When deciding how many brite tanks you need, first calculate volume requirements. This depends on your brewing type and batch size and number. For a small brewery producing one or two batches at a time, one or two brite tanks may suffice to hold finished product.
Brite Tank Function and Capacity
Brite tanks, also called bright beer or serving tanks, hold completed beer at set temperature and pressure until packaging or kegging. Determining your brite tank needs seems overwhelming but with knowledge and resources becomes straightforward.
Calculating overall tank space needs helps decide brite tank numbers to complete your brew cycle. Becoming familiar with terminology and calculations simplifies this considerably.
As a rule of thumb, have at least one brite tank for every flavor packaged daily. More flavors or barrels filled daily improves efficiency.
Consider available space; you likely lack room for many tanks.
Can Brite Tanks Be Used as Fermenters?
Yes, brite tanks can be used as fermenters. Their shape makes yeast filtering difficult however.
The vessel drops temperature, carbonates, settles particulates, frees up fermenters, blends batches and serves. It allows clarity, carbonation and eliminates over-carbonation risk. It enables proper carbonation monitoring.
Brite Tank Advantages for Homebrewers
A brite tank allows bulk aging and conditioning. For a 10 gallon homebrew setup storing and serving beer in one vessel develops flavor and ages differently. This underappreciated brite tank capability benefits the homebrewer. Plus, only one vessel to clean and reuse when refilling. Brite tanks have a large center drain instead of a dip tube. The large center drain prevents yeast entering the serving line.
The brite tank has main components:
- The inner tank
- A racking arm
- A dip tube
- A carbonation stone
- A gauge
The racking arm moves beer from the fermenter to the brite tank then to kegs or bottles. Pressurized gas carbonates depending on desired level and temperature. When sent to a keg or bottle, beer passes through the racking arm and dip tube and carbonates en route. The key brite tank purpose is a high-quality, sediment and chill haze free beer for crisp, clear, carbonated craft beer.
Choosing the Right Brite Tank Size
What size Brite tank do you need? This guide explains the number of tanks needed and influencing factors. Get information to make an informed choice. The number depends on size, purpose and brewing variables.