I'm seriously considering moving up to 12 gallon brew session.
The first thing I need to do I figure the largest amount of wort I can boil in my keggle or find a larger vessel.
Next I want to look at using kegs as fermenters.
This is the best option I've seen so far.
I've taken the details from here. http://www.kettlemoraine.com/mikesbeerpage/gadgets.php
I'm a little too acquainted with leffe at present to digest but I'll take a look later.
This seems like the simplest option I've seed so far.
The other option I've thought of is to get a local pipe fitter to weld a full corny top including posts and lid to the bottom of a keg. I think More beer do a commercial one.
Any ideas or suggestion greatly appreciated.
Beer Keg Fermenter
Heres another damn handy item around my brewery. Convert a keg into a fermenter and you will never go back to carboys. I now do a 1-2 week primary, then straight to kegs for finishing fermentation, spunding for carbonation, and into the cooler for aging and serving. If you can find an 50L import keg, you have found your starting point for this gadget. The keg I used was made to be easily converted by the modification of the diptube which screwed into the lid of the keg, and a hole cut into the bottom to accomodate a corny keg lid. Anyone handy with welding could improve on my technique, but welding is completely optional with this system. You will need a jigsaw and bimetal blades, and a dremel to clean, shape and polish the cut hole and cutoff dip tube ends as desired. If you havent cut stainless with a jigsaw before, the key is to go VERY SLOWLY and if you see your blade turn red hot, you have probably damaged the blade. You could fill your keg with water to cool and lubricate the blade but that isnt necessary.
(BELOW) This is the modified diptube assembly of the keg. Let the CO2 out of the keg! Then unscrew the diptube flange out of the keg and disassemble. Reinsert the diptube in upside down and reassemble. Shorten the tube to the length you desire, and reassemble to keg. Cut off the diptube top to drain better. I added a length of silicone tubing to the diptube and a pinchclamp to close it off. Obviously a welder could come up with some better options here, like cut out the metal retaining section for the diptube, weld in a 1/2" SS pipe, and install a ball valve. Or.... Bottom line, do what you can or want to. Cut up an old plastic bucket for a stand, and pass the tubing out the side or through the handholes on the keg for access.
(BELOW) The last remaining work is to cut a hole into the top of the keg and fit the corny lid to it. Looking for an appropriate lid that you can attach an air lock or blowoff tube to will save you fabrication efforts, or drill a 3/8" hole and plug your airlock in using tubing as a gasket. Remove the plastic tips on the lid latch so you can close down the lid, you might have to grind some off the end of the latch rods to fit well. That should get you started. I really enjoy this fermenter.
The first thing I need to do I figure the largest amount of wort I can boil in my keggle or find a larger vessel.
Next I want to look at using kegs as fermenters.
This is the best option I've seen so far.
I've taken the details from here. http://www.kettlemoraine.com/mikesbeerpage/gadgets.php
I'm a little too acquainted with leffe at present to digest but I'll take a look later.
This seems like the simplest option I've seed so far.
The other option I've thought of is to get a local pipe fitter to weld a full corny top including posts and lid to the bottom of a keg. I think More beer do a commercial one.
Any ideas or suggestion greatly appreciated.
Beer Keg Fermenter
Heres another damn handy item around my brewery. Convert a keg into a fermenter and you will never go back to carboys. I now do a 1-2 week primary, then straight to kegs for finishing fermentation, spunding for carbonation, and into the cooler for aging and serving. If you can find an 50L import keg, you have found your starting point for this gadget. The keg I used was made to be easily converted by the modification of the diptube which screwed into the lid of the keg, and a hole cut into the bottom to accomodate a corny keg lid. Anyone handy with welding could improve on my technique, but welding is completely optional with this system. You will need a jigsaw and bimetal blades, and a dremel to clean, shape and polish the cut hole and cutoff dip tube ends as desired. If you havent cut stainless with a jigsaw before, the key is to go VERY SLOWLY and if you see your blade turn red hot, you have probably damaged the blade. You could fill your keg with water to cool and lubricate the blade but that isnt necessary.
(BELOW) This is the modified diptube assembly of the keg. Let the CO2 out of the keg! Then unscrew the diptube flange out of the keg and disassemble. Reinsert the diptube in upside down and reassemble. Shorten the tube to the length you desire, and reassemble to keg. Cut off the diptube top to drain better. I added a length of silicone tubing to the diptube and a pinchclamp to close it off. Obviously a welder could come up with some better options here, like cut out the metal retaining section for the diptube, weld in a 1/2" SS pipe, and install a ball valve. Or.... Bottom line, do what you can or want to. Cut up an old plastic bucket for a stand, and pass the tubing out the side or through the handholes on the keg for access.
(BELOW) The last remaining work is to cut a hole into the top of the keg and fit the corny lid to it. Looking for an appropriate lid that you can attach an air lock or blowoff tube to will save you fabrication efforts, or drill a 3/8" hole and plug your airlock in using tubing as a gasket. Remove the plastic tips on the lid latch so you can close down the lid, you might have to grind some off the end of the latch rods to fit well. That should get you started. I really enjoy this fermenter.