Hello guys,
I'm completely new to this industry, I'm currently looking to jump in with two feet though. I would love some input on something that will allow me to build nothing due to lack of time to do such things. I'm currently going to a local community college to take some biology classes and other things I think may help me along my path as well as looking at the siebel institutes list of books. I'm sort of bummed out because the UC Davis program is very close (2 hours) and is full for some time to come. So... I want to try and get a system that can be both big enough to make large batches for sale at some point but maybe capable of running a smaller amount for all the test runs I'm going to be doing.
I'm very interested in automation for the burners/ pumps for the initial boil process and moving it into the primary tank. This way I can comfortably start a boil and not worry about having to baby sit it on the weekends or whatever when I'm able to run it but wanna go for a run with the girlfriend, etc.
(side note, can you leave it on the burner for prolonged time at a lower temp? I guess the question is, can you prolong the boil process and not worry about automating the movement to primary)
I'm also curious what it would take to boil a few rounds, get them into the primary, get those mixed and onto the secondary, all the way to the fermenting process for multiple batches.
This also brings me to the final question about what to do with it once its fermenting and being stored... do I need a cooler?
So basically, I want to put in a low/medium investment that can be sized up slowly as I get better. When I mean low, I mean not 150k. 20-50k isn't out of the question and I do have a 1500 sq.ft garage at my property. Its got 12' and 9' drive through doors w/ 11' ceiling. I have very little in the garage at the moment. It wasn't built very long ago.
I'd like not to fill the whole garage but I'm just putting it out there I have the room to grow and lots of land to build a building if I needed to with the equipment to do it, etc. I'd much rather build the building that build the equipment, lol...
I'm going to stick to what I'm good at.
What I'm really trying to do is not buy things twice, I'd like to be able to try a small batch then try it larger and see if it comes out the same, etc.
I'm not a chef but have lots of chef friends and am very excited to toy with flavors. I'd love to have them over and pick their brains on the different ideas they have and really have fun with it.
I'm looking at the brew-magic.com for a prebuilt unit but I'm afraid it won't be big enough when the time comes. I'd like to put the brews out in the market on a small level to get feedback but i'll need several kegs I'm thinking to really get any footing. I've got a few local pubs i think will carry them before they realize I'm crazier than they thought, lol...
This is a 5 year plan for me but I'd like to get it off the ground in the next 3 months and really play with it over the summer. Well... enough about me and my intro, lets see what you guys can come up with.
BTW, I went to sierra nevada's brewery in Chico, CA. for a CCOF meeting and OMG!!! That guy and his brewery blew my over analytical mind all over the place. Its my inspiration!
I'm completely new to this industry, I'm currently looking to jump in with two feet though. I would love some input on something that will allow me to build nothing due to lack of time to do such things. I'm currently going to a local community college to take some biology classes and other things I think may help me along my path as well as looking at the siebel institutes list of books. I'm sort of bummed out because the UC Davis program is very close (2 hours) and is full for some time to come. So... I want to try and get a system that can be both big enough to make large batches for sale at some point but maybe capable of running a smaller amount for all the test runs I'm going to be doing.
I'm very interested in automation for the burners/ pumps for the initial boil process and moving it into the primary tank. This way I can comfortably start a boil and not worry about having to baby sit it on the weekends or whatever when I'm able to run it but wanna go for a run with the girlfriend, etc.
(side note, can you leave it on the burner for prolonged time at a lower temp? I guess the question is, can you prolong the boil process and not worry about automating the movement to primary)
I'm also curious what it would take to boil a few rounds, get them into the primary, get those mixed and onto the secondary, all the way to the fermenting process for multiple batches.
This also brings me to the final question about what to do with it once its fermenting and being stored... do I need a cooler?
So basically, I want to put in a low/medium investment that can be sized up slowly as I get better. When I mean low, I mean not 150k. 20-50k isn't out of the question and I do have a 1500 sq.ft garage at my property. Its got 12' and 9' drive through doors w/ 11' ceiling. I have very little in the garage at the moment. It wasn't built very long ago.
I'd like not to fill the whole garage but I'm just putting it out there I have the room to grow and lots of land to build a building if I needed to with the equipment to do it, etc. I'd much rather build the building that build the equipment, lol...
I'm going to stick to what I'm good at.
What I'm really trying to do is not buy things twice, I'd like to be able to try a small batch then try it larger and see if it comes out the same, etc.
I'm not a chef but have lots of chef friends and am very excited to toy with flavors. I'd love to have them over and pick their brains on the different ideas they have and really have fun with it.
I'm looking at the brew-magic.com for a prebuilt unit but I'm afraid it won't be big enough when the time comes. I'd like to put the brews out in the market on a small level to get feedback but i'll need several kegs I'm thinking to really get any footing. I've got a few local pubs i think will carry them before they realize I'm crazier than they thought, lol...
This is a 5 year plan for me but I'd like to get it off the ground in the next 3 months and really play with it over the summer. Well... enough about me and my intro, lets see what you guys can come up with.
BTW, I went to sierra nevada's brewery in Chico, CA. for a CCOF meeting and OMG!!! That guy and his brewery blew my over analytical mind all over the place. Its my inspiration!