Mashing and Fermentation
Grain is milled, mashed and fermented in our insulated mash/lauter tuns and fermentation tanks, converting sugars into a wash ready for distillation.
A complete distillery is more than a still. ZR Brew supplies the full production chain — from grain milling and mash fermentation through to multi-stage distillation, spirit storage and CIP cleaning. Whether you are setting up a craft gin distillery or scaling a commercial vodka plant, our engineering team designs the complete system around your space, budget and target spirit.
Grain is milled, mashed and fermented in our insulated mash/lauter tuns and fermentation tanks, converting sugars into a wash ready for distillation.
The wash is heated in the still pot — copper or stainless steel — and vapor rises through the column or swan neck, concentrating alcohol to your target ABV.
Distilled spirit is collected in our stainless steel storage tanks, ready for dilution, filtration, barrel aging or direct bottling.
Copper removes sulfur compounds during distillation, producing a cleaner, smoother spirit. ZR Brew offers full copper, full stainless steel and hybrid copper-stainless configurations — so you can balance flavor performance with budget.
Our multifunctional distillers are engineered with interchangeable components — gin baskets, dephlegmators and column extensions — allowing you to produce multiple spirit types on a single platform without purchasing separate equipment.
Precise temperature management is critical in distillation. ZR Brew integrates Siemens PLC or Schneider PID control systems on all commercial units, giving you real-time monitoring of still pot temperature, column temperature and spirit flow rate.
ZR Brew manufactures distillery equipment from 100L to 5000L in copper, stainless steel and hybrid configurations. Select your spirit type below to find the recommended model.
ZR Brew supplies complete turnkey distillery systems. Below is the standard configuration for a commercial distillery setup. All components can be customized to your production requirements.
| System Module | Equipment | Material | Notes |
| Raw Material Handling | Grain crusher, feeding auger | Carbon steel / SS304 | Capacity matched to still size |
| Mashing and Lautering | Mash/lauter tun with stirrer, sieve plate, manhole, insulation, plate heat exchanger | SS304 / SS316 | Integrated temperature control |
| Fermentation | Fermentation tanks with cooling jacket, pressure relief valve, sampling valve | SS304 / SS316 | Glycol or water cooling |
| Distillation — Still Pot | Pot still with stirrer, steam jacket, glass manhole, safety valve | Red copper / SS304 / Hybrid | Copper recommended for whisky and brandy |
| Distillation — Column | Multi-plate column (up to 24 floors), dephlegmator, sight glass, CIP port, thermometer at each plate | Red copper / SS304 / Hybrid | Plate count determines ABV ceiling |
| Gin Infusion | Gin basket (vapor infusion) | Copper / SS304 | Optional; included for gin models |
| Condensing | Shell-and-tube condenser, parrot (spirit safe) | SS304 / Copper | Water-cooled |
| Spirit Collection | Collecting tanks, spirit safe, flow meter | SS304 | Volume and ABV monitoring |
| Heating | Steam generator, electric heating elements, or direct-fire burner | — | Steam recommended for 1000L+ |
| Cleaning | CIP cleaning system | SS304 | Automated chemical dosing available |
| Control | Siemens PLC (full auto) or Schneider PID (semi-auto) | — | Remote monitoring available |
Launch your craft spirits brand with a 100L-300L still. ZR Brew provides free 3D layout design and complete installation guidance to get you producing quickly.
Convert your agricultural surplus into premium spirits. Our compact systems fit into converted barns and farm buildings with flexible heating options including direct-fire.
Scale to 1000L-5000L with fully automated Siemens PLC systems. Achieve consistent ABV targets batch after batch with minimal labor.
Already brewing? Add a distillery line using your existing fermentation capacity. ZR Brew designs hybrid brewery-distillery systems that share infrastructure.
From boutique gin distilleries in Europe to commercial vodka plants in North America — ZR Brew has delivered complete distillery systems worldwide.
A pot still is a batch distillation vessel — typically copper — that produces a rich, flavorful spirit in one or two passes. It is preferred for whisky, brandy and rum. A column still (also called a continuous still or Coffey still) uses multiple plates to achieve higher alcohol purity in a single pass, making it ideal for vodka and neutral spirits. ZR Brew manufactures both types, as well as hybrid systems combining a pot still with a rectification column.
Copper reacts chemically with sulfur compounds produced during fermentation, removing them from the vapor stream. This results in a cleaner, smoother spirit with less off-flavor. Copper also catalyzes esterification reactions that contribute to the fruity, complex aromas found in premium whisky and brandy. While stainless steel is more durable and easier to clean, distillers producing whisky, brandy or rum typically prefer copper or copper-lined stainless steel for the flavor benefits it delivers.
A dephlegmator (also called a partial condenser) is a heat exchanger mounted at the top of a distillation column. It partially condenses rising vapor, causing heavier alcohol fractions to fall back into the column for re-distillation, while lighter, higher-proof vapor continues upward to the main condenser. By adjusting the coolant flow through the dephlegmator, the distiller controls the ABV of the final spirit without changing the still configuration. It is a standard component in vodka, brandy and multifunctional distillers.
Dedicated production lines for copper and stainless steel distillery equipment in Shandong, China.
Standard distillery systems are completed within 45 working days from final drawing confirmation.
All ZR Brew distillery equipment meets international safety and quality standards for export markets.
ZR Brew distillery equipment operates in craft distilleries and commercial plants across six continents.
ZR Brew engineers travel to your location for equipment installation, pipe welding and commissioning.
Free technical support and spare parts sourcing for the entire operational life of your equipment.
Every ZR Brew still is designed, fabricated and tested in our 10,000 sqm factory in Shandong Province, China. Our copper workshop handles hand-hammered pot stills and swan necks. Our stainless steel workshop uses laser cutting, CNC forming and automated TIG welding for column sections and tanks. Before shipment, every still undergoes a 48-hour hydraulic pressure test and a full operational test run. You receive factory test videos and inspection reports before we ship.
Copper naturally develops a patina over time, which does not affect performance. After each distillation run, rinse the still pot and column with clean water and allow to air dry. For deeper cleaning, a diluted citric acid solution effectively removes mineral deposits and restores the copper surface. ZR Brew provides a full maintenance guide with every copper still, and our technical team is available for ongoing support.
Yes. ZR Brew multifunctional distillers are specifically designed for multi-spirit production. The gin basket is removable, the column height is adjustable, and the dephlegmator coolant flow can be tuned to target different ABV levels. Switching between whisky, gin and rum typically requires a thorough CIP clean and a component swap taking 2-4 hours. We provide a full operating manual covering each spirit type.
This depends on the still configuration. A single-pass pot still typically achieves 60-75% ABV. Adding a rectification column with a dephlegmator raises the ceiling to 85-92% ABV. Our 1500L and 5000L vodka distillery systems with 24-floor columns are capable of reaching 95% ABV, suitable for neutral spirit and vodka production. ZR Brew engineers will recommend the appropriate column configuration based on your target spirit and ABV requirement.
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