I have returned...hello from Missouri!

[MissouriBrewer]

Even though I'm a veteran homebrewer and have lurked and occasionally posted on here for many years, felt it was right for me to reintroduce myself after a lengthy hiatus.

Had our first child about six years ago and my homebrewing hobby survived...for a while. After our second child in 2014 and my wife being diagnosed with cancer, it all just went out the window.

Trying to get back into the hobby I love, but in a more automated/easier way. Interested in investing some more into my equipment to make mashing, sparging, boiling, cooling, transferring, and cleanup easier and less time-consuming.

 

[MizzouFermentationScience]

I have had to streamline brewing due to child and a house remodel. My "brewery" fits in a little shed I built on the patio- 6 X 2 ft. Half of it is dedicated to gardening tools, the other half all my brewing stuff. If it doesn't fit, I don't need it. As for automation, I'm no engineer so I went with wireless plugs to run heat and pump. I run HERMs through a HLT controlled with an Anova sous vide, sitting on a hot plate controlled from my phone if I need to boost heat (I plan on switching this to water heater element soon but same concept). I use cam lock QDs which are worth every penny. March pump on wireless plug as well. I can step mash from 120 to 170 while sitting on the couch. I still boil with gas- I like the ease of cleaning immersion chillers and to quick cool I use a paint stirrer on a drill to create a counter flow in situ. It takes me less than 5 minutes to chill 5 gal batch- an electric element would interfere with the paddle. It's easy to do single infusion in 3 hours, but I often do 4 step mashes and hit crazy efficiencies- it's not a big deal because I control mash remotely from my phone while doing other stuff. It's not much to look at but I have very high control and ease of use- sparging self cleans the HERMs and pump. Temp is measured at pump inlet, HERMs tank, and top of mash tun and transmitted wirelessly. It's not cheap but I collected the parts over the course of 10 years until one day it appeared. It's a non engineer beer nerds dream.

 

[Sammy86]

Welcome back! Sounds like you've had a hell of an adventure and came out the other side!

Now make yourself some homebrew and enjoy it!

Cheers!

 

[bradleypariah]

Interested in investing some more into my equipment to make mashing, sparging, boiling, cooling, transferring, and cleanup easier and less time-consuming.

Word on the streets for the absolute least amount of headache, transferring, lifting and cleanup:

• brew in a bag
• ferment in the kettle
• serve via keg

 

[MissouriBrewer]

Word on the streets for the absolute least amount of headache, transferring, lifting and cleanup:

• brew in a bag
• ferment in the kettle
• serve via keg

Thanks, will definitely look into those options. I've acquired some things since I stopped brewing for cooking that I think might help as I get back in too.

I have an Anova precision cooker that will help get the mash water ready without much input.

Definitely looking at fermenting in keg (maybe kettle), because I already have six corny kegs and a kegerator. Should help with transfer and cleanup.

 

[bradleypariah]

Definitely looking at fermenting in keg

I've not tried that. I'd be worried that my trub would be too difficult to push out the tap post.

Here's Basic Brewing Radio on kettle fermentation. Good episode:
http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/9/f/1/9f1...97468266&hwt=44841a28f3b328ade40e1ce957c7a6d4

 

[MissouriBrewer]

I've not tried that. I'd be worried that my trub would be too difficult to push out the tap post.

Here's Basic Brewing Radio on kettle fermentation. Good episode:
http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/9/f/1/9f1...97468266&hwt=44841a28f3b328ade40e1ce957c7a6d4

From what I've read, you just trim the dip tube about 1/2" so it leaves the trub behind.