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Category: Blog

Case Study – Deya Brewing Company

Posted on by Theo

Introduction

At an industry event at the end of 2022, John of DEYA Brewing Company met up with James from Ninkasi Rentals & Finance. DEYA were looking for a CO₂ solution and were hoping that Ninkasi, having recently teamed up with Dalum Beverage Equipment, could assist. Ninkasi were already a known and trusted supplier to DEYA and could handle the import and installation of the Dalum machine, minimising the risk and providing ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition from their current CO₂ supply across to the new Dalum equipment.

DEYA’s Sustainability Journey

DEYA has always been committed to the sustainable production of their beer. So committed in fact that they completed a company carbon footprint audit back in 2020. A full analysis of their CO₂ emissions was calculated, allowing the business a real insight into the impact that their brewery has on the environment and identifying areas that the business could focus on. DEYA has continued this audit every year, refining and improving their practices alongside publishing the report on their website.

This brings us back to 2022, where DEYA were in a difficult position – the business was growing and so was their CO₂ output. CO₂ is a byproduct of the fermentation process and is usually released into the atmosphere. CO₂ is then used for packaging, traditionally being bought in on the back of a lorry, producing yet more emissions. Surely there was a way to capture DEYA’s CO₂ output and use it in the brewery?

Making CO₂ Capture Viable for Craft Brewers

The issue that DEYA, alongside most craft brewers, face is that while CO₂ is produced during fermentation, being able to reuse it within the brewery is expensive, and historically only available to the very largest breweries in the market. That was until Dalum introduced their revolutionary CO₂ Capture Technology, making the solution available and financially feasible for craft-scale breweries.

Ninkasi and DEYA collaborated extensively, analyzing DEYA’s need for around 5 tonnes of CO₂ per month relative to their brewing volume. They developed a detailed plan covering pipework layouts, construction, safety, and consumption requirements. Ninkasi also factored in local climate conditions, such as weather’s impact on CO₂ delivery, while ensuring solutions aligned with DEYA’s environmental focus. Additionally, they considered the brewery’s operational patterns, shutdown periods, and CO₂ availability, devising a contingency plan to support DEYA’s environmental goals and future growth.

The Right Solution, Backed by Data

Ninkasi and DEYA agreed upon a Dalum 15kg/hr CO₂ recapture unit with a 7T vertical storage tank providing 280kg of CO₂ per hour. This would enable DEYA to collect 10.8 tonnes of CO₂ per month (over 200% of their requirement), hold six weeks of CO₂ usage on site, and bring CO₂ into the brewery 20 times faster than their average hourly consumption. While this may seem significantly over-engineered, Ninkasi collaborated closely with DEYA to understand their demand curve — not just today, but into the future as well.

Financial and Operational Impact

For most businesses, building a sustainable future is desirable, but this must be commercially viable to ensure that the business will have a future in this ever-competitive space. With the usage of 5 tonnes of CO₂ per month, at an average price of £950 per tonne (including delivery and rent on containers), DEYA was spending £57.5k per year on CO₂. With the cost of the project being £125k, the payback on the project would be just over two years, after which DEYA own the equipment and are saving around £57.5k per year on their CO₂ costs.

These savings are based on a steady market. As recently as 2022, CO₂ prices spiked, going from hundreds to thousands of pounds per tonne. Should this happen again, payback on the CO₂ recapture project would be months, not years. Alongside this, DEYA has ensured their ability to supply for the future — an essential part of their growth plans. Craft brewers often face challenges in securing supply at this stage, as global brands tend to dominate.

A Win for the Planet and the Business

Whether this is about protecting the planet, protecting the business’ pockets, or protecting future growth plans, it is clear that investing in this technology brings multiple benefits. DEYA has removed 130 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere annually — the same as taking 92 cars off the road — as well as saving themselves around £20k a year and reducing their reliance on third-party CO₂ suppliers.

Get in Touch

If you would like more information on anything discussed above, or to arrange a free installation and suitability consultation, then just drop us a message!

