Environmentally friendly beer fermentation process which is significantly cheaper than traditional stainless steel vessel technology. Ideal for start-up microbrewers, brewpubs and rapid expansion of existing facilities.
Sanitary Unitank Recyclable Fermenter
ADVANTAGES
OF THE SURF TECHNOLOGY
- Facilitates all standard fermentation functionality
including yeast collection for repitching, racking of beer, temperature control, etc.
- Uses Safe food Grade polymers
With no leachables or extractables.
- Eliminates the need for any stainless steel pressurized vessel
By utilizing in-line carbonator for CO2 addition during transfer to tap/filling.
SURF significantly reduces your
- Water Usage – No water required for fermenter cleaning, rinsing and sanitization.
- Chemical Usage – No cleaning or sanitizing chemicals required.
- Energy Usage – No heating of cleaning solutions or rinse water.
- Capital Cost Investment – No high specification pressure rated vessels
- Beer Quality – Reduce risk of beer contamination by utilizing sanitary liners.
- Overall Carbon Footprint – SURF is more environmentally friendly than the standard stainless steel unitank due to elimination of cleaning.
Fermentation & Conditioning:
The expensive bottleneck!
Regardless of the brewery size the bottleneck in every beer production process is fermentation & conditioning. The mashing and boiling process take hours and depending on brew house efficiency several batches can be processed every day.
Brewer:
The Constant Cleaner!
As any brewer will attest to the cleaning requirements in a microbrewery are very extensive especially on the critical sanitary side which requires a lot of effort and time.
Environmental Impact:
Save the world, Drink our beer!
While the SURF is used only once, the water, chemical and energy savings realised by utilizing a SURF instead of a reusable steel vessel makes it a more environmentally friendly option
SURF:
Concept and technical stuff!
The patent pending SURF is a specially designed flexible liner made from food grade plastic which holds the fermenting wort. The SURF liner sits in a rigid holder called a SURF Shell which is configured with a cooling belt for temperature control during fermentation.
SURF Models & Security of Supply
While different SURF models with sizes ranging from 250L to 7500L have been designed the launch model is designed for a 1000L working volume fermentation.
DIY Microbrewer!
Most modern day brewers are self-taught enthusiasts who started off in their kitchen or garage with small volume set-ups, this we know from personal experience.
Beer Carbonation:
The in-line option!
Most brewers force carbonate their beer which requires a pressure rated vessel to hold the beer while the carbonation is ongoing. The time required for forced carbonation depends on three key factors; beer temperature, pressure and surface area between beer and CO2.
SURF:
The benefits explained!
Utilising a SURF instead of standard “direct contact” stainless steel vessel or any other form of multi-use fermenter, for commercial scale beer fermentation, has two primary benefits and several ancillary benefits.
SURF Cost-Benefit
with added business jargon!
Reducing capital costs and carefully managing operating cost is key to ensuring the microbrewery gets through the critical early years when revenue streams are developing and financial stress is to be avoided. The SURF system also helps in this regard.
SURF Pioneers:
Mälardalen Brewing Company
Like most great inventions and developments the SURF system was developed out of necessity, that necessity being to minimse the carbon footprint and to save money on start-up costs of a small microbrewery.
Plastic waste & the environment
There is no denying that plastic waste is a major environmental problem which needs to be tackled as a matter of urgency. Plastic is manufactured from hydrocarbons and approximately 4% of global oil production is used for the manufacture of plastics.