Taking a tour of a distillery can be a fun and educational experience, but it can also get quite confusing. There are so many different components involved in the distilling process that keeping it all straight can be frustrating. Two important apparatuses in the distilling process are the alcohol storage tanks and alcohol blending tanks. This post will give you an in-depth look at both alcohol storage and blending tanks in Eugene, OR.
What are storage tanks?
As the name suggests, storage tanks are single-wall units designed to store distilled spirits before any post-processing efforts like proofing, blending and bottling can take place. Storage tanks can also be used to store feints for any future distillation runs. All storage tanks should come with a volume indicator and scale, sampling port, vent pipe with a pressure release valve, CIP ball and piping and shadowless access ports. Storage tanks are vital for any distillery that’s looking to put out larger quantities of product.
What are blending tanks?
Blending tanks are also single-wall tanks, but instead of just holding the distilled spirits, blending tanks are used to mix the spirit and water for proofing, blending and hydroseparation. Blending tanks come with a motorized agitator, volume indicator and scale, sampling port, temperature gauge and CIP ball and piping. Without a blending tank, all of the alcohol from a distilling run would essentially have to be the same proof and have the same taste.
Sizing
Storage and blending tanks come in a variety of sizes for different operations. They start out at 500 liters and go all the way up to 10,000 liters or more. Before purchasing a tank, we recommend talking to our professionals at American Refrigeration Inc. We’ll help you get set up with the right-sized gear, so you don’t get caught overpaying for something you don’t need.
Call us for all your blending tank and storage tank needs!
When it comes to alcohol storage and blending tanks in Eugene, OR, we’re ready to be your one-stop shop. Here’s what we can offer you and your distillery:
Installation: Getting your distillery up and running isn’t as easy as it may initially seem. That’s why we’re here to help you get all of the right equipment at the right price. From mash kettles to holding tanks, we sell everything you need to start or expand your operation.
Maintenance: Upkeep for all of that distillery gear is essential if you want the equipment to last for years to come. We’re here to help out! Call us and see how we can prevent breakdowns and prolong the lifespan of your units.
Repairs: If there is an issue with any of your equipment, just pick up the phone and call our team. We can send someone over to take a look and make any necessary repairs.
The choice is clear if your distillery needs alcohol storage and blending tanks in Eugene, OR: come see our team at American Refrigeration Inc. We have the largest selection of distillery equipment for the most competitive prices in the area.
More and more people and ownership groups across the country are following their dreams and starting up their own craft breweries and distilleries. It’s something of an industry revolution that’s seen major headway over the last decade or so. One might expect the bubble for the industry would be ready to burst by now, but in fact there continues to be large-scale demand for new and exciting craft alcohols.
If you’re preparing to start up a new craft distillery, it is important you’ve done plenty of planning so you’re prepared to hit the ground running and carve out your niche in what’s quickly become a highly competitive industry. This means planning for everything from the equipment you’ll use, such as refrigeration tanks, to the experience you want your customers in Eugene, OR to have.
Here are just a few quick tips for you to keep in mind as you prepare to start a new distilling operation.
Make sure your product is ready before you open up
It’s understandable to get excited and antsy about officially opening your business to the public and selling your liquor, but you must make sure you’ve perfected your product before you start selling it. Consider how much competition there is right now in the world of craft distilling. You only get one chance to make a great first impression, and if you rush your product to the market, then you run the risk of delivering a product that isn’t quite ready, and the public will react accordingly.
When you consider how long it can take for some types of liquor to properly age, this becomes even more important to emphasize. Let your product age properly before you open it up for drinking.
Try starting off with used equipment
One of the most exciting parts about beginning a new craft distillery is finding all the equipment you’ll be using for your operation. However, some of the equipment you’ll need can be extremely expensive if you purchase it new. Considering how tight finances are likely to be for you when you first get going, it’s important to find alternative sources for this equipment.
You can find used distilling equipment, but keep in mind that not all distilling equipment and refrigeration tanks are the same. You should consider what it was used for (and who was using it) before you purchase it, how long it’s been in use and how much usable life it realistically has left. But in general, used equipment is the best way to get your operation off the ground without setting you back too much financially.
Create your own experience
The best thing you can do to set your new distillery apart from the competition is to just be true to yourself and try to make an experience that reflects what you love about the business and the kinds of products you enjoy. Feel free to experiment, but also keep in mind that some of the old traditional standbys never hurt, either.
For more information about starting up a new distillery and getting the refrigeration tanks you need in Eugene, OR, reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. today.
Whether you’re expanding your distillery or starting up a brand-new operation, you know just how important it is to have the right still in place for your work. Especially if you’re just getting your distillery off the ground, you’ll need to consider some important questions when determining what kind of still you’ll get.
With this in mind, here are some things to consider when ordering a new still or other distillery equipment in Eugene, OR:
Type of spirits: What type of spirits do you plan to make in your still? Depending on the liquor you want to make, you might need some different equipment. Common choices include whiskey, bourbon, gin, brandy, vodka and absinthe.
Amount: How much of your spirits do you want to make? If you’re just getting started out, you’re likely to have a smaller operation. Consider proof gallons or barrels per day, week, month or year as part of your selection process.
Your current operation: Consider what you already have in terms of equipment, and what you’re doing at your facility. Are you distilling or just brewing? Is this your first distillery, or do you have another operation elsewhere? Is your goal just to get started up, or is this part of an expansion? You should also consider how feasible future expansion will be, and how soon that could potentially occur.
