation temperatures and lowers HVAC demands in climate-controlled environments.
• Installation Best Practices - 4000K color temperature is recommended for production areas where accurate color judgment is essential. Smooth, sealed fixture surfaces without crevices prevent contamination buildup and simplify cleaning protocols in food manufacturing.

What are Ideal Light Levels for a Brewery?

Why is Color Temperature Important in a Brewery Environment?

Accurate color assessment impacts product quality and consistency. 4000K to 5000K color temperatures in quality control areas provide optimal color rendering without the yellow cast of lower temperatures or blue bias of daylight fixtures. Proper color temperature selection helps eliminate visual judgment errors that can result in costly off-specification batches.

Different brewery zones benefit from tailored color temperature choices. Fermentation areas perform well with 4000K lighting for balanced visibility and comfort. Taprooms and customer areas often use 3000K warm white to create an inviting atmosphere while still allowing staff to evaluate beer appearance accurately.

Need Help? Talk to an LED Lighting Expert.

Selecting the right lighting configuration requires balancing ceiling height, equipment layout, cleaning requirements, and operational workflows. Our lighting engineers have designed systems for craft breweries and large production facilities and understand the unique challenges each environment presents.

We analyze your specific requirements, including fermentation vessel placement, packaging line configurations, and safety compliance needs. Our team provides detailed photometric analysis and can create a comprehensive lighting plan that ensures uniform illumination while meeting food safety requirements.

Safety and Performance Certifications

All our fixtures carry essential certifications: DLC Premium for energy efficiency and rebate eligibility, UL Listed and ETL Listed for electrical safety and product compliance, and NSF for sanitation and cleanability in food-safe applications. These certifications help ensure safety, performance, and utility rebate qualification.

5-Year Warranty and Warranty Support

All our lights come with at least a 5-year warranty, and all warranty support is based in the USA. Our experienced support team understands the importance of keeping your lighting operational and will work quickly to resolve any warranty issues.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

After years of brewery projects, the same installation problems often appear. Most can be avoided with proper planning and understanding of food production demands.

• Using standard industrial fixtures in wash-down zones without an IP65 rating. Water will find any opening and damage drivers. Always use vapor-tight housings where CIP cleaning occurs.
• Mounting fixtures too close to grain handling equipment. Dust buildup reduces output and creates fire hazards. Keep fixtures at least 4 feet from conveyor discharge points.
• Using cool white LEDs throughout taprooms and tasting areas. Customers prefer warm lighting that makes beer look appealing. Reserve 5000K for production zones.
• Forgetting emergency lighting requirements in large brewing halls. Code requires battery backup along egress paths regardless of existing lighting levels.
• Not considering future expansion of fermentation vessels. Most breweries add tanks within 3 years. Plan mounting locations accordingly.
• Choosing non-NSF fixtures in packaging areas to save money. Health inspectors will flag this. The cost difference is not worth compliance issues.
• Running 120V circuits to high bay locations instead of 277V. Voltage drop reduces efficiency and creates maintenance problems on long runs.

LED Lights for Breweries Frequently Asked Questions

What is LED brewery lighting?

LED brewery lighting includes LED high bay lights for fermentation halls and packaging areas, LED wall pack lighting for loading docks, and LED vapor tight fixtures in wash-down zones. NSF-certified fixtures meet food-grade sanitary requirements, while acrylic dome shielding on UFO high bay fixtures controls glare in taprooms and quality control areas.

What are the benefits of using LED lights in a brewery?

LED brewery lights deliver 130+ lumens per watt output, 65-75% lower energy costs versus metal halide or high-pressure sodium, and L70 ratings exceeding 100,000 hours. IP65-rated housings withstand direct spray during CIP cleaning, and LEDs produce no ultraviolet radiation that can cause alpha acid degradation in hops.

What are ideal light levels for a brewery?

Brewing areas require 30 to 50 fc, packaging areas need 50 to 100 fc, and storage or cellar areas use 10 to 30 fc. Tasting rooms and bar areas call for 20 to 40 fc, while walkways and general areas need 5 to 20 fc.

Why is color temperature important in a brewery environment?

Quality control areas benefit from 4000K to 5000K color temperatures for accurate color assessment without yellow cast or blue bias. Taprooms and customer areas use 3000K warm white to create an inviting atmosphere while still allowing staff to evaluate beer appearance.

What certifications should brewery lighting have?

Fixtures should carry DLC Premium, UL Listed, and ETL Listed approvals for safety, performance, and utility rebate eligibility. NSF certification ensures surfaces resist bacterial growth, and IP65 ratings confirm fixtures withstand wash-down environments.

What are common brewery lighting mistakes to avoid?

Installing standard industrial fixtures without IP65 rating in wash-down zones allows water to kill drivers within months. Choosing non-NSF fixtures in packaging areas creates compliance problems, and using cool white LEDs in taprooms produces unflattering light for beer presentation.

What wattage and beam angle work for brewery high bays?

Most installations use 100-150 watt fixtures with 120-degree beam angles for large brewing floors, depending on facility size and layout. Wattage-selectable drivers adjust from 80W to 200W on-site, and color temperature switching between 3000K and 5000K accommodates different operational needs.

What warranty coverage is available for brewery LED lighting?

All fixtures include at least a 5-year warranty with USA-based warranty support.