[Bill]

Hello brewing brothers!  I am going Pro with a winery and we have some dairy equipment we need to convert.  Are there any contacts or resources that I can use to help me do this.   I'm thinking of converting three 170 Gal upright dairy tanks into 2 mash tuns and 1 boil kettle.  Any ideas?

[Frankenbrew]

Dimensions?

I'm not an expert by any means, but I know that the geometry of the vessels are important to their function.

[hopfenundmalz]

Winery?

When Sierra Nevada started, Ken Grossman modified some dairy equipment for the brewhouse. It can be done.

[majorvices]

I started with dairy equipment. We had everything welded in for us. Not sure how much help I can give you but I've definitely been there. The used dairy tank we had for a MT had a paddle installed when we got it and just had 2 screens designed for the false bottom.

The BK we used a burner attached through the side and had an an element that ran across the bottom 1/3 of the tank.

We did not used dairy equipment for fermentors, we used plastic conicals heat wrapped in a cold room to control fermentation temps.

I can honestly say that dairy tanks are a good way to get started when you are on a budget but no doubt it is a short term solution. Once you move onto professional equipment your life will be much, much better. and so will your product.

[a10t2]

Here in Colorado I'd recommend Dairy Engineering. http://dairyengineering.com

I can honestly say that dairy tanks are a good way to get started when you are on a budget but no doubt it is a short term solution. Once you move onto professional equipment your life will be much, much better. and so will your product.

Can't second that enough.

[wmbolling]

Tom Hennessey of Colorado Boy Brewing Co. presented a seminar at last year's Homebrew Con in Baltimore on pieced-together brewing systems for homebrewers interested in going pro using equipment like that. I would definitely check it out:

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/resources/conference-seminars/

"Frankenbrew: Are Pieced Together Systems Still Viable"