Brewery Equipment Storage: Where to Find Short-Term Industrial Solutions

The expansion or relocation of a brewery often involves a complex dance of timing between equipment delivery and facility readiness. Whether you are waiting for a floor to be sealed or navigating a gap in your lease, finding a safe home for your equipment is essential. Unlike standard inventory, brewing equipment is remarkably fragile despite its size, requiring specialized rigging and environmental controls to prevent damage. This guide outlines the best practices for finding and preparing industrial storage for your high-value brewing assets.

Looking for brewery equipment storage? Contact Sullivan Industrial Services to Get Started!

Where to Start When You Need Brewery Equipment Storage

When searching for storage, you must prioritize facilities that understand the unique dimensions of tall, conical fermentation tanks and wide mash tuns. Standard warehouses often lack the ceiling height or the specialized rigging equipment necessary to tip or “upright” these vessels safely during the intake process. Your first step should be contacting a dedicated machinery mover who has experience with food-grade equipment, as they can provide or recommend a secure environment designed for oversized industrial cargo.

Key Considerations When Choosing Industrial Storage

Selecting the right facility requires a balance between structural capacity and environmental stability to protect your stainless steel investment.

Climate Control for Tanks and Stainless Equipment

While stainless steel is durable, it is highly sensitive to pitting and corrosion if stored in a humid, stagnant environment. A climate-controlled facility prevents the buildup of condensation inside your tanks, which can lead to mold or microbial growth that is difficult to sanitize later. Maintaining a stable temperature ensures that your gaskets and seals remain supple and that your high-value controllers are not exposed to moisture.

Floor Space and Weight Capacity for Large Vessels

Brewery tanks often have a small footprint but carry immense weight, creating a high point load that can crack a standard commercial floor. You must ensure the storage facility features reinforced concrete that can support the weight of heavy copper or steel vessels without shifting. Furthermore, verify that the facility has the overhead clearance to move these tanks vertically, as many rigging accidents occur when trying to maneuver tall vessels under low-hanging rafters.

Security and Controlled Facility Access

Because a single tank can represent tens of thousands of dollars, the storage site should offer comprehensive 24/7 video surveillance and restricted entry. You want to ensure that your equipment is housed in a dead storage area where it won’t be moved or bumped by daily warehouse traffic. Additionally, ask about the facility’s pest control measures, as brewing equipment must remain pristine to avoid contamination issues once it eventually returns to the production floor.

Preparing Brewery Equipment for Storage

Properly prepping your system before it leaves your facility is the best way to ensure a plug-and-play experience when it is finally installed.

Cleaning and Drying Brewing Systems Before Storage

The most critical step in brewery storage is performing a deep CIP (Clean-In-Place) cycle followed by a thorough drying of every internal surface. Any residual moisture or organic matter left in a tank can become a breeding ground for bacteria during its time in a warehouse. Once dry, you can seal the manways with breathable mesh or specialized covers to allow for some air exchange while keeping dust and pests out.

Protecting Valves, Fittings, and Sensitive Components

Valves, sight glasses, and temperature probes are the most vulnerable parts of a brewing system during a move. You may want to remove these delicate components and pack them into padded, labeled crates that can be stored alongside the main vessel. For components that cannot be removed, utilize heavy-duty foam wrapping and custom timber bracing to ensure they aren’t sheared off during the rigging or transport process.

Storage Logistics: Transport, Placement, and Access

Moving brewery equipment into storage requires a seamless hand-off between the rigging crew and the warehouse team. Because many tanks are top-heavy, they must be secured with specialized straps that won’t damage the polished stainless steel exterior. You should also verify how much space is allocated around your equipment in the warehouse. If you need to conduct an inspection or inventory check, you should be able to walk around the vessels without moving other clients’ freight.

When Short-Term Storage Makes Sense for Breweries

Short-term storage is an ideal solution for breweries experiencing equipment overlap during a facility expansion or an upgrade to larger vessels. It provides a necessary buffer when your new equipment arrives from the manufacturer before your old equipment has been sold or otherwise fully moved. By utilizing a temporary staging area, you can keep your production running smoothly.

We Move Machines & Equipment Across CT & the North East

Sullivan Industrial Services is warehoused in Milford, CT with a second location in Bloomfield, CT, and serves small and large businesses throughout Connecticut and the North East including but not limited to:

How Sullivan Industrial Services Can Support Brewery Equipment Storage

Sullivan Industrial Services offers a comprehensive rigging and storage solutions tailored specifically to the needs of the craft beverage industry. We understand that a fermentation tank is a precision instrument, and we use extreme care when moving and storing both it and your other fragile equipment. We manage the entire moving and storage process, from the initial decommissioning and packing up of your brewery equipment, to setting them up in our secure, climate-controlled warehouses.

For specific queries or more information, reach out to us at contact@sullivanindustrialservices.com or give us a call at 203-859-4238. We’re here to provide tailored solutions for all your transportation and storage needs.