Conical all in one brewery idea

Skrimpy · 07-07-2007, 06:49 PM

After mulling around the net looking for ideas on a brewery/sculpture and then reading about Yuri's DIY conical fermenter and the subsequent replies I got to thinking...

What about an all in one brewkettle/MLT/fermenter? If it's possible to blow the trub out the bottom for a secondary fermentation, why would it not be plausible to put a removeable false bottom/cage 3/4 of the way down for brewing/mash/sparge? Have the handles of the cage be high enough that once the sparge is complete just lift it out with all your grains in it. Have the exit on the bottom connect to three valves or a three way valve so that you could circulate for constant mash temp/sparge circ on one, cooling on the other, and the third for discarding trub/bottling-kegging. Or, like the replies to Yuris conical show, just have a top with a temp control coil in it to control mash/fermentation temp. Then you only need two valves. One for sparge recirculation and one for bottling/trub blow out. If my thoughts are flawed let me know. I am new to this. But it doesn't seem like a big jump to me from Yuris homemade conical. Just a little work which when its fun, I am up for.

**Biermann** · 07-07-2007, 06:53 PM

hmmm. . . innovative idea. . .

One problem: your fermenter/boil kettle will be occupied for 3 or more weeks while your brew ferments. You won't be able to brew.

**Biermann** · 07-07-2007, 06:54 PM

I'm also not really sure how you'll get all the grain and crap out without removing the rest of the wort.

**Orfy** · 07-07-2007, 06:59 PM

I've never come across a all in one system that fermented as well

The nearest I've seen to your idea is the Aussie brew in a bag set up. Bit that still use a seperate fermenter.

**Bobby_M** · 07-07-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biermann

hmmm. . . innovative idea. . .

One problem: your fermenter/boil kettle will be occupied for 3 or more weeks while your brew ferments. You won't be able to brew.

Well, where would you ferment out any new batches anyway? If you have a conical, I doubt you'd stoop to using a carboy so you'd just wait it out until you can keg the batch.

Also, I think Skrimpy is talking about using a big screened basket to hold the mash. You'd remove the basket to remove the grains. However, this would be considered a no sparge method.

**Biermann** · 07-07-2007, 08:07 PM

Not true. . .I have two conicals. . . when those are full, I "stoop" to using carboys. . .

Do it all the time. I prefer the conicals, but drastic times call for drastic measures!!

Skrimpy · 07-08-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

Well, where would you ferment out any new batches anyway? If you have a conical, I doubt you'd stoop to using a carboy so you'd just wait it out until you can keg the batch.

Also, I think Skrimpy is talking about using a big screened basket to hold the mash. You'd remove the basket to remove the grains. However, this would be considered a no sparge method.

I guess it is spargeless. Exactly what I was hoping to hear. Someone pointing out what I was missing. Thanks for the help! I can't build the perfect system on my own. Can't go without a sparge. No sparge = less suger, less sugar = weaker beer, weaker beer = SUCKS. Therefore, no sparge = SUCKS. Time to rethink. I might have to go with a separate fermenter. Or if I can find a way to lift the grain bed far enough off the wort to sparge I might be able to sparge. Maybe another place in the kettle that the basket could sit above the wort so that I can do a sparge. Like I said, I'm new to this. Does the sparge recirculate to maximize extraction? Or does it just run over the grains once? If it has to recirculate then two kettles is a must. Otherwise its spargeless and as I said before, no sparge = less alcohol, therfore, no sparge = SUCKS. More criticizim please! Can the wort be used to sparge? Or does it have to be water to extract the remaining sugar from the grains?

**Bobby_M** · 07-08-2007, 12:56 AM

Sparging, in either fly or batch, always leaves the grainbed submerged under water. There would probably be a significant hit in having water trickling over a suspended (and likely compacted) bed. Then when you think more about it, you'd need another heating vessel for your sparge water so you're already outside of the one stop brewing maching.

I did read a guy's page where he ferments right in his boil kettle. It's a converted keg and he has a plexiglass lid with gasket. Technically you could use the kettle as your HLT, BK, and fermenter. You'd need a separate MLT and another bucket to catch your first runnings and any intermediate batch sparge runnings.

Skrimpy · 07-08-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

Sparging, in either fly or batch, always leaves the grainbed submerged under water. There would probably be a significant hit in having water trickling over a suspended (and likely compacted) bed. Then when you think more about it, you'd need another heating vessel for your sparge water so you're already outside of the one stop brewing maching.

I did read a guy's page where he ferments right in his boil kettle. It's a converted keg and he has a plexiglass lid with gasket. Technically you could use the kettle as your HLT, BK, and fermenter. You'd need a separate MLT and another bucket to catch your first runnings and any intermediate batch sparge runnings.

Fair enough. Guess I will have to go with at least two vessels or no sparge! Now for the design.