National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: Hop Bomb on September 02, 2013, 04:12:20 PM

Title: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 02, 2013, 04:12:20 PM
Ive been reading that thread on the electric brewery forum the last while. Some great posts & good reading/gear porn on there. I thought it'd be cool to have our own thread. 



Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 02, 2013, 04:27:17 PM
Very nice.

Im awaiting delivery of a dedicated corny dry hopper.  http://www.stainlessbrewing.com/Dry-Hopper_p_155.html

(http://i.imgur.com/G2OMjOK.jpg)

Planning a herms build after that.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 04:46:13 PM
you sure we weren't brew buddies in previous life just ordered

http://www.homebrewing.org/Stainless-Hop-Filter-6-x-14--300-micron-mesh-_p_3181.html

and was either looking at
http://www.homebrewing.org/300-Micron-Hop-Filter-w-Lid_p_3470.html
or
http://www.homebrewing.org/Glass-Carboy-Dry-Hopping-Tube_p_3587.html

much prefer yours tho
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM
that filter is expensive.. my t- liathrodys were only a euro :)
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 04:49:25 PM
ooooh   ahhhhh omg its beer porn (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-excited002.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

http://www.stainlessbrewing.com/Dry-Hopper-and-Hop-Spider-kit_p_167.html
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 04:51:12 PM
Quote from: Il Tubo on September 02, 2013, 04:21:03 PM
I don't like blue LEDs.

:P  :)
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 04:53:10 PM
Quote from: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM
that filter is expensive.. my t- liathrodys were only a euro :)

You are using your balls to dry hop :o

oh T-Balls, yeah but my balls are not big enough and have started to rust. I am sure I could get a cream tho.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:55:08 PM
new 40 litre conical on the way with ss taps and sealed screwtop lid..
will be playing with this and then may suggest a group buy of a finihed product with gas in valve, a pr valve,  a half inch stainless bottom valve and a stainless 10 ml taster transfer valve 6 inches up. it will be running for next brewday.

40 ltr capacity.. plan is to do a 35 litre brews and then transfer to TWO cornies from one conical. Then using my current fermenters for grain stores :)

Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:56:34 PM
Ive sat here inhaling a fermenting 'star anise' brown ale, whos aroma is all over the house :)
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 05:38:47 PM
Quote from: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:55:08 PM
new 40 litre conical on the way with ss taps and sealed screwtop lid..
will be playing with this and then may suggest a group buy of a finihed product with gas in valve, a pr valve,  a half inch stainless bottom valve and a stainless 10 ml taster transfer valve 6 inches up. it will be running for next brewday.

40 ltr capacity.. plan is to do a 35 litre brews and then transfer to TWO cornies from one conical. Then using my current fermenters for grain stores :)

please post pictures when its done (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-gen053.gif) (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 07:03:51 PM
Quote from: Ciderhead on September 02, 2013, 04:53:10 PM
Quote from: brenmurph on September 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM
that filter is expensive.. my t- liathrodys were only a euro :)

You are using your balls to dry hop :o

oh T-Balls, yeah but my balls are not big enough and have started to rust. I am sure I could get a cream tho.

must hav got dodgy european ones....my chinese ones are perfect 20 dry hop brews and a year later.. :D
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 04, 2013, 10:32:56 AM
I finally got my HBC element to seal in my keg last night. All it took was some homemade silicone baking sheet o rings  & a KM8 M40X1.5MM LOCKNUT (thanks for the idea & link CH)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221142275991?var=520118156902&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649


Ive a 4 litre stainless asparagus pot on the way for my herms build & ive a dip tube coming from Norcal brewing solutions so that will reduce my deadspace in my HLT to almost nothing.

Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Tom on September 04, 2013, 10:49:42 AM
Jig made very cheaply for grinding a hole in the top of a keg. Will be disturbing the peace with some metal grinding noise later on!
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 04, 2013, 11:00:59 AM
took possesion of 10 x 20 litre fermenting bins used for glycerol and veg oil emulsifier in Comefords bakery. Beauties exactly same as the homebrew shops only tougher and completly white and light tight with very wekk fitting lids.