Time to Take Control of Your Brewery’s CO₂ Supply

Posted on by Theo

There’s another CO₂ shortage on the horizon. Ensus, one of the UK’s biggest bioethanol producers and a major supplier of food-grade CO₂, has warned it may shut down soon.

This all comes off the back of the new UK–US trade deal, which removed tariffs on ethanol imports. Cheaper US ethanol is now undercutting UK producers like Ensus and Vivergo, putting them under huge pressure. Here’s the story in The Grocer.

It’s not just one article, either. There have been multiple warnings. The Grocer reported that brewers are already calling it a “CO₂ gas crisis,” with rising costs and major concerns about availability. You can read that one here.

The Financial Times also covered the issue, pointing out that UK plants are being priced out by US imports. These plants supply a massive portion of the UK’s CO₂, so if they go offline, we’ll feel it. Here’s the FT coverage.

On top of that, there’s another layer of pressure. The UK is working to link its Emissions Trading System with the EU’s. That’s already driven up the price of carbon, and while it doesn’t directly set the price of CO₂ cylinders, it does show that carbon is becoming a lot more valuable. That FT article is worth a read too.

So in short, if you rely on food-grade CO₂, things could get tricky. Supply is looking shakier, prices are creeping up, and it’s getting harder to plan ahead.

 

Our CO₂ Capture System Can Help

Instead of relying on deliveries, you can capture the CO₂ your brewery already produces. Store it. Reuse it. Cut the risk and save money.

We offer a full CO₂ Capture service through Ninkasi. We handle everything—from first chat to final install. It’s about helping you cut your carbon footprint, lower your costs, and stay in control no matter what’s happening in the wider market.

The system we supply is compact (just 1m² footprint), quiet, fully automatic, and produces 99.99% pure food-grade CO₂. There’s no oil or chemical contact, and it runs cleanly and simply in the background.

 

What You Get with Ninkasi

We don’t just drop off the kit. We handle everything so you don’t have to.

  • Free site consultation
  • Full installation with our expert team managing the process
  • Ongoing servicing and maintenance
  • Support with compliance and certification

We’ll make sure it fits your site, runs smoothly, and keeps running.

 

Let’s Get Ahead of This

CO₂ capture used to be about sustainability. Now it’s also about protecting your margins, avoiding downtime, and staying ahead of supply chain issues. It just makes sense.

If you want to know whether CO₂ Capture is a good fit for your brewery, drop us a line. We’ll book in a free consultation and walk you through it.

Case Study – Brand Tap Bottling

Posted on by Theo

Brand Tap Bottling, a growing UK-based bottling company, needed a flexible and efficient financing solution to support their expansion. Traditional lending options were proving slow and restrictive, so they turned to Ninkasi Rentals & Finance, whose expertise in the drinks industry made them an ideal partner. By providing immediate access to the essential equipment Brand Tap needed, Ninkasi enabled the business to spread costs over manageable monthly payments while maintaining operational agility.

Reflecting on the partnership, Brand Tap Bottling noted, “Ninkasi played a big part in what we’ve been doing. You’re very approachable, very friendly, you understand our industry, and the speed at which you can work has been a great benefit to our business. Every time, it’s been very, very straightforward.” The relationship was built on trust, industry understanding, and a seamless process, giving Brand Tap the confidence to tackle new projects and scale up efficiently.

If you’re looking for financing that understands your business, Ninkasi could be the perfect fit. Get in touch today.

Watch the video below to hear their thoughts on working with Ninkasi.

Mainland Canning & Ninkasi

Posted on by Theo

Ninkasi, a leading provider of fermentation vessel rental and financing solutions for the beverage industry, is pleased to announce its partnership with Mainland Canning. This collaboration aims to revolutionise beverage packaging capabilities across Europe by offering a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of craft beverage producers.

The partnership brings together Ninkasi’s expertise in equipment rental and finance with Mainland Canning’s cutting-edge canning technology, providing European beverage producers with access to state-of-the-art equipment and unparalleled support services.

Ninkasi offers flexible options for a wide range of beverage equipment, including canning lines, fermentation vessels, and chilling units. With a commitment to empowering beverage producers to achieve their growth objectives, Ninkasi provides customised finance solutions designed to suit individual business needs.

