Unitank vs. Brite Tank: Which To Choose?-Part 1
- Oct 21, 2021
- 68
- tiantai
There are many fine details in the brewing process, and each of those details represents a choice that ultimately impacts the quality of your beer. Which hops will you use? How long are you going to leave them in the wort? What material are you going to use for your equipment?
One of these questions turns our attention to the end of the brewing process, when the beer is fermenting or needing to go somewhere so it can mature. The question then becomes where to store it, which puts brewers in the throws of the debate of unitank vs. brite tank. Which to choose? We’re here to put the question to rest.
Unitank vs. Brite Tank: Which To Choose?
There are many fine details in the brewing process, and each of those details represents a choice that ultimately impacts the quality of your beer. Which hops will you use? How long are you going to leave them in the wort? What material are you going to use for your equipment?
One of these questions turns our attention to the end of the brewing process, when the beer is fermenting or needing to go somewhere so it can mature. The question then becomes where to store it, which puts brewers in the throws of the debate of unitank vs. brite tank. Which to choose? We’re here to put the question to rest.
Unitanks Description
To decide which to choose between unitanks and brite tanks, it’s necessary to understand factors that make each one distinct. The primary difference between them is the shape. The main body of the unitanks is a cylinder, but the bottom drops into a cone shape. Unitanks work well for both fermentation and aging since their shape creates a space for the yeast to accumulate at the bottom, making it easy to filter out later.
Benefits of Unitanks
Simplicity
Being able to combine the fermenting and aging step streamlines the brewing process by removing a step. Because of this, breweries can buy less equipment, which saves money and space in a brewhouse. Along with this, it saves workers time and labor. Workers do not have to take the time to move the beer from one point to the other and are able to dispense the beer directly from the unitank.
Lower Risk of Contamination
Every time beer is taken out of a tank, it is exposed to the open air leading to dissolved oxygen. This can be especially problematic if you plan on packaging and distributing your beer outside of a taproom. Along with this, beer may also be exposed to other contaminants like microorganisms. While these organisms are not typically lethal, they can lead to some awful-tasting beer, which is the last thing you want. Using a unitank lessens this contamination risk.
Brite Tanks Description
Brite tanks also have a cylindrical center, but they have a flat bottom. Technically, fermenting in a brite tank is possible, but its shape would make filtering out the yeast problematic. Because of this, they’re typically only used for aging and maturation, as well as a place to hold beer until it is packaged or served.
Benefits of Brite Tanks
Larger Quantity of Beer Production
Some facilities brew so much beer the process of brewing and packaging are two separate operations. In these instances, fermenting beer and serving it would need to be done in two separate areas of the brewhouse, making unitanks impractical. By moving the beer out of the fermenter and into a brite tank, it makes packing easier and frees up the fermenter for another batch, allowing a brewhouse to make larger quantities of beer.
Improved Clarity
Brite beer tanks are called “brite” because of the clarity of the beer they produce. When beer goes from a fermenter to a brite tank, the yeast is filtered out first. This extra layer of filtration before undergoing further maturation and carbonation produces a clearer beer, which some brewhouses prefer.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