May have 1 r 2 to distribute and im trying to get a regular supply. :) First batch are jsut about accounted for as Im using them to store grain due to their stackability and airtightness.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Shanna on September 04, 2013, 07:28:30 PM
Would be interested in a few of these if you get v any more.

Shanna

Quote from: brenmurph on September 04, 2013, 11:00:59 AM
took possesion of 10 x 20 litre fermenting bins used for glycerol and veg oil emulsifier in Comefords bakery. Beauties exactly same as the homebrew shops only tougher and completly white and light tight with very wekk fitting lids.

May have 1 r 2 to distribute and im trying to get a regular supply. :) First batch are jsut about accounted for as Im using them to store grain due to their stackability and airtightness.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 04, 2013, 07:54:41 PM
no prob, I shud be able to get more and will let u know. if I forget and u see me giving them away remind me ur first on the list :)

I get 10 litre and 15 litre ones from the local chippy.. any chippy will b dumping these. the chipp ones are mayonaise and tomato ketchup. the have the glass and fork symbol as well
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 13, 2013, 09:41:45 AM
My aparagus pot arrived this week from here http://www.ebay.com/itm/260941998675  Free p&p to Ireland with parcel motel! Its for my herms pot. It holds a little over 2.5 litres so with the coil probably a lot less. Its a HBC element with a KM8 M40 1.5mm bearing lock nut (a must imo for HBC elements as they come with a crappy plastic nut) Buy them here (thanks CH) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221142275991&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160

(http://i.imgur.com/37IdMpnl.jpg)


The corny dry hopper came in the post from http://www.stainlessbrewing.com/  45USD + 40 USD p&p. No duty or customs. The build quality is excellent. The SS mesh is super fine & designed to hold hop pellet gunk in place. Ive an IPA on now which Ive dry hopped in the fermenter (thats cold crashing now - Il then transfer that to corny, carbonate & do another dry hop with the new dry hopper)

(http://i.imgur.com/JruvVZVl.jpg)

I got some SS disconnects from mybeer&wine also. They worked out about 12e cheaper than buying from the USA & that doesnt include the duty Id probably have had to pay. The disconnects are npt & my taps are bsp (i think - bought from HBW). As you can see they thread on perfectly & make it almost all the way in. Ive found a supplier of half inch ID silicone hose in UK so will be getting some of that for my QD hoses.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 13, 2013, 11:19:11 AM
got the 40 ltr conical fermenter....see all about it here  http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3888.0.html
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 16, 2013, 04:01:10 PM
I added a dip tube to my HLT at the weekend. Works beautifully. No more dead space (it drains dry - pic was taken near the end of the sparge)

(http://i.imgur.com/Juuboz0.jpg)

I think I may need another heating element in there though as my mash this morning was 20 litres & 42 litres. The 42 litres took 80 mins to get to temp (so I ended up mashing for 80 mins) A bit annoying.

We have a night meter here in the house. Does anyone use their domestic hot water tank water for mash & sparge?
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 16, 2013, 04:38:43 PM
got first batch fermenting in new conical

all is well fermenting away and valves leak free.
34 litres fitting just perfectly allowing 2 x cornys to be filled
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Ciderhead on September 16, 2013, 06:26:15 PM
Quote from: Hop Bomb on September 16, 2013, 04:01:10 PM

We have a night meter here in the house. Does anyone use their domestic hot water tank water for mash & sparge?

Have a look in you loft tank or next time you are replacing your cylinder and that will tell you why no one does.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: brenmurph on September 16, 2013, 07:34:58 PM
ye dodgy.. stick with mains water at worse...ideally get some treatment e.g a carbon filter 100 euros or RO at 170
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 29, 2013, 04:55:15 PM
Picked up my new 100 litre pot & 80 litre mash tun yesterday. Thanks Damun for bringing them to Galway. Thanks Padraic for the sale. Hope to convert these by end of Oct.

