A 7 BBL bright beer tank sits between fermentation and packaging. Beer is transferred in after secondary fermentation, then finishes carbonating, drops the last of its yeast, and holds cold under pressure until the filler, canning line, or keg washer is ready for it. We build these as pressure vessels first and cooling vessels second, because the carbonation step is what sets the mechanical requirements.

What the vessel actually has to do

Reaching 2.5 to 2.7 volumes of CO2 in a 7 BBL tank means roughly 12 to 15 psi of head pressure at 34°F. A tank rated only for atmospheric or low-pressure service will not hold that consistently, so we use dished heads, full-penetration welds on shell seams, and an adjustable spring-loaded relief valve set at the working pressure. The cooling jacket is dimple or channel plate welded to the lower shell and cone. Glycol at 28 to 30°F pulls out the heat generated during carbonation and holds the beer steady without freezing product against the wall.

Material and fabrication choices

304 stainless handles standard ale and lager duty. Breweries running sour programs, heavy fruit additions, or aggressive acid CIP blends usually move to 316L on the wetted surfaces, which holds up better over years of cycling. Interior welds are ground flush, then the tank is pickled and passivated. Product contact surfaces are finished to Ra ≤ 0.8 µm, with 0.4 µm available for dry-hopped or fruit-forward beers where yeast and hop residue cling to rougher steel. Insulation is 80 mm polyurethane under 304 cladding, brushed or mirror polished so the tank matches what is already on your floor.

Standard fittings include a top or side manway, CIP spray ball, DIN 40 or tri-clamp racking arm, sample valve, carbonation stone port, pressure gauge, and sight level tube. We will position the racking arm and stone port to your preferred working height if you send us a floor plan.

Specifications

Questions we get before quoting

Can one tank carbonate and serve? Yes, if it is rated for the pressure and the jacket has enough area. Serving tanks need the same rating, just a different fitting layout.

Do I need a carbonation stone? For consistent carbonation in under 24 hours, yes. Natural carbonation through spunding works too, but it takes longer and ties up the tank.

How many 7 BBL tanks for a 10 BBL brewhouse? Most breweries run four to six bright tanks per brewhouse of that size, depending on turnaround and packaging schedule.

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.