Switching To Keggles - Building A Brew Stand

[Sjorge3442]

Hey everyone,

So I have been brewing 5 gallon batches for the past 18 months, I have about 20 batches under my belt and its time to upgrade 10 gallon batches and I have secured three kegs. Each keg will be converted into a keggle with the appropriate fittings for each kegs use.

I am current debating what parts I will need for my brew stand. It will be all propane and three burners. My question is, besides the plumbing for the propane, what parts will I need in order to complete this build. I have searched around but cant really find builds that list what burners were used and such.

Basically, I need to know what burners/regulators everyone suggests using in order to complete my build. I may go with a two burner system, as I dont see the need for a three burner, when I can just let gravity do the work and remove the HLT once I am done mashing out.

Regardless, what are everyones opinions on the burner setup? Adding a pump later on will be easy, but for now I'd just like to get the basic stand setup.

 

[pcollins]

I'm in exactly the same position and building a single tier stand. I've purchased these burners for it:

http://bayouclassicdepot.com/618lp-10-jet-propane-jet-burner.htm

I bought two of these pumps for HLT-MLT and MLT-BK:

http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Brew_Pump_A_magnetic_driven_beer_pump_p/brew-pump.htm

I bought this plate chiller:

http://www.dudadiesel.com/choose_item.php?id=HX3630BWGH

I also got various bits and pieces for cam locks, tri clamp fittings for my HLT and BK, silicone line, and a screen to convert one keggle into my MLT.

Hope that's helpful in some way.

 

[Sjorge3442]

I'm in exactly the same position and building a single tier stand. I've purchased these burners for it:

http://bayouclassicdepot.com/618lp-10-jet-propane-jet-burner.htm

I bought two of these pumps for HLT-MLT and MLT-BK:

http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Brew_Pump_A_magnetic_driven_beer_pump_p/brew-pump.htm

I bought this plate chiller:

http://www.dudadiesel.com/choose_item.php?id=HX3630BWGH

I also got various bits and pieces for cam locks, tri clamp fittings for my HLT and BK, silicone line, and a screen to convert one keggle into my MLT.

Hope that's helpful in some way.

Those burners look overkill to me. I was thinking something more like http://www.homebrewing.org/High-Pressure-Cast-Iron-Burner_p_1050.html

 

[mjackson]

I am in the process of building my single tier setup and am amassing the supplies. I am going with the most rudimentary setup I can think of. It will be a 3 burner rig with one pump. It will have minimal bulkhead connections at first to keep the price down as there is always room to upgrade. It will be almost identical to BobbyM's original single tier keggle rig. I actually just bought all of my stainless fittings, thermometers, sight glasses, and qd's today.

 

[Brewcycle69]

Those burners look overkill to me. I was thinking something more like http://www.homebrewing.org/High-Pressure-Cast-Iron-Burner_p_1050.html

Those burners work well for 5 gallon batches, you probably want something bigger for 10 gallon batches.

These are popular (http://www.homebrewing.org/High-Pressure-Cast-Iron-BANJO-Burner-_p_1746.html) and will get you boiling in about half the time.

Higher cost vs more time is the constant trade-off.

 

[Sjorge3442]

Those burners work well for 5 gallon batches, you probably want something bigger for 10 gallon batches.

These are popular (http://www.homebrewing.org/High-Pressure-Cast-Iron-BANJO-Burner-_p_1746.html) and will get you boiling in about half the time.

Higher cost vs more time is the constant trade-off.

Yeah I figured these would be better, but that site didnt have them in stock. I think I am just going to go with two of those.

I really see no need for me to have three kegs on a stand at once, especially when only there is a max of two being used at any on time. I'll figure it out in time. For now I will be brewing with my turkey fryer. I wanna wait and just get everything setup at once.

 

[jdd12364]

I recommend these from agri-supply ( http://www.agrisupply.com/low-pressure-burner-cast-iron-70000-btus/p/40282/ ) or you can go with a (http://www.agrisupply.com/cast-iron-burner/p/64494/ ) , I tried the ones you listed above & found when a boil over occurs they fill up with scorched wort & they use a lot of fuel .

I built a two tier three burner stand & I am glad I did since the keggle mash tun lost too much heat in an hours time ,I ended up making it into a direct fire , recirculating mash tun with the addition of a temp controller controlling an automated asco gas valve & a chugger pump .

I like having a three burner system so I don't have to wait to start the next step.
I also bought an adjustable regulator from agri-supply , there prices are definitely more affordable than most other sites

 

[Sjorge3442]

I recommend these from agri-supply ( http://www.agrisupply.com/low-pressure-burner-cast-iron-70000-btus/p/40282/ ) or you can go with a (http://www.agrisupply.com/cast-iron-burner/p/64494/ ) , I tried the ones you listed above & found when a boil over occurs they fill up with scorched wort & they use a lot of fuel .

I built a two tier three burner stand & I am glad I did since the keggle mash tun lost too much heat in an hours time ,I ended up making it into a direct fire , recirculating mash tun with the addition of a temp controller controlling an automated asco gas valve & a chugger pump .

I like having a three burner system so I don't have to wait to start the next step.
I also bought an adjustable regulator from agri-supply , there prices are definitely more affordable than most other sites

can you post pictures of your stand? I never really thought about a two tier stand, but now It sounds pretty convenient.

 

[Black Island Brewer]

Those burners look overkill to me. I was thinking something more like http://www.homebrewing.org/High-Pressure-Cast-Iron-Burner_p_1050.html

As a keggle brewer, this burner didn't work for me. The keggle bottoms are so thin, the heat was too concentrated and I scorched wort more than once. I used this, and replaced the orifices with a needle valve/orifice combo that looks like this from tejasssmokers.com. I had to drill out the orifice to match the size of the orifice that came with the burners, but they would have done it for me if I had known the orifice size. Then I used flared tees and elbows at each needle valve, and had propane hoses cut to use as the propane manifold. I didn't hard plumb it because I'm still uncertain about the distance I mounted the burners below the keggle - I may raise them up, and the flexible propane hose gives me more leeway when/if I change the mounting.

 

[jdd12364]

This pic is before I upgraded to a pump , temp controller , asco burner & a plate chiller

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/1400-48225.html

 

[jdd12364]

I like the HLt higher than the mash tun because it works on simple gravity .before the pump I would put the boil kettle on the floor & let gravity fill the boil kettle .

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/dscn0212-48226.html

 

[jdd12364]

These are also well worth it - http://www.brewhardware.com/wlsightglass-60/93-weldless-large-sight-glass-tee-kit

 

[Brewcycle69]

Yeah I figured these would be better, but that site didnt have them in stock. I think I am just going to go with two of those.

I really see no need for me to have three kegs on a stand at once, especially when only there is a max of two being used at any on time. I'll figure it out in time. For now I will be brewing with my turkey fryer. I wanna wait and just get everything setup at once.

Of course if you went the BIAB route you'd only need one.