An 800 liter fermenter sits in a middle ground that trips up a lot of buyers. It is large enough that temperature control stops being optional, yet small enough that most customers insist on a single tank fitting through a standard doorway. Before we cut any stainless, we ask what you actually brew. A 800L unit that runs clean on ales behaves very differently when you push it with lagers at 8°C for three weeks.

Tank body and material choices

Standard shells are built from SUS304, 3mm plate on the cylinder and 4mm on the cone. If your wort has high chloride exposure or you run frequent acid CIP cycles, SUS316L on the cone and bottom is worth the extra cost, though many breweries never need it. Welds are TIG, full penetration, ground flush on the interior and pickled and passivated afterward. Interior polish runs to Ra 0.4–0.8 µm on food-contact surfaces; exterior is usually a 2B or brushed finish.

Cooling, pressure and CIP

Dimple or channel jackets on the cone and lower cylinder handle crash cooling. We size jacket surface area against your yeast strain and ambient room temperature rather than a flat rule, because an 800L tank in a 30°C cellar needs more area than the same tank in a chilled room. Working pressure is typically 0.2 MPa, with a 0.3 MPa safety valve; do not confuse test pressure with working pressure when specifying relief. CIP is handled with a rotating spray ball, a dedicated CIP port, and a blow-off arm that doubles as a sample or dry-hop inlet.

Where 800 liters fits

This size suits brewpubs doing 5–8 brews per week, pilot systems scaling a recipe, and contract brewers running small seasonal runs. Nano breweries often jump straight to 1000L and regret the ceiling clearance later. Conical bottoms matter when you plan to harvest yeast or drop trub without racking — if you only ever bottle-condition, a flat-bottom tank is cheaper and easier to clean.

Typical specification

Common questions

Why does an 800L fermenter need active cooling? Fermentation generates heat. Left alone, an 800L batch can climb 4–6°C above your set point within hours, and off-flavors follow.

What pressure should I order? If you plan carbonating in-tank, specify 0.2–0.3 MPa working pressure and match the valve accordingly.

Can I CIP without opening the manway? Yes, provided the spray ball is sized to jacket flow and the CIP pump delivers adequate pressure.

What information do you need to quote? Batch size, beer style, number of tanks, available headroom and door width, and your cold-room conditions.

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.