Overview
Brewing tanks are stainless-steel vessels used for fermentation, conditioning, storage, and bright beer handling in breweries. They come in shapes like conical, cylindroconical, and horizontal, with capacities from pilot scales to large production sizes. Common features include manways, racking arms, CIP spray balls, temperature-control jackets, and pressure ratings. Buyers focus on sanitary design, material grade, fittings, instrumentation, and insulation to match production and cleaning requirements.
FAQ
What should I check when buying a used brewing tank?
Verify material grade (304 vs 316), internal surface finish, weld quality, presence of pitting or dents, condition of manways, gaskets, valves and fittings, insulation and jacket condition, pressure rating, and available documentation or maintenance records.
How do I arrange safe shipping for a brewing tank?
Measure overall dimensions, weight, and center of gravity. Remove fragile fittings, secure doors and manways, crate or skid the tank, protect polished surfaces, and hire riggers and an experienced transport carrier. Check for oversize permits and lifting requirements at origin and destination.
Does a used brewing tank need recertification or pressure testing?
If the tank is a pressurized vessel, local codes often require certification and periodic pressure tests (hydrostatic). Even non-pressurized tanks should be inspected for structural and sanitary integrity; request previous test certificates or plan fresh inspection before use.
What routine maintenance keeps a brewing tank in good condition?
Perform regular CIP cycles, inspect and replace worn gaskets and seals, check fittings and welds for corrosion, passivate stainless surfaces if needed, maintain jacket and thermometer/thermostat components, and schedule deep sanitary cleanings between batches.
