What is the main function of the fermentation tank? ——Revealing the core equipment of the brewing industry

I. Equipment scale and functional configuration: from simple kits to complete systems

1. Home brewing equipment: lightweight, economical, and highly operable

Home brewing usually uses small equipment with a capacity of 20L to 100L, mainly to meet the needs of interest exploration and small drinking. Most common kits on the market are stainless steel home brewing equipment, which have basic saccharification pots, fermentation barrels, coolers, etc., which are easy to operate and cost-controlled.

For example, the "tonsenbrewe" brand equipment designed for home users emphasizes friendly operation and space saving. It is suitable for placement in garages, kitchens or balconies, and is suitable for beginners and daily interest brewing.

2. Commercial brewing system: industrial-grade system, modular configuration

In contrast, the system required for commercial brewing is much more complicated. A standard beer brewing system usually includes multiple sub-modules such as saccharification system (Mash Tun, Lauter Tun), boiling pot (Kettle), hot water tank, fermentation tank (Fermenter), cooling system, CIP cleaning system, etc.

These systems can be built according to production capacity requirements, such as using small microbrewery equipment to complete the brewing task of 200L~1000L per day, or expanding to an industrial production line of more than 2000L through brewing systems. With the development of technology and the improvement of beer lovers' taste for beer, brewing equipment has become more and more professional and functional. Not only can it brew beer, but also red wine, kombucha and other non-alcoholic equipment.

2. Fermentation management: control accuracy and batch stability are the key

1. Home fermentation is mainly flexible

Home brewing fermentation often relies on room temperature control and adjusts the temperature by passive means (such as blankets, electric heating pads, etc.). The fermentation process is mostly observational control, which cannot achieve accurate and stable management, and is suitable for small attempts and continuous experiments. However, it provides feasible convenience for personal brewing beer, and can brew anytime and anywhere.

2. Commercial fermentation aims at stability

Commercial brewing must be reproducible and consistent, and a cone-bottom fermenter system with a cooling jacket and pressure regulating device is used to accurately control temperature, time, gas release, etc. Fermentation tanks are often made of stainless steel, support CIP/SIP operations, and meet food safety regulations.

For example, a successful microbrewery setup is usually equipped with a professional yeast management system, digital temperature controller, real-time monitoring system, etc. to ensure the stability of the flavor of each batch of wine.

3. Regulations and certification: Family freedom vs. commercial responsibility

Home brewing is mostly legal

In most countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and other regions, home brewing is usually legal as long as it is not sold or stored in large quantities. The government has set production limits for home brewing and does not require food safety testing.

Commercial brewing is strictly regulated

Commercial wineries must register a company, apply for a license, and pass multiple approvals including food safety, hygiene, explosion prevention, and fire protection. Brewing equipment and production workshops need to meet industry standards, which also affects the safety considerations of brewing equipment auctions or second-hand equipment purchases.

In addition, the alcohol content, labeling specifications, label ingredients, etc. of wine products must also be strictly managed in accordance with legal standards.

4. Raw material procurement and batch management: from arbitrary to precise tracking

Home brewing has flexible raw materials

Home brewers often purchase raw materials such as malt, hops, yeast, etc. through e-commerce or retailers, pursuing personalized flavors rather than batch consistency. It is easier to try new recipes, but raw material traceability is not required.

Commercial brewing focuses on raw material stability and cost control

Commercial breweries need to purchase a stable supply of malt and hops in large quantities to maintain the continuity of brand taste. At the same time, a raw material batch tracking system is established to improve food safety prevention and control capabilities. Some large breweries will sign annual supply agreements with designated malt merchants and hop farms.

5. Market orientation and brand operation: one is interest, the other is business

Home brewing is a hobby, mainly sharing

Home brewing enthusiasts brew products for self-drinking, friends gathering or online sharing, and do not involve brand building and sales strategies. Their sense of accomplishment comes more from the creative process and taste innovation.

Commercial brewing needs to establish a complete brand chain

Commercial breweries need to have a clear brand positioning, target customer group, packaging strategy, sales channel layout (such as bars, supermarkets, e-commerce, etc.), and even cooperate with distributors to distribute goods. Therefore, the equipment layout needs to consider the space flow, production efficiency and the possibility of external display.

Some entrepreneurial breweries purchase low-cost equipment through brewing equipment auctions in the start-up phase, and then gradually expand and upgrade to a complete set of brewing systems, which is a common way to control initial costs.

VI. Case analysis: successful transformation from home to business

Case 1: The entrepreneurial story of an Irish two-person brewing team

Two brewing enthusiasts living in Dublin initially purchased five 20L stainless steel home brewing equipment from tonsen to brew IPA at home. After 3 years of recipe optimization and market verification, they raised funds to purchase 300L small microbrewery equipment and 6 500L fermentation tanks from tonsen, established a small commercial brewery, established a complete microbrewery setup, and successfully entered the local bar supply chain.

Case 2: How German brands enter supermarket chains through equipment upgrades

The craft beer brand located in Munich used "better brewers" equipment for recipe development in the early stage. After the brand positioning was clear, the team invested in a 2000L beer brewing system. At the same time, tonsen added automatic cleaning and cooling functions for them, and transformed the filling area to meet export requirements and speed up the beer brewing process. Today, the brand's products have entered the three major supermarket chains in Germany.

VII. Transformation suggestions: What do you need to prepare from home to business?

Clear goals: Do you want to start a business to build a brand, or just expand the scale of interest?

Make a budget: set an upper limit for initial investment, and reserve expenses such as equipment procurement, site rental, registration and certification.

Choose equipment: In the initial stage, you can consider purchasing small microbrewery equipment, or participate in the brewing equipment auction to obtain more cost-effective second-hand equipment.

Plan space and process: Design reasonable process lines for brewing, fermentation, storage, and packaging to improve production efficiency.

Compliance operation: Register a company, apply for a liquor production license, and purchase compliance equipment to ensure legal production and sales.

8. Conclusion: From interest to profession, it requires a dual upgrade of equipment and concepts

The biggest difference between home brewing and commercial brewing is not only the scale of equipment, but also the change in mindset. From a creator driven by interest to an operator who focuses on efficiency, compliance and market feedback, you need to consider the equipment, system, regulations and even customer experience comprehensively.

No matter what stage you are in, we can provide you with suitable equipment and solutions - from stainless steel home brewing equipment to commercial brewing systems, from small supporting equipment to complete microbrewery setup, we can provide customized assistance.