Distilled Spirits

In the distilled spirits market, Shick Esteve offers complete solutions for your grain handling needs.

We have the automation equipment to properly handle your products. We automate the grain unloading and storage process, along with designing systems for grain receiving, milling and batching. Integrated controls ensure accurate delivery and dosing to your process.

Process Solutions for the Distilled Spirits Market

• Grain unloading & storage
• Grain receiving
• Milling
• Batching
• Fermentation systems
• CIP integration
• Electrical controls
• Explosion mitigation/dust collection systems

Commercial Distilling Equipment

Shick Esteve specializes in all types of commercial distilling equipment, including distilling ingredient processing equipment, commercial fermentation systems, and commercial grain receiving equipment. We also offer consultation and guidance for any size company, small business to corporate.

Commercial Fermentation Systems

Commercial fermenting and distilling equipment should come armed with certain basic components if you’re looking for a high caliber of quality products. Here are some basic pieces to look for, to begin:

• Mash Tun: This container is used during this first step of the brewing process (if making beer), when malt is added to pure, heated water. The substances therein eventually break down and mix all micro compounds, after careful timing and temperature control. It’s crucial that the proper water filter be utilized since the variance in mineral content and acidity can disrupt the enzymes necessary to create the wort.
• Boiler: Boilers create heat, one of the most vital factors to the brewing process. When heat is present, wort warms to a highly mixable level—typically right before the fermentation process begins. This is the point when the body of the beer is made, using hope resins and fermentable syrups to reinforce the brew flavor. Boiling heat allows the process to finish in approximately two hours, lending a full flavor—after which the wort is filtered and left potent and clear.
• Fermenter: Fermenter tanks are essential to the distillation process, and it typically comes with a cone-shaped bottom for ease in cleanup—since the cone collects the yeast and trub used to turn the wort alcoholic. The cone form allows the piece to be more easily removed, cleaned, and sanitized.
• Brite Tank: As with the fermentation tank, fermented and filtered wort is put into this tank—the difference being, it will not contain trub or yeast, at this stage. As a result, it can settle and sit for a long period of time. Typically, this type of tank is pressurized to allow for tasting; and they usually have cooling systems to help maintain the temperature and taste of the spirit being created.

Commercial Grain Receiving

Shick Esteve also designs systems for commercial grain receiving, including equipment for unloading and storing grain, sampling, and testing, and making sure the grain is kept at the proper temperature and moisture level until it is scheduled to be used. The receiving process also includes milling the grain, as well as separating it into batches, in preparation for fermentation.