markklug

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I've searched for some examples of a build I came across while researching and designing a new brewstand and not had much luck. So I am starting a new thread and hoping for some feedback. I am interested in a compact design, 3 vessel system. 5 gallon batches for now, but room to go to larger vessels.

I came across a different concept that intrigues me. A compact 3 tier system explained at this link:

http://halfbarrelbrewer.com/the-brew-stand/

I am trying to decide if I could lower the mash tun and kettle, and remove the burner from under the grant to make this even shorter. If I intend to recirc while mashing, I don't see why I couldn't just pump directly to the grant. Is there a big advantage to being able to gravity drain from the mash tun? My understanding is the single tier systems all pump from the mash without issues of grain bed compaction by throttling the pump outlet.

The height of the stand would essentially just be the height of the pump, grant tank, room for one burner, and the boil kettle. Assuming 20 inch tall tanks, the top of the brew kettle should be a little over 4 feet. Making the shelf heights adjustable to go to half barrels should only add another 6 inches or so.

Basic process would be to heat up water in the boil kettle for the initial mash and gravity drain to the mash tun. Use the burner under the mash tun to maintain temp or step mash.

Heat additional water in the boil kettle for sparging. Either fly sparge from the boil kettle while using the pump to drain from the mash tun and send wort to the grant; or batch sparge after the tun has been drained.

Empty the boil kettle of any extra water you may have there.

Pump the wort from the grant to the boil kettle.

Feedback appreciated.

Concho

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Search for member name -TH- and look at his 5 gallon brew rig with tippy dump. It is very compact and is all gravity, no pumps needed. Even without the tippy dump its pretty cool.

Carlscan26

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DrPhilGood

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Interesting design. I like it. If you incorporated a herms coil on the boil kettle you could even eliminate the need for a mash tun burner. Fill strike water in bk, heat to the temp transfer to mash tun then refill the bk with sparge water heat to mash temps. Use the pump to recirculate the mash through the bk herms, then fly sparge into the grant.

Then once your boil is compete you can run hose water through the herms to chill.

Concho

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It's a cool set up, I'm planning on building one similar in the near future

breckenridge

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Yeah, I think this is a brilliantly laid-out tower, and aspire to something like it in the not-too-distant future.

broadbill

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Great idea, but pretty thin on details and his costs aren't quite there (his stand doesn't have burners for example).

The devil is in the details.