Work hours: For some people, a distillery starts off as being a part-time operation before it turns into more of a full-time venture. Therefore, you also need to factor in how much you want to work. How many days per week do you plan on distilling, and how many shifts will the work happen in? This will tie in to how much booze you want to distill in a given time period.
Whiskey and bourbon: There are some additional requirements that exist for bourbon and whiskey that don’t exist for other types of liquors at distilleries. If you plan to make bourbon or whiskey at your facility, you should consider how many barrels per day you want to make. A 1,000-gallon pot still is capable of making about two barrels per day. If you want to make more than two barrels per day, you should consider a continuous column still instead of a batch pot still, but with one to two barrels per day, a batch pot still should be more than sufficient.
Potential tours: Will you be allowing guests inside to tour your facility? It’s become quite popular around the country for distilleries to offer tours that showcase their operations and how they make their liquor. Usually there are some liquor samples involved as well. If this is something you’re interested in, you might also want to consider the aesthetics of the still you choose.
For more information about the things you’ll need to consider when purchasing a new still for your distillery, we encourage you to reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. about our distillery equipment in Eugene, OR. We look forward to answering your questions.
Whether you’re a first-time distillery owner or simply working on upgrading the equipment you have in your operation, it’s important that you work with a seasoned professional to accomplish your distillery equipment installation in Eugene, OR. Even if you understand how all of the equipment works and are comfortable with working in a distillery environment, there’s a big difference between using the equipment when it’s set up versus actually performing the installation. One small error in installation could set you back behind schedule or even cause significant malfunctions that stall production or damage your product.
This is why American Refrigeration Inc. is your best choice for installing your new distillery equipment. Our team has significant experience in working with companies of all types for installing large-scale equipment, including breweries and distilleries. When you consider just how many craft brewers and distillers call Oregon their home, you can get a sense of just how many of these types of companies we are fortunate to work with.
We’re more than capable of working with you to handle installation for equipment such as lauter tuns, mash and brew kettles, wort chillers, fermenters, stills, crush pads, wine presses, aging tanks, filtration systems, stainless steel tanks, holding tanks, refrigeration tanks and so much more.
Professional assistance is crucial in the installation process
Perhaps the two biggest reasons why it’s so important to work with a professional team when installing new distillery equipment is that it will help you get the job done faster and safer. When we work with distilleries to install new equipment in their facilities, we oversee every facet of the installation process, allowing for it to go as seamlessly and smoothly as possible. This allows you to get your equipment up and running as soon as you can so you can start making beer, wine and other spirits in no time at all. If you’re already on tight production deadlines, our work ensures you’ll be able to continue to meet those deadlines even when debuting brand-new equipment in your facilities.
It’s also important to know you can rely on your installation team to get the job done correctly and safely. Any accidents or errors could set your distillery back by days or even weeks, so accuracy is just as important as efficiency when it comes to the installation of your new equipment.
Our team doesn’t just plop your equipment down in the place you desire it. We make sure it’s properly integrated with all of the other distillery equipment you currently have making up your system. We take the time necessary to calibrate and fine-tune all of your new equipment to prevent any potential troubles once you have it up and running. We’ll even take care of all the peripheral services to make sure you get an installation that encompasses all your needs.
The still is the most important piece of equipment you will have in your distillery. This determines what kind of spirits you’re able to manufacture, and how much of it you’ll be able to make within a given time period. The demand for stills has never been higher, either, as more and more companies continue to pop up in the wake of the rise of the craft brewing and distilling phenomenon.
There are plenty of other pieces of equipment you’re going to need to get to start up your distillery, but given the importance of the still, it’s probably the first piece of equipment you’re going to focus on. Therefore, it’s important for you to know what factors to take into consideration when making your selection. Your choice might be influenced to some extent by what’s available in your area, especially if you’re able to get a quality still secondhand. But without taking availability into account, here are just a few examples of some of the factors you’ll need to think about when selecting your stills and distillery equipment in Eugene, OR:
Kind of spirits: What kind of spirits do you wish to make? This is the best initial question for you to answer. You may require a different still depending on whether you plan to make whiskey, bourbon, gin, absinthe, brandy, vodka or any other kind of spirit or combination of the aforementioned, so make sure you have a vision for your distillery and what it will produce.
How much: How much of each type of spirit do you intend to make? Consider barrels per day/week/month/year. Unless you have a good deal of venture funding and/or experience, you’re probably not going to be starting off with a massive operation. But that’s okay—you can grow your distillery over time.
Your current operation: Are you already distilling? If so, are you able to continue using any of the equipment you currently have on hand, or do you need to upgrade your still? If this is your first distillery, then you’re probably going to need to spend more time researching the kinds of equipment you’re going to need to get your operation up and running.
Your production and operations: How much do you actually want to work? You should consider the number of days per week you intend to distill, how long you want each shift to be, how many other people you’ll have working with or for you and how many shifts you’ll have.
Bourbon and whiskey: There are some special considerations to take into account if you’ll be making bourbon or whiskey. If you know you’re going to be making either or both of these spirits, make sure to investigate the options that are available to you for them specifically.
These are just a few examples of some of the most important factors to consider when selecting a still and other distillery equipment in Eugene, OR. Contact American Refrigeration Inc. today for more information about how to proceed with your order.
