Brewery Setup Blog

Two tank fermentation in beer brewing?
 

The process in which the main fermentation and post-fermentation are carried out in the main fermentation tank and the post-storage tank, respectively, is called two-tank fermentation. Two-tank fermentation processes can also be divided into two categories.

(1) Typical two-pot method

The wort is cooled to 5~8℃ and enters the conical main fermenter, or several yeast breeding tanks, inoculated with 0.6%~0.8% yeast, proliferates for 12~16h and then moves into the conical main fermenter. When the apparent fermentation degree reaches 50% to 55%, the tank is sealed, and the pressure is controlled at 0.07~0.1MPa. When the apparent fermentation degree reached 60% (Brix content 4.2%-4.8%), the cooling valve was closed, the fermentation broth was naturally heated to 12 °C, the fermentation was continued, and the reduction of diacetyl was promoted. After 3~4 days, when the fermentation degree reaches about 65%, the diacetyl content can be reduced to below 0.1mg/L. At this time, open the cooling valve, cool down to 4~5°C at a rate of 0.3°C/h, keep at this temperature for 12~24h, discharge the yeast, and then pour the main fermentation broth into a conical storage tank with a back pressure of 0.06~0.08MPa. in a wine jar. After the pouring is over, the beer is cooled down to 0~1°C at a rate of 0.1°C/ in the post-storage tank, and then stored for 7~10 days at this temperature. The yeast and precipitation in the tank are removed before the wine is matured and filtered. The total period of the two-tank fermentation process was about 23 days when the pressure was adjusted to 0.05-0.06MP.

The advantage of the typical two-tank method is that the utilization rate of the conical tank is higher, after post-storage, the yeast precipitation is more complete, the wine liquid is clearer, and the filtration performance is good. The disadvantage is that it is easy to take in oxygen when pouring cans, and it requires high operation, otherwise it will affect the quality of beer.

(2) Combination of modern main fermentation and traditional post-fermentation

Its characteristic is that the main fermentation is carried out in conical tanks, while the post-fermentation and wine storage are carried out in traditional post-fermentation tanks. Because the post-storage of beer has special significance to the quality of beer, this process method can be used to produce high-quality or export beer.

Using this process, in order to reduce the production of higher alcohol, low temperature should be adopted in the initial stage of fermentation, and the maximum fermentation temperature of main fermentation should not exceed 9~9.5℃. When the main fermentation in the conical tank is about to end and the true fermentation degree of the wine reaches 50%~55%, the temperature of the wine is lowered to about 4°C, and the yeast is recovered from the bottom of the conical tank. The yeast cell concentration should be kept at (10~15)×106cfu/mL, and then the wine is slowly poured into the wine storage tank, and the post-fermentation and wine storage are carried out in the same wine storage tank. When the diacetyl decreases to the specified value, quickly reduce the tank temperature to 0~1℃ for wine storage. This process generally takes 7-10 days for main fermentation and post-fermentation, and 10-25 days for low-temperature wine storage.
 

If you are planning to open a brewery. TIANTAI BrewTech could help you answer your questions and supply the brewery equipment system. We supply 2-150bbl complete beer brewing brewery equipment system including malt milling equipment, brewhouse equipment, fermenters, brite beer tanks, beer bottling machine,beer canning machine, beer kegging machine, hopping machine, yeast propagation equipment. We also supply all auxiliary brewery systems like steam heating pipe and valves, water treatment, filter, air compressor etc. Everything in brewery are all in our list.

Refequency questions 

5000L Stainless Steel Brewhouse

300L double wall conical Fermenter

80bbl Industrial brewing equipment