Why Are Most Brewery Equipment Made Of Stainless Steel?
/Update October 02, 2022 / By YoLong Brewtech
ARE YOU HAVE BREWING QUESTIONS?
The alcohol industry is one of the largest in the entire world.
With annual revenue that runs into billions of dollars, it is by far one of the most important industries in several economies.
And this is true for almost all kinds of alcohols, ranging from beer to whisky and everything in between.
When it comes to making beer, one of the most important aspects is the right equipment. How can you brew beer if you don’t have the right kind of equipment for it? With an industry that grosses billions, and a product that is consumed in several countries around the world, there are certain standards that each brewery has to meet. In order to do this, breweries will invest in high-quality stainless steel equipment that not only helps in scaling production but also gives them better control over their quality standards.
While many consider this to be a standard industry practice and move on, others tend to ask questions; questions such as,
“Why are most brewery equipment made of stainless steel?”
- It is part of the evolution of the industry
In fact, most breweries produce alcoholic drinks in stainless steel barrels or tanks, with some exceptions. One of the major reasons why breweries have made this switch is simply because they are part of the larger industrial transformation. This change of material also allows more efficient production and transportation processes.
- Stainless steel equipment is easier to maintain
This by far one of the biggest advantages of using stainless steel equipment. When compared to wood caskets, it is very easy to maintain steel equipment. From unwanted residues to waste products, it is possible to have all of them eliminated with ease in the case of stainless steel equipment.
- Stainless steel equipment doesn’t leak
Another advantage of stainless steel equipment is that it is leak proof. There is simply no chance of leakage, unless there is a hole of some sort. Given that the material is fairly tough, it is very difficult for any sort of leakage to emerge from stainless steel equipment.
- Stainless steel doesn’t degrade
Stainless steel is a very long-lasting and rigid material, and doesn’t have issues related to iron such as rust. With very few exceptions, there is no loss of structural strength or integrity in stainless steel. As a result of this, people using stainless steel in beer manufacturing found it to be a very effective and efficient material choice.
- The absorption of chemicals is not an issue in stainless steel
The most important point that is to be mentioned here is the ‘absorption’ issue. While both wood and stainless steel can be used for fermenting beer, a huge advantage with using stainless steel is its ability to totally eliminate leaching of any chemicals from the brewing equipment into the beer from where it’s being fermented. This makes it taste fresh and fresh for much longer than one brewed in a wooden barrel.
For those of you who are looking to brew your own beer at home, stainless steel equipment is one among the most important things that need to be considered. After all, when it comes to controlling the process of fermentation, it is essential for you to have the right equipment in place.
- Stainless steel is considered eco friendly
The manufacture of traditional equipment usually involved the usage of wood like oak. While plentiful before and in many cases even now, the fact is that it does require a great deal of timber to manufacture the equipment of any standard brewery.
While the use of wood in brewing equipment makes it naturally appealing, there are some significant downsides associated with its manufacture. Wood is not an environmentally friendly source from which conventional beer equipment can be made. Though chips and logs are plentiful, most places have a limited supply and so much of the wood used for this purpose comes from sustainable sources. In addition to that, not all species of trees are suitable for use in making beer equipment.
Boilers, conical fermenters, bottling and kegging lines, refrigerators and centrifuges are often purchased made from stainless steel. This material is sustainable, durable and relatively easy to maintain. Stainless steel is not just a preferred material for beer equipment manufacturing; there are some other industries that use it in their equipment as well.
While stainless steel is generally not as preferred by brewers as it is in other industries, it can be used to manufacture beer. The reasons as to why the industry uses stainless steel are numerous, and include a wide range of benefits.
When you’re looking for a new brewery, the first thing that comes to mind is probably space. And rightfully so, because there’s nothing quite like room to spread out and make your beer whatever way it needs to be – or at least brew it in peace. When you see stainless steel equipment, another question might pop up: Why don’t they use wood anymore?
The beer industry is one of the oldest industries in our world. It has been around for more than 4000 years and has produced an array of different types of beers, ranging from light beers to dark beers. Given that this industry has grown to such an extent over the years, it’s no surprise that it requires high-end equipment.
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