Breweries are a booming business. The craft beer industry has seen an incredible resurgence in recent years, with microbreweries popping up all over the country. Aside from the love of the craft, which has always been there, the business is quite profitable. If you’re looking to start your own brewery, you’ll need an understanding of what types of brewing tanks microbreweries need to make the best decisions for your business.
What Is a Microbrewery?
As defined by the Brewers Association, a microbrewery is a brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year. Microbreweries are often brewpubs, restaurants that also brew their own beer on-site, but some are standalone breweries. Most microbreweries are small businesses, and because of this, the brewing tanks, both the type and quantity they need, are smaller in size than those that larger breweries use.
While the tanks are smaller, microbreweries still need a variety of tanks to perform each crucial step in the brewing process. Read through the following tank types to better understand what your future business needs for success.
Brewing Kettles
Distilleries use brewing kettles to boil the wort, or unfermented beer. They come in many sizes, but most microbreweries use kettles that range from 15 to 30 gallons in size. These small volume options allow the business to brew smaller batches of beer. These small batches are ideal for microbreweries that are just starting out or want to offer a wide variety of beers on their menu.
Fermenters
To begin the fermentation process, you need fermenters, also known as unitanks. These can range in size from 15 to 50 gallons, depending on your needs. For example, a brewpub might choose a larger fermenter for its most popular brew and smaller options for experimental flavors.
Brite Tanks
Microbreweries use brite tanks for secondary fermentation and carbonation of beer prior to kegging or bottling. They’re also known as conditioning or serving tanks, and they come in a variety of sizes as well. Most microbreweries use brite tanks that range from 30 to 120 gallons in size. It’s easy to mix up brite tanks and fermenters as you shop, so knowing the key differences between them is crucial.
Storage Tanks
Storage tanks hold unfermented or finished beer. These stainless-steel tanks can range in size from 30 to 300 gallons. They require insulation to retain the proper temperatures for brewing and storing beer.
Whether you run a microbrewery, brewpub, or standalone brewery, you need the right equipment to successfully manage your business. Other than a brew kettle and fermenters, the brewing tanks you’ll need will depend on the type of beer you want to brew. By understanding the different types of brewing tanks that microbreweries need, you can ensure that you have everything you need to run your microbrewery.
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