**PLEASE VOTE!** The Quest for the Ultimate Portable Brewery

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-09-2009, 04:09 PM

I have a good friend who is itching to get into brewing. However he lives at home and has a
small car and not much storage space. His requirements for his brewery are that it brew 10g
batches, store small, fit in his small car to come to my house and brew, and not to sacrifice
quality. He also wants to keep it to a low budget (Like us all

).

Here is what I have come up with... please let me know what you think.

First, I have always thought a system with nesting kettles would be awesome for a portable
brewery, so I went looking and found this:

That's a 15g, 10g, and 8g aluminum kettles for $174 shipped. I brought this up in another thread
and many thought this would not work for AG on 10g batches, however, just keep reading then
we'll hash out the logistics later.

Next, He needs a burner. A few people on here have used this setup to great effect and I think
it is perfect for portable breweries.

It can be had here for $179 + $45 shipping

He will also need a false bottom and some other odds and ends. All told, here is the parts list (I
did not add in a propane tank).

.................................................. ......

to be continued...

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-09-2009, 04:10 PM

Here is how I envision this all working:

Here is the brewery in travel mode. All kettles nest, chiller in pots, and burner folded up.

\

When he gets to my house, he will unfold and un-nest the kettles and burner, then he is setup! Much easier than my setup!!!!

1. Heating the strike water and sparge water. The full volume of water will be heated to temp in the BK because the HLT is likely to small for many beers.

2. Doughing in and mashing. During the mash, the second sparge volume with be transferred to the HLT and brought back to the desired temperature. The first sparge volume is left in the BK where it should remain at the proper temperature.

3. To sparge, first the first sparge volume is added from the BK. The mash is stirred, vorlaufed, and drained back into the BK.

4. Second sparge. The second sparge volume is then added from the HLT. The mash is stirred, vorlaufed, and drained fully into the BK. All runnings should not be collected.

5. The boil is pretty standard.

6. So is chilling.

.................................................. ...

When I initially brought up the nested pot idea, it was shot down mainly because we could not figure out how to move the hot fluids. My solution is to use a copper (or stainless) siphon tube as shown above. It will run down the side of the MLT and under the FB. To start a siphon, he will use one of these:

A few quick pumps and he will be off to the races, and still be able to nest the pots!

............................................

Well? What do you all think? Is this a good design, or a bust?

wildwest450 · 07-09-2009, 04:17 PM

Wouldn't you need a 3rd burner for the hlt? And how will the first sparge water remain at temp?

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-09-2009, 04:21 PM

A third burner would be nice, but I don't think he would need it. You would be amazed how well a large volume of water holds its own temperature. He would be using the banjo burner to keep the HLT and the BK sparge volumes at temp, but they would only have to sit for maybe 20 minutes or less unheated, so he will likely lose around 2 degrees max. It will be more lifting without the third burner but not much and it is probably worth it to him for the easy of moving around factor.

eriktlupus · 07-09-2009, 04:23 PM

now granted mine is a 5g system.

hlt=4g,100cup electric coffee urn
mt=5g round cooler,soon to be 10g
bk=7.5g turkey fryer setup with drain valve
small kitchen cart will hold both mt and hlt
march pump for transfer from hlt to mt (fly sparging)
all fits easily into the back of my jeep cherokee so should be easy for a small car as well

OMJ · 07-09-2009, 04:24 PM

I think it looks good. might want something to insulate the hlt and I dont see a Y adapter for the propane tank listed in your parts. Im sure he doesnt want to have to deal with 2 propane tanks.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-09-2009, 04:28 PM

Good call on the Y. He cound probably fit some reflectex around the HLT and still have it nest.

OMJ · 07-09-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boerderij_Kabouter

Good call on the Y. He cound probably fit some reflectex around the HLT and still have it nest.

Yea I was thinking some reflectex that arent attached to the HLT something he could just set the hlt into so its even covered on the bottom. It would have to be a snug fit to be effective though. Just the lid would probably be enough insulation on the top. My dad made stuff like this for backpacking to keep food warm and it works really well. I dont have any pictures but I can get them if you want to see what I am talking about.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-09-2009, 04:40 PM

I'm pick'n up, what yer putt'n down

wildwest450 · 07-09-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boerderij_Kabouter

Good call on the Y. He cound probably fit some reflectex around the HLT and still have it nest.

It's included with the stand.