(http://i.imgur.com/NIqsUp2l.jpg)
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Padraic on October 02, 2013, 01:10:13 PM
Quote from: Hop Bomb on September 29, 2013, 04:55:15 PM
Picked up my new 100 litre pot & 80 litre mash tun yesterday. Thanks Damun for bringing them to Galway. Thanks Padraic for the sale. Hope to convert these by end of Oct.

(http://i.imgur.com/NIqsUp2l.jpg)

Best of luck with them! May you get them finished unlike their previous owner!
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on December 01, 2013, 01:00:31 AM
Todays progress on the pots. Mash tun on the left & boil kettle on the right:

(http://i.imgur.com/vtrvECFl.jpg)

No false bottom yet for the mash tun & I still have to sort a HLT. It will be electric powered. Not sure what to do.  Get an 80 litre insulated thermo pot like the pot on the left or a 100 litre stock pot like the on the right? The skin on the thermo pot is thin. Fitting & sealing electric elements in them will be a PITA. But it'd hold the heat very well. The stock pots are real easy cut with the qmax cutters so fitting elements & getting a good seal would be way easier on that pot. What ya think?
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: barkar on December 01, 2013, 09:15:23 AM
Nice work  :), I cut through in the outer skin and was then able to fit a bottom and a burco element.you may need to insulate where you have cut through
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on December 02, 2013, 11:17:33 AM
How big is the hole for a burco element? Was it hard to get a seal on the thin inner skin?
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Rats on December 02, 2013, 12:11:46 PM
Quote from: Hop Bomb on December 02, 2013, 11:17:33 AM
How big is the hole for a burco element? Was it hard to get a seal on the thin inner skin?
1 9/16  or  39.68mm
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: barkar on December 02, 2013, 12:42:55 PM
The q max cutters i gave enda was suitable for it no bother , 3kw burco element they retail €20 on fleabay + free postage ( i think) , you will need to wire up and earth etc.
Havent seen any leaks

Can i ask re the fancy ball valves what do you intend using them for have you a spray arm etc. for the tun?
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on December 02, 2013, 01:09:33 PM
Ive got two HBC elements on my old HLT so was planning on using those. If i use a thermo pot for hlt il have to cut the outer skin larger than the element so I can fit one of those lock nuts on. I know this would be a breeze on a standard stainless pot but Im leaning toward to the thermo pot as it holds the heat. What you reckon? How is yours working out? 

The taps at the top are for return feed from the pump. 90 degree stainless elbow on the inside - on the mash tun there is a half inch nipple on that elbow which will have silicone hose to the grain bed for sparging. The tap will allow me to control the flow in & match flow rates.

(http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/images/IMG_5230.jpg)


On the boil kettle there is a 90 degree elbow on both top & bottom taps with stainless compression fittings & stainless tubing. Bottom tap syphons from the floor/kettle wall. 400ml dead space.
The top tap will have a piece of stainless steel tube curved to match the wall of the pot. Thats the whirlpool return arm from the pump & plate chiller. Its not at all as complicated as it sounds.
Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: barkar on December 02, 2013, 01:34:18 PM
Yeah i see what ye have , there .Re the HLT Have to say compared to a non insulated burco boiler i used previously , it boiled sparge additions of 30 litres in 20 minutes or less - a lot quicker then again when has anyone not done a mod that they think hasnt improved their system , until something goes awry!

Like the whirlpool. I left the handles of the pot on teh side rather than front facing which means i loop the return tubing trhough it and in along the insde wall of the bk - cant say i has improved cold break capture  but then again i have a 12v pumping from chiller back into thte brew kettle , probably needs more umpf! 



Title: Re: What have you done to your brewery today?
Post by: Hop Bomb on December 02, 2013, 04:11:05 PM
My new setup is based off Tasty Mcdoles setup. He uses a march pump after the plate chiller recirc back to the boil kettle for 30 mins & gets great results:

(https://scontent-b-cdg.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/487554_4397597413637_399747356_n.jpg)


Going off the picture below he has the taps at least 3/4 open on the boil kettle & on the pump exiting the chiller so im guessing thats 20 litres per min recirculating?

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5258844775_6b7809b968_z.jpg)