These are technically called wort receivers, but the brewers call them
the "dog kennels." These are no longer used in the brewery, but
they are somewhat like enclosed hop backs. They used to be packed with
whole hops and then the hot wort was run through them. Not only would this
filter-out the hops that were added during the boil, but it would also
add additional hop aroma. Now, they use different methods to separate the
spent hops from the wort so these vessels are simply showpieces.
These are some of the famous Yorkshire Stone Squares. They are made from
sheets of slate (hence the "stone" in the name). What we
see here is only the top chamber of the fermenter. Beneath the floor I'm
standing on, there is the main portion of the fermenters. The purpose
of these top portions is to provide room for the huge foam head that is
formed (there is a three-foot diameter cylindrical tube called a "manway" between
these upper and the lower parts of the squares. There is another reason
that these top portions are so large, but if you know something about brewing,
you may be shocked when you see it.
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