The difference between a Brite tank and a serving tank lies primarily in their design and purpose. Both tanks are used in the brewing industry, but they serve different functions and are utilized in different parts of the brewing process.
1. Design:
– Brite Tank: A Brite tank, also known as a bright beer tank or a conditioning tank, is designed with a jacket that allows for temperature control. This jacket ensures that the beer inside the tank can be cooled or heated as required. The jacket provides a more precise control over the beer's temperature during the conditioning and carbonation process.
– Serving Tank: On the other hand, a serving tank does not have a jacket. It is a pressure-rated vessel that can hold carbonated beer, but it does not have the same level of temperature control as a Brite tank. Serving tanks are typically located in a cold room or walk-in cooler, where the ambient temperature helps maintain the desired serving temperature of the beer.
2. Purpose:
– Brite Tank: A Brite tank is primarily used for conditioning and carbonating beer after primary fermentation. Once the beer has completed its fermentation in the fermenter, it is transferred to the Brite tank for further maturation. In the Brite tank, the beer undergoes a secondary fermentation, where any remaining yeast or sediment settles out, and the beer is clarified. Additionally, the carbonation process takes place in the Brite tank, where carbon dioxide is introduced to achieve the desired level of carbonation.
– Serving Tank: A serving tank, as the name suggests, is used for directly serving beer. It is generally located in a cold room or walk-in cooler behind the bar or in a centralized location within the brewery. Serving tanks are typically connected to a draft system, allowing the beer to be dispensed directly into glasses or growlers for customers to enjoy. Unlike a Brite tank, a serving tank does not undergo further conditioning or carbonation.
3. Usage:
– Brite Tank: Brite tanks are crucial for ensuring the quality and consistency of the beer. They allow brewers to fine-tune the carbonation levels, clarify the beer, and achieve the desired flavor profile. Brite tanks are commonly used in large-scale commercial breweries, where precise control over the beer's characteristics is essential.
– Serving Tank: Serving tanks are mainly used in brewpubs, taprooms, and smaller craft breweries, where beer is served directly to consumers on-site. Serving tanks eliminate the need for kegs or additional packaging, providing a more efficient and cost-effective way to serve beer. They are also commonly used for limited-edition or specialty beers that are only available on draft.
While both Brite tanks and serving tanks are used in the brewing industry, they differ in design and purpose. Brite tanks are jacketed vessels used for conditioning, carbonating, and clarifying beer, while serving tanks are pressure-rated vessels used for directly dispensing carbonated beer. The presence of a jacket in Brite tanks allows for precise temperature control, whereas serving tanks are typically located in a cold room for temperature maintenance.