Recent content by DarkStormBrewing

I've had my system 20 gal/hard sided basket since June this year. Although I've only brewed on it twice, I'm loving it. Brew day is about 4.5 hours with step mashes. I came from a 3V Hermes electric brewery with diy panel, which now has 2x the pids and sensors I need for this simple set up...

Going by a set mash thickness may trip you up. Mine was 1.95 ish qt/lb but as my gravities scale or I drop to a 5gal from 10 gal batch that # should change. Brewers friend has a simple quick water calculations that gets me really close. First brew I had it set to .125 quart for grain...

By "adding grains too early", are you saying before hitting strike temp? Iced yet to brew on mine yet, trying to absorb everyone's experiences until I do get the chance.

I bought this system to save time on cleaning...coming from a Kal clone Herms with threaded everything 2 pumps and a CFC. Now with 1 vessel 1 basket and immersion chiller vs 3 vessels 1 false bottom and tons of threaded parts that get broken down I'm estimating saving an hour+on cleanup. I...

Received my 20 gal system, was missing the recirc assembly, but Tim shipped it out priority 2 day to me. Great response when I've called. Ready to passivate and water test this weekend.

Yes indeed, I was thinking of using an accurate thermometer to compare. I calibrated my probe to 150 F using a thermopen. Good point.

For calibration, I would aim to calibrate it at boiling since you will be using the probe mostly from 145F to boiling. Ice water is better than nothing, but if you can do it at a higher temp I think it would be most accurate.

I did too. I called them after 2 months and he said Thursday that its ready and waiting on a basket, should ship yesterday or today. So soon!

I'm brewing on an E herms and I go kettle>pump>cfc>kettle. Chilling the whole mass within a half hour. I set the PID to alarm at 100F, then add ice, water, an Epsom salt to my 50' prechiller set in a 5 gal bucket. Set PID for pitch temp. Alarm sounds, transfer to fermenters, oxygenate and pitch...

Ordered the nano home kettle almost 8 weeks ago, no communication from them since order placed $750ish. I checked the order status on their site and it says work order created a few days after ordered. They said about 5-6 weeks lead. I did have some minor customizations. Think I may call...

I have the "build your own Nano" 20G kettle on order. Reading through your struggles reminds me of my first couple of brews on a Kal Clone with CFC. Kinks will get worked out along the way. You have already ironed out a lot of them. No system is perfect and with new realms like pumps...

I priced it out and the $710 is for the 20 Gal kettle with all valves, temp probe ,clamps, gaskets, the new Hardsided basket with lift bar welded on, and the new recirc fitting assembly/recirc arm. It's a great deal and while more then the original build, seems to offer more and new and improved...

It did end up finishing out, but I'll be shying away from it in the future. Beer has a slight green apple/acetaldehyde character to it...

Ended up with a slight green apple character in the finished beer. I have never tasted this in any of my beers before (over 30 brews). Very disappointed in the Nottingham performance and lag. I have loved this yeast from early on, but maybe it's time to use the liquid British ale yeasts...

I'm sure it will take just a few batches to nail volumes and grain absorption numbers. I love the new basket design in the video posted.