Let me start this thread by quoting one of my buddies. "Don't bother! Just buy your beer. You can't make it as good as breweries can." Being the engineer/Marine that I am, the challenge has been taken.
The purpose of this thread is get input on the best options you have tested on your beer systems and the changes you have made, and most importantly why you did it.
My focus is not on producing just good beer. I am interested in controlling variables that let me consistently and reasonable control my process and experiment with styles I want to make.
I have an overall system cost limit of $3K. I know that anything can be done with enough time, money, and/or sweat equity. And, I am going to build most of it myself.
Some topics to consider... (please add anything else you think important)
Construction Materials
wood, stainless, soft steel, erector set. pieced together
Heat delivery systems
HERMS, RIMS, direct fired
Different Control Systems
Brewtroller, Love controls, hand monitored
Sensors
BarBQ sensors, commercial sensors, hand held thermometers
Brew Pot designs
Fuel Type or Electric
Etc... (please add as you see fit)
In return I will read any posts you refer me to and try to work out logically with anyone willing to discuss what I will use and why or why not. I plan to make my brew system an ongoing project.
I am not asking to be spoon fed your expertise earned through experience. I am trying to shortcut the time to get a good system up and running though.
Thanks for any input you have time to give and I hope this can serve as a resource for others. I couldn't find anything like it in the threads.
Happy Brewing!
I am an engineer by trade with a Marine's stubbornness.
The purpose of this thread is get input on the best options you have tested on your beer systems and the changes you have made, and most importantly why you did it.
My focus is not on producing just good beer. I am interested in controlling variables that let me consistently and reasonable control my process and experiment with styles I want to make.
I have an overall system cost limit of $3K. I know that anything can be done with enough time, money, and/or sweat equity. And, I am going to build most of it myself.
Some topics to consider... (please add anything else you think important)
Construction Materials
wood, stainless, soft steel, erector set. pieced together
Heat delivery systems
HERMS, RIMS, direct fired
Different Control Systems
Brewtroller, Love controls, hand monitored
Sensors
BarBQ sensors, commercial sensors, hand held thermometers
Brew Pot designs
Fuel Type or Electric
Etc... (please add as you see fit)
In return I will read any posts you refer me to and try to work out logically with anyone willing to discuss what I will use and why or why not. I plan to make my brew system an ongoing project.
I am not asking to be spoon fed your expertise earned through experience. I am trying to shortcut the time to get a good system up and running though.
Thanks for any input you have time to give and I hope this can serve as a resource for others. I couldn't find anything like it in the threads.
Happy Brewing!
I am an engineer by trade with a Marine's stubbornness.