Transfer and Storage of Spirits

[ryanofoz]

Hello all-

I am buying items for a new craft distillery and I cant find decent transfer tanks / storage tanks for distilled spirits. I don't know if I am just not using the correct words or what but I cant find them. I am looking for a feints tank, and a couple short term storage tanks on wheels that can be brought over to the stills and then dumped into barrels or sent up into the carbon filters. Do you guys have any idea what I could use or what they are called?

Thanks!
Ryan

[dirtymax731]

You should looks for stainless steel tanks. Theres lots out there or can be made. You are not going to find a "feints" tank. Check out micro brew stuff too

[Prairiepiss]

You aren't going to find a tank built just for that. Most likely would need to be custom built. But you may find a stainless steel transfer tank on wheels. If you look hard enough.

I would look at stainless steel shipping tanks. They are square the size of a pallet and depending how many gallons will be how tall it is. They can be moved around with a forklift or pallet jack. Sizes range from like 50 gal to 300 gal. Would make nice fermenters also.

Don't know how big of an operation you are talking? But kegs would work. With a two wheel dolly. It just get some stainless steel 55 gal drums. And a drum dolly.

[junkyard dawg]

finding tanks is the easy part...

[kungpo]

I'm using stainless steel milk churns - I can get them in 50 and 100 litre sizes and they seem to work well (mine have a screw on lid rather than a friction fit).

[Soggy Bottom Boy]

Check out Glacier Tanks in Portland, Oregon. All of their stuff is custom made for them in China, but from looking at their stuff first-hand, it is very nice, and well built.

Also, check out the local countryside for dairy farms that are upgrading and selling off old equipment, or going out of business.

A distant relative of mine started Pyramid Ale micro-brewery in Kalama, Wa by buying used tanks from the dairy outfits that went out of business, but that was ages ago, back in the early '80's.

[woodshed]

I realize I am going to seem like a pompous ass here but I'm willing to risk it.
If you cannot find these products or even know what they are called without asking here do you really feel qualified to open a legit distillery?
Not trying to step on your dream, I had the same dream and am now working seven days a week to keep up with demand.
I also brought 4 decades of experience with me. This is not an easy business to get into and even a harder one to survive in considering the choices on the shelf continue to grow.
Just thinkin maybe you should slow down and figure out the systems, mechanical and compliance, know what you need before getting in over your head.
I hope this venture gives you everything you bought the ticket for.

[ryanofoz]

Thanks Everyone... As usual, good- helpful information! I appreciate it..

[ryanofoz]

I realize I am going to seem like a pompous ass here but I'm willing to risk it.
If you cannot find these products or even know what they are called without asking here do you really feel qualified to open a legit distillery?
Not trying to step on your dream, I had the same dream and am now working seven days a week to keep up with demand.
I also brought 4 decades of experience with me. This is not an easy business to get into and even a harder one to survive in considering the choices on the shelf continue to grow.
Just thinkin maybe you should slow down and figure out the systems, mechanical and compliance, know what you need before getting in over your head.
I hope this venture gives you everything you bought the ticket for.

Thanks for the feedback. As usual on this forum, there has to be someone to respond like this.

Before you go and get your panties all in a twist, know that I have spent a lot of time understanding everything from compliance to systems to packaging etc.. The issue was that I have seen a few transfer cans being used places and just couldn't find a grouping of them to choose from in my search for hardware. I was not too stupid, or thought I could just "click here" online to have a distillery show up in a box to my warehouse. It seems that (like with a lot of plant hardware) these tanks are more of a fit for the specific distillery and not an on the shelf item like a mash tun.

This site has so much good information and so many people with great knowledge that its humbling. Most of them, like myself, are more than willing to help someone out with even stupid questions. I understand when people lash out at posters that come here with "so how do I make booze" questions, but for gods sake man- I asked about a transfer tank with wheels. Yes, I have seen plenty of them. Yes I know how it all works. Yes, I make a pretty good product already. Yes I have plenty to still learn.

If the only contribution you can make is like what you posted, I cant see how you expect to get people interested in this art. Isn't that why we are all here? We have a passion for distilling and improving the craft. Who would want to join this board or enter this craft if the first thing they got was someone like you bitching at them instead of helping out a bit? I have posted maybe 2 things here in my life because most times in a thread, someone has to start trashing someone else and it digresses to a point of trash.

Not everyone here is like you- thankfully. As I said in a previous post, I appreciate those who helped me confirm what I already thought, and gave me alternative directions to look.

There is one in every bunch...

Ryan

[WIski]

These guy's have everything. If they don't have it on hand they can get it or make it.
http://www.ullmers-dairyequipment.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Good luck.....