Mainland Canning is renowned for its innovative canning solutions, offering a comprehensive range of canning equipment and services to beverage producers worldwide. With a focus on reliability, efficiency, and quality, Mainland Canning’s solutions enable beverage producers to streamline their packaging processes and deliver high-quality products to consumers.

Together, Ninkasi and Mainland Canning are poised to transform the beverage packaging landscape in Europe, providing craft beverage producers with the tools and support they need to succeed in today’s competitive market.

For more information about Ninkasi and Mainland Canning, please visit [Mainland Canning or Ninkasi].

CO₂ – Protect your Pocket and the Planet

Posted on by Theo

In recent years not only has the price of CO₂ gone up exponentially, with some breweries seeing over a 600% increase in recent months, but lest we forget the shortages from 2018 due to two factories going through routine maintenance at the same time, and CO₂ being in such short supply it became headline news around Europe.

CO₂ has therefore been, for some time now, one of the most volatile components for many craft brewers’ businesses. Without it many brewers are unable to meet the demands of their customers and yet, as we all know, CO₂ is a by product of brewing. Something that all the major brewery’s harness to remove the turmoil created through a precarious supply and demand structure within CO₂ generation.

Earthly Labs from the USA and Dalum from Denmark are two such companies leading the way in this new and exciting technology. With small footprints and a tested purity above 99%, these new CO₂ capture companies are set to pave the way for many Craft Brewers to finally take control of their CO₂ costs and remove their reliance on third party supply.

Kim Dalum, Managing Director of Dalum Equipment highlights;

“Dalum Beverage Equipment have invented and tested technology for craft scale recovery of CO₂, which will help prepare your brewery for the future. By allowing you to secure your CO₂ supply from your own natural source and improve economy while allowing you to reduce your CO₂ emissions by 200% for every Ton recovered. All component parts are stainless steel with no oil or chemicals in contact with the CO₂, meaning that the recovered CO₂ is not only food safe, but also 99.98% pure. The Dalum machine is exceptionally simple to use and in fact once running, is fully automatic. Taking away the stress from brewers and allowing them to save money and the planet through pre-programmed automation.

Eddie Gadd, Owner of Ramsgate Brewery who has a Dalum CO₂ Recapture unit used the phrase “this unit is pretty awesome” when talking about his equipment “the whole system is extremely reliable, very efficient and produces first class quality CO₂” when asked about the cost of running the capture technology. In fact, Eddie has already ordered another unit for one of his other businesses.

However, and there is always a ‘but’ when it comes to new technology, to buy these machines, even at the craft beer level the outlay is significant. For a single 15kg machine with a 2T storage tank and associated collection stations, vaporisers and safety valves, the capital cost is above £100,000, which is where Ninkasi Rentals and Finance have stepped in to support Craft Brewers.

James Lewis, Managing Director of Ninkasi Rentals and Finance explained.

“We have been watching CO₂ capture technology for the last 3 years, for us it seemed irrational that breweries were being forced to expel CO₂ produced during fermentation to then buy it in to complete packaging. We believed that this was not only wasteful but costly, and something that as an industry we should try and alleviate.

We were introduced to this craft brewery technology in early 2022 and have since been working to understand the principles, the benefits and of course the realities of regulations around this technology. After working closely with the manufacturers and learning from brewers who have already brought this technology to the UK, we strongly believe that we are not only be able to offer financial support to our industry, but also add value to our customers, acting as a consulting bridge between Craft Brewers and the manufacturers”.

So, the world of craft brewing is changing, new technologies are allowing craft brewers to stand shoulder to shoulder with the larger multinational brewers, new relationships are being formed and new possibilities are emerging to reduce Craft Brewers reliance on old suppliers.

Is this the start of something momentous, it does honestly appear so.

Ninkasi are currently offering a free installation survey to enable brewers to understand the technology more while also getting a more in depth understanding of what the technology can do to assist their breweries growth.

With Ninkasi able to offer rental or finance options on the CO₂ capture technology, cashflow is protected while savings are generated.

