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**SpikeBrewing** · 02-13-2012, 10:11 PM

Trying to get some information on what people like, don't like and would like when it comes to a brew stand. As some of you know I'm finishing up my last semester of Engineering school and for our senior design project we're going to make a 3 kettle brew stand (

). We'd like to get some opinions, comments, concerns, etc from people that own a stand or are looking to purchase a stand.

Any information you can give will help us design a better stand. A few things off the top of my head are: height/length/width, collapsabilty, propane/NG, burner BTU output, frame material, automatic temperature controlled, PRICE RANGE.

Thanks in advance and happy brewing!

**OneHoppyGuy** · 02-14-2012, 12:15 AM

Hey Ben... no help here...

But I wish you well and hope the best for your business.

Bezel · 02-14-2012, 12:42 AM

My first was a three keggle, three tier gravity system, small footprint and cheap... I am finishing up a two tier with one pump and eventually ad a rims tube. Have brewed a couple batches and can say I love the two tier due to height and ease of moving kegs for cleanup

**SpikeBrewing** · 02-14-2012, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneHoppyGuy

Hey Ben... no help here...

But I wish you well and hope the best for your business.

Not trying to infringe

(Maybe the thread will even help you guys out)

The university is funding it and I can't think of a more fun project to work on for the next 4 months.

**mors** · 02-14-2012, 02:01 AM

I would say my top 2 things would be collapsabilty and weight. I don't have a garage I can store a brew stand in...and I would have to carry it up from the basement. I can't be alone.

**TomSD** · 02-14-2012, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mors

I would say my top 2 things would be collapsabilty and weight. I don't have a garage I can store a brew stand in...and I would have to carry it up from the basement. I can't be alone.

Something that collapses flat with wheels on one end and handles on the other like a dolly would be great for storing/moving.

**SpikeBrewing** · 02-14-2012, 02:47 PM

Nobody else owns a stand or plans on getting one? Maybe I should give away a pump

**AnthonyC** · 02-14-2012, 03:09 PM

When considering a pre-built brew stand I bought the Blichmann Top Tier because:

1) Cheapest pre-built stand out there by far.
2) Allowed me to use my existing kettles (looking at you MoreBeer).
3) Completely modular/customizable that can grow with me. If for some reason it stops meeting my needs, I'm not out a ton of dough (see #1).
4) Small footprint to fit in my overly crowded garage.
5) Somewhat mobile.

I seriously considered building one myself but I know how I am and scope creep would pretty much guarantee that after a couple of years I'd have a partially finished stand that could be really cool if I finished any part of it.

So buying something I could use right away became more and more appealing.

foodplusbeer · 02-14-2012, 03:35 PM

I don't have a brew sculpture but cost would be a big factor for me. It may not be pretty, but since only one vessel really needs to hold boiling water the other 2 could be plastic (insulated of course, you can even use the reflective sheets to make them pretty).

The one stainless kettle can have built in copper tubing. Sparge water can be heated in this kettle, and wort from the mash can be recirculated through the copper to get to increase or maintain temperature. Afterwards, sparge water can be pumped to a containment vessel for sparging and new wort can be pumped into the recently emptied boil kettle. With this method you only need 1 heat source.

**dfess1** · 02-14-2012, 04:02 PM

I like mine. I have the modularity in the collar. It can take any pot you decide to put on it, and my current pots store underneath. It is mobile. More importantly it works in combination with my smoker, and doubles as a three burner stove, with none of the brewing pieces mounted permanently on the apparatus.