Stainless steel is sexy. Or that’s what a brewer once said to me. Whatever, I thought at the time, each to their own. However, after a brief visit and tour of Meantime’s new brewery, which is due to go on stream in four weeks or so, I think I can understand the brewer’s fetishistic urges (as long as it’s consensual of course). It’s German kit, coming from the same company (Rolec) that built Stone’s, a mighty assembly of stainless steel (oooh…), but amongst these towering tuns and kettles, on a platform where the brewer can survey their work, stands what looks like an altar (stainless steel of course), with two taps, a place where the wort can be checked and sampled. ‘It’s old fashioned, I know,’ said Meantime maven Alastair Hook, ‘but I like it.’ And so do I, so do I.
I guess I am just a luddite, or some old fashioned romantic fool, but stainless steel may be sexy, but copper is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWell, Brasserie des Franches Montagnes is having its new plant set up these days (by another german company) and went for plain stainless steel, dodging the extra cost linked to glinting copper.
ReplyDeleteYet they managed to keep it classy, as pictures posted on FB by the brewer show the reinforced glass portholes of the tun and kettle emblazoned with a nice big BFM logo.
Velky — agreed, I confess I did ogle the copper covered vessels in the Orval brewhouse last week.
ReplyDeleteLaurent, Merantime’s ensemble was certainly classy, loved it.
And you didn't take any photos? I demand shiny stainless steel brewery porn!
ReplyDeleteCopper is nice for about two weeks then the pain of constantly cleaning the bugger begins to make itself know.
Sean afraid not, didn’t have camera with me, was actually there to discuss a Beer writers seminar on beer styles Alastair and I are organising, but he treated me to a quick unexpected trip as I was there. I have some SS stuff from somewhere or other on iphoto, so will have to do a post for your satisfaction. ;-))
ReplyDeleteMeantime's other new shiny venture at Greenwich is copper-clad (but stainless under the clothing I would guess) but looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteFor pics see various places incl. -
http://biermagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/TOB-Copper-Vats-Closeup1.jpg
http://www.fluidfoundation.com/Launch_Old_Brewery_Greenwich.fluidnews
MicMac, the Old Brewery is also lovely, I wrote about it here, http://maltworms.blogspot.com/2010/03/london-gets-another-great-beer-venue.html
ReplyDeletein fact all this beer and brewing talk is making me very thirsty, but I’ve got to finish something!!
...and extra Kudos for the title of the post,man!! and +1 for copper.
ReplyDeleteLeigh — gimme danger etc…
ReplyDelete