NEW ULM - After six semis with two cranes wiggled their way through August Schell Brewery on Monday, two 750-barrel fermentation tanks were lowered through holes in the roofs of production facilities.
"We're just trying to keep ahead of demand and increase efficiency," said Schell's owner Ted Marti. "This will get us through this year and maybe next year."
Marti said the 50-foot, 19,000-pound tanks, which will weigh 220,000 pounds each when filled with beer, will be used primarily to produce Grain Belt Premium and Nordeast beer.
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Staff photo by Fritz Busch
Two new 50-foot, 750-barrel fermentation tanks were delivered and installed at August Schell Brewery on Monday. Ted Marti, brewery owner, said the new tanks will be primarily used to increase production of Grain Belt and Nordeast beer.
The brewery has added other fermentation tanks in recent years since it began making Grain Belt beer. It has also increased production of seasonal and craft beers.
Some time ago, Schell's added a 560-barrel fermentation tank, which was hoisted by crane from a flatbed truck and lowered into an opening in the brew house roof. On Monday, the same technique was used to install the two 750-barrel tanks. The additional tanks will facilitate increased production capacity and help meet expanding market demand.
"It's been a pretty good year after a slow start," Marti said.
The brewing process goes on around the clock. Bottling takes place about 12 hours a day on most days, Marti said.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).