We're setting up a new brewery and I'm having some discussions with the engineer about the best setpoint for our glycol tank. Here's the issue:
* The literature says you should cold condition beer at 28-30°F to achieve colloidal stability.
* The engineer, tank manufacturer, and refrigeration guys recommend against having the glycol any colder than 28°F, as it causes wasted energy, premature wearing of parts, icing of beer on the sides of the tanks, and other issues.
* The manufacturer of our tanks says that the lowest possible temperature for the beer to reach in our well-insulated conical unitanks is 5° over the glycol temperature. With 28°F glycol our lowest possible beer temperature would be 33°F, too warm for proper cold conditioning.
This isn't adding up for me. How can I get the beer down to recommended temperatures without cooling the glycol below its recommended temperature? Is there anyone out there able to get beer cooled to 30°F (or lower) with 28° glycol, or successfully running their glycol below 28°F?
Thanks,
David Oldenburg
Titletown Brewing Co.
Green Bay, WI
* The literature says you should cold condition beer at 28-30°F to achieve colloidal stability.
* The engineer, tank manufacturer, and refrigeration guys recommend against having the glycol any colder than 28°F, as it causes wasted energy, premature wearing of parts, icing of beer on the sides of the tanks, and other issues.
* The manufacturer of our tanks says that the lowest possible temperature for the beer to reach in our well-insulated conical unitanks is 5° over the glycol temperature. With 28°F glycol our lowest possible beer temperature would be 33°F, too warm for proper cold conditioning.
This isn't adding up for me. How can I get the beer down to recommended temperatures without cooling the glycol below its recommended temperature? Is there anyone out there able to get beer cooled to 30°F (or lower) with 28° glycol, or successfully running their glycol below 28°F?
Thanks,
David Oldenburg
Titletown Brewing Co.
Green Bay, WI
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