Page 40 - Beverage MasterAprMay 2021
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Craft Distillery
Bellevue, Washington-based ATAGO U.S.A., Tank Supply Companies
Inc. manufactures refractometers, viscometers,
polarimeters, pH meters, saccharimeters, and oth- In addition to the companies already mentioned
ers. The company’s In-Line Refractometer PRM throughout this article, other reputable suppli-
series is commonly used for craft beverage tank ers specialize in the craft spirits market and offer
monitoring and equipped with an alarm that signals high-quality supplies and accessories for tanks.
when valves exceed high and low limit values.
• Affordable Distillery Equipment, LLC has a wide
For tank stands, distillers should consider portable range of accessories for distillery purposes,
products in case there’s a need to move them due including hydrometers, thermometers, cool-
to space confines or a potential future expansion. ing coils, air compressors and ingredient kits.
YoLong Distillery Equipment offers support frames Whether your distillery equipment budget is
that provide standard column support and can be $5,000 or $500,000, their website, Distillery-
customized to provide additional functions. Equipment.com, offers used equipment for sale
in addition to its brand-new water and spirit
It is in a distillery’s best interest to choose reliable storage tanks, fittings, tubing, thermometers
suppliers that can provide ongoing support and and pumps.
replacement parts, no matter the equipment. http://shop.distillery-equipment.com
Maintenance & Cleaning Considerations • Global Stainless Systems, based in Portland,
Oregon company supplies distilleries with var-
Keeping equipment clean is critical in preserving ious types of equipment in addition to tanks,
the product’s integrity, keeping customers safe including glycol chillers, valves, fittings and
and staying in business. The basics needed for tank hoses.
cleaning include a pump, clean water, heat, citric http://www.globalstainlesssystems.com
acid, dilute sodium hydroxide, hydrogen perox-
ide solution, ethyl alcohol and safety gear. Check • Mile Hi Distilling based in Wheatridge,
tank supplies for any oil, grime, dirt or dust col- Colorado, offers distilling supplies specific for
lected during the distilling process or in storage. fermentation, including several meter options.
It is common for residue to accumulate around a https://milehidistilling.com
tank meter’s surface and make it difficult to read,
for example. While cleaning distillery tanks, rub- Of course, these are just a few of the many U.S.
ber gloves and safety glasses should be on-hand companies serving distilleries’ needs, but it pro-
for protection, and workers should dress in long vides a starting point for sourcing tank accessories.
sleeves, pants, and boots. Distillers should choose a supplier that regularly
works with distillery tanks rather than general
Why Distillery Tank Supplies are Unique tanks for other industries and provides a warranty
on the products they sell. While these distillery
Beyond craft distilleries, several industries use supplies may seem fairly straightforward on the
tanks, such as manufacturers of chemicals, oil and surface, having ongoing support is a huge help if
plastics. However, distillers have unique consider- something goes wrong or during any future expan-
ations when choosing tank supplies. sions.
Distillery tank supplies must be food-grade equip-
ment since they are involved in making consumable
products. Tanks and supplies must also withstand
hot and cold temperatures and perhaps serve
multiple purposes in the distillery. Since tanks are
large and many distilleries operate in small spac-
es, multi-functional tanks are a significant asset
to maximize square footage. Therefore, it may be
necessary to update tank supplies when using an
existing tank for a new purpose.
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