If you would like to understand more, please contact Paul Evans on:

[email protected] or 07741 846650

“Why-oh-Wye” – The Ninkasi Team Summer Day Out

Posted on by Theo

It was back in April that James suggested we all take a day off from delivering tanks under the guise of “team building”. The suggested activity? Canoeing.

We are incredibly lucky that our office is based just outside Gloucester, a few miles from the beautiful River Wye. It’s impossible to feel anything but joy when you’re gliding serenely down a glorious river in good company. Whilst the good company was lacking, we did have a few drinks – only slightly tainted by rainwater – and many laughs.

We arrived bright and early at Symonds Yat (this would be our end point) to be kitted out with paddles and attractive buoyancy aids. There was a brief safety talk, “avoid overhanging trees, be aware of faster moving water and make sure your floatation vest is on tightly – if you end up dead, I want to make sure I can find the bodies”.

The team then drove us upriver in a minibus to Ross on Wye and saw us off onto the water.

 

And then we proceeded to have the most chaotic “relaxed” day ever, paddling gently through the everchanging countryside.

The River Wye runs under arched bridges and open meadows, past bemused herons and patient fishermen, by castles and villages and into the Forest of Dean. It was all very picturesque but perhaps lost on us during our antics!

Just over a third of the way down the river, we dragged our canoes up the steep bank for a spot of lunch and a cocktail or two at the very aptly named ‘Inn on the Wye’. We couldn’t stop for long as we still had a large chunk of our journey to complete before the 4.30pm deadline!

 

By the time we returned to Symonds Yat (through valleys so glorious with trees you feel like you’re paddling on the Amazon… only with less piranhas…) everyone was thoroughly worn out (and a little damp from the malicious capsizing!)

We can recommend a day on the river if you’re looking for something to do in this part of the world. Although this author would prefer the next activity involves two feet on solid ground and a hand wrapped around a glass of something alcoholic!

End of Lease – Finance Lease

Posted on by Theo

Recently we published an article about the main types of finance products available in the United Kingdom. You can read that article here.

We received a lot of positive feedback from the people who read the article. The main question they raised regarded the end of term treatment of the asset on a finance lease.

Therefore, we thought it would be useful to put together some information relating to how finance leases usually work at the end of term.

As you may expect, all finance companies have slightly different methods for treating the end of lease with their customers based on their own accounting principles, but the usual practices are listed below.

  • The hirer may enter a secondary hire period and continue the lease.
  • The hirer can be appointed as the ‘sales agent’ by the finance provider and is then able to sell the asset to a third party on their behalf.
  • The asset can be returned to the finance provider.

 

Continuation of Lease

This option usually has the lowest cost associated with it. As the asset has already had its capital outlay covered, continuing to lease an asset can be the most attractive option in terms of cash flow.

Your initial agreement should allow for your lease to continue at the end of the term, and also should show the value of continuing to do so. A finance company would normally only be looking to cover their admin costs at this stage, and all options would still be open to you in the future.

This is a great option if you are undecided about the next step for the business or the asset. You can effectively tread water for a period at your discretion, and then decide if you wish to take either of the other options or continue with the lease.

This is especially good if you potentially have a buyer lined up for a sale and need time to get the sale through. Or if you are looking at other options for equipment and wish to use the asset leased as a stop gap until you have decided.

 

Sales Agent Option

In our experience this is how the process is designed to work.

  • The finance provider appoints the lessee to act as a sales agent to dispose of the equipment on the lessor’s behalf.
  • The lessee sells the asset for Fair Market Value to an unconnected third party.
  • Most lessors will be able to introduce the lessee to an unconnected third party if needed.
  • Once the sale is complete, the hirer receives a pre-agreed percentage of the sales proceeds back from the lessor, often referred to as a “rebate of rentals”.

This is a great option if the lessee wants to be able to sell the equipment in the future and generate revenue from the proceeds. The lessee could alternatively agree their own commercial arrangement with the third party to take title if required.

 

Return

Returning the asset could have benefits for your business if you are looking to continually change your equipment, or if you have decided to take the business in a new direction and have no use for this equipment anymore.

On your agreement you will have the ability to return, however there could be costs involved in this option as you will be giving an asset back to a finance provider, who may not be able to handle it efficiently.

