200L Conical Beer Fermenter: What Brewers Actually Need to Know

A 200L (2HL) conical fermenter sits at the sweet spot between pilot batches and small commercial runs. We build these tanks for breweries that need repeatable fermentation control without committing to a full-scale vessel. The cylinder-conical geometry is not cosmetic—the cone angle and outlet placement directly affect yeast cropping, trub removal, and how cleanly you can rack beer off the cone.

Most inquiries we get for this size come from two groups: brewpubs running 1–3 barrel systems, and production breweries doing yeast propagation or experimental recipes. Those needs differ. A brewpub typically wants a single tank with basic jacket cooling and a 1.5–2 bar working pressure rating. A production brewery may need higher pressure for carbonation, a larger cooling surface area, or a tank rated for CIP with a rotating spray ball. Tell us which camp you\’re in before we quote.

Materials and fabrication details that matter

We standard-build in SUS304 for the product contact surfaces. For highly acidic or chloride-exposed environments, 316L is available—it costs more, so we only recommend it when the process justifies it. The inner shell is typically 3mm, outer cladding 2mm. Welds on the interior are ground flush and pickled/passivated. If you don\’t specify surface finish, you\’ll get a standard 2B mill finish on non-contact areas and a finer polish on the cone interior where yeast settles.

The cooling jacket is the part buyers underestimate. A single-zone jacket on a 200L tank works for ales, but lagers or fast ferments benefit from dual-zone jackets—one on the cone, one on the cylinder. Glycol inlet/outlet ports are 1.5\” tri-clamp as standard. Pressure rating depends on the relief valve you select: most of our 200L tanks ship with a 2 bar working pressure and a 2.5 bar safety valve, but we can build to 3 bar if you plan to carbonate in-tank.

Practical questions we ask before fabrication

What\’s your batch size after boil? A 200L fermenter shouldn\’t be filled past 80% to leave headspace for krausen. What beer styles? A dry-hopped IPA leaves more trub than a filtered lager, so cone geometry and dump port sizing change. How will you clean it? If you\’re using a portable CIP pump, we\’ll position the spray ball port to match your hose reach. If you have a fixed CIP loop, we\’ll add a dedicated CIP return port on the cone.

Connection layouts vary. We\’ve built 200L units with racking arms, butterfly valves on the cone, sample valves, and dry-hop ports—all positioned based on your brewhouse layout. Don\’t assume a standard drawing fits your space. Send us a sketch of your cellar and we\’ll adjust the port orientation.

Where this tank fits—and where it doesn\’t

This is not a unitank for high-gravity stouts fermented under 3 bar for weeks. It\’s a workhorse for 150–180L batches, yeast brink duty, or small-batch sours. If you\’re scaling past 10HL, a 2HL tank becomes a yeast propagator, not a primary fermenter. Buy accordingly.

FAQ

Can I carbonate in this tank? Only if you specify the higher pressure rating and a carbonation stone port. Standard 2 bar tanks are for fermentation, not forced carbonation.

What\’s the lead time? 25–35 days for standard 304 builds. 316L or custom port layouts add 1–2 weeks.

How do I clean it? CIP with a rotating spray ball and 1.5\” return port. We can pre-install the spray ball if you provide your pump flow rate.

Do you offer insulation? Yes—polyurethane foam between shells, with a stainless outer cladding. This is standard for glycol-jacketed units.

Tell us your batch size, beer type, number of fermentation tanks and available space. We can recommend the tank volume, cooling area and configuration for your brewery.