Boerderij Kabouter's Suggested AG Starter Rig
Posted 07-03-2009 at 03:35 PM by Boerderij_Kabouter
This is the brewery I suggest saving for and purchasing when you want to get into AG brewing. It may look expensive, but if you start buying coolers, fittings, and all the other stuff that you need to scrap together a bare bores system you will likely spend at least $500-700.
Many people will tell you "NO! You only need a $50.00 cooler conversion.". OK, what about a burner for the boil? What about a pot for a full boil? What about tubing? What about the endless number of little fittings people never include?
IMO, it is a waste of that money to buy parts that you will want to upgrade soon if you really intend to "buy into" the hobby. If you are like many, and know that AG homebrewing will be for you, then the following system is a great starting point.
This design includes a HERMS (Heat Exchange Recirculating Mash System) for maintaining mash bed temperatures, a direct fired RIMS (Recirculating Infusion Mash System) for step mashes, and a dual coil coiling system I have coined DITCHES (Dual Immersion Thermal Coil Heat Exchange System). For more information on the development of this system, read the brewery build thread I have linked in my signature.
Without further ado, here is the system (I designed this for BillyVegas, so his name appears here):
In this first image you can see a three vessel system that includes several drains, returns, a false bottom in the MLT, and two hard mounted coils. One coil is in the HLT for the HERMS and part of the DITCHES, and the other is int he BK for cooling with the DITCHES.
This second image shows the system during a mash. Wort is drained from the false bottom, circulated through the HERMS, and returned to the top of the mash bed. HLT liquor is circulated to ensure even temperatures.
The third image shows a sparge operation. The hoses are redirected to flow liquor through the HERMS to wash out any remaining wort, then passed to the top of the mash bed. Wort is drained from the mash and pumped to the BK. This could be used for batch sparging, but I find fly sparging much less complicated.
The fourth image shows how the DITCHES works. The HLT is filled with cold tap water, the hot wort is circulated through the coil in the HLT while the cold tap water is simultaneously circulated through the coil in the BK. During initial cooling, the water from the HLT is not returned but collected in a five gallon bucket for cleaning after. After the 5g is run off the temperature of the wort will be pretty low, and the HLT can be filled with ice, the return hooked up the HLT and ice water circulated through the BK coil. I have used this system without ice water and cooled 13.5 gallons of Helles wort from boiling to 60º with 55º groundwater in 12 minutes. That's with no ice water...
Here is a parts list with suppliers and costs:
And an assembly guide (I apologize, I have shown Boilermakers and SS March pumps, the parts list is correct though substituting Kegs and regular March pumps):
So there you have it. I think that is the best way to get into AG brewing. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. You WILL be happy with this system and it allows you the flexibility to brew in any way you want. RIMS, HERMS, manual, and easy to automate. This system is easy to upgrade and will last forever.
If you have any questions PM me. If you send me your email address, I can forward you my excel build sheets, so you can customize your own build.
Cheers,
Justin
Many people will tell you "NO! You only need a $50.00 cooler conversion.". OK, what about a burner for the boil? What about a pot for a full boil? What about tubing? What about the endless number of little fittings people never include?
IMO, it is a waste of that money to buy parts that you will want to upgrade soon if you really intend to "buy into" the hobby. If you are like many, and know that AG homebrewing will be for you, then the following system is a great starting point.
This design includes a HERMS (Heat Exchange Recirculating Mash System) for maintaining mash bed temperatures, a direct fired RIMS (Recirculating Infusion Mash System) for step mashes, and a dual coil coiling system I have coined DITCHES (Dual Immersion Thermal Coil Heat Exchange System). For more information on the development of this system, read the brewery build thread I have linked in my signature.
Without further ado, here is the system (I designed this for BillyVegas, so his name appears here):
In this first image you can see a three vessel system that includes several drains, returns, a false bottom in the MLT, and two hard mounted coils. One coil is in the HLT for the HERMS and part of the DITCHES, and the other is int he BK for cooling with the DITCHES.
This second image shows the system during a mash. Wort is drained from the false bottom, circulated through the HERMS, and returned to the top of the mash bed. HLT liquor is circulated to ensure even temperatures.
The third image shows a sparge operation. The hoses are redirected to flow liquor through the HERMS to wash out any remaining wort, then passed to the top of the mash bed. Wort is drained from the mash and pumped to the BK. This could be used for batch sparging, but I find fly sparging much less complicated.
The fourth image shows how the DITCHES works. The HLT is filled with cold tap water, the hot wort is circulated through the coil in the HLT while the cold tap water is simultaneously circulated through the coil in the BK. During initial cooling, the water from the HLT is not returned but collected in a five gallon bucket for cleaning after. After the 5g is run off the temperature of the wort will be pretty low, and the HLT can be filled with ice, the return hooked up the HLT and ice water circulated through the BK coil. I have used this system without ice water and cooled 13.5 gallons of Helles wort from boiling to 60º with 55º groundwater in 12 minutes. That's with no ice water...
Here is a parts list with suppliers and costs:
And an assembly guide (I apologize, I have shown Boilermakers and SS March pumps, the parts list is correct though substituting Kegs and regular March pumps):
So there you have it. I think that is the best way to get into AG brewing. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. You WILL be happy with this system and it allows you the flexibility to brew in any way you want. RIMS, HERMS, manual, and easy to automate. This system is easy to upgrade and will last forever.
If you have any questions PM me. If you send me your email address, I can forward you my excel build sheets, so you can customize your own build.
Cheers,
Justin
Total Comments 5
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Where's the RIMS??
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It is a direct fired RIMS. The burner under the MLT provides the heat.
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Puh-leeze! Not that complicated nor that expensive to make beer. It looks like you're into the "equipment phase" of the hobby. Plenty of threads on how to do it for the average joe with average ability and more importantly, an average source of income. It's not that technical.
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How would you convert this to an all electric setup or would you suggest a different setup? I'm looking to build an AG system preferably all electric, using keggles, and probably adding a brewtroller for a little automation. I'm a welder by trade so welded fittings would be easy.
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Well thought out and great design. Thank you for sharing. I would be interested in an all electric version of this controlled by a BCS 460/462. Care to build it?
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