Ultimately the benefit of finance lease over Hire purchase is that generally the upfront capital required is a lot lower, and you have full flexibility and control with the asset at the end of the term.

 

We hope that you found this article useful, and as always if you have any questions, please just speak to us.

James, Paul, Theo, George, Oli and Liam

The Ninaksi Team

 

Some further reading and information (not affiliated or endorsed by Ninkasi Rentals) can be found by following the below links:

https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/finance-lease-for-van-ending-what-do-do.345456/

https://www.advanceleasing.co.uk/services/end-of-lease-services/

https://www.addleshawgoddard.com/en/insights/insights-briefings/2019/tax-and-structuring/vat-update-fmv-leases/

https://app.croneri.co.uk/feature-articles/buy-hp-finance-lease-or-operating-lease-introduction-accounting-and-tax

https://maxxia.co.uk/asset-finance/finance-lease/

https://www.bermans.co.uk/asset-finance-publications/article1/

Please note that all information contained within these articles is produced as summary of our experiences and does not constitute financial advice. Any information contained within third parties’ documents are not attributable to Ninaksi Rentals and must be read at your own discretion. Ninkasi rentals always advise that independent financial advice should be taken before signing any financial documents.

 

 

 

Ninkasi Christmas Countdown

Posted on by Theo

We thought we’d do something a bit fun in the run up to Christmas and share what we’ve been enjoying over the festive period.

Day One – Theo is drinking Raspberry and Pomegranate Gin Liqueur from Bristol Distilling Co

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“I’m not the biggest beer drinker so glad that our equipment can be used by other drinks manufacturers. A great pink gin and can be mixed with Prosecco for a cheeky festive cocktail, can’t wait to try more from their range!”

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Favourite Christmas Song – All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey (obviously!)
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Day Two – George is drinking a Seriously Mixed Up Sour from Beatnikz in Manchester
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The guys at Beatnikz are really great and show a real passion for all of the beer that they brew. Their sours are both full bodied but also fruity, George says it tastes like drinking a big bag of grapes.
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Favourite Christmas Food – Pigs in Blankets
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Day Three – Paul’s dessert beer of choice is Milk Stout from Wiper & True.
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This beer is smooth, creamy and has so many wonderful flavours. Your mouth senses the chocolate and vanilla as it flows across your tongue. Not just a great beer, this is award winning stuff from the boys in Bristol.
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Favourite Christmas Present ever – Action Man with a parachute
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Day Four – Ollie is drinking one of the Christmas specials from BrewYork (Fairy tale of BrewYork).
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Ollie loves a great dark beer, and he thinks the guys at BrewYork brew some of the finest dark beers in the country – Ollie says it tastes like pudding in a cup.
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Are your presents before or after Christmas dinner? – Just continuous, they never stop, it’s all about the receiving.
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Day Five – James is drinking Crash from Salt!
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This is a regular beer in James’ house, he loves the fruity nature that the hops bring to the beer and the velvety mouthfeel that the beer creates. As you can see from the glassware, he’s a bit of a fan!
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Favourite Christmas Memory – Christmas’ in North Wales with my whole family as a kid
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Day Six – Liam is drinking Northbridge from Thornbridge, which is a 7.2% mountain IPA.
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It is hands down Liam’s all time favourite beer, it is smooth, easy drinking and tastes amazing.
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Favourite Christmas Movie – Die Hard

Christmas Brew Day

Posted on by James Lewis

At Ninkasi today, dressed up in our Christmas jumpers and Santa hats, today we had our last review of 2020 ahead of the Christmas Holidays.

We also had the opportunity to play with one of our rental products, the Pilot Brew Kit, and create our very own Christmas beer – a 7.2% ‘Big Bold Stout’.

George is a brewer by trade and our operations manager. We had a Pilot Kit sitting in the warehouse, so we thought why not use it to bring some Christmas cheer to everyone and in the process, learn all about the trials and tribulations our customers go through when brewing themselves.

Have fun out there guys, and remember….. keeeeeeep brewing!!

The Ninkasi Elves