Hey all -
First post. Long time brewer but I've been away for many years for a variety of reasons. Used to work for Goose Island. When I did, I had a keggle system, 2-tier. I'd never welded (nor welded since) but was able to finagle a mig unit in exchange for beer brewed on the system, and somehow I put together "Ugly Betty" (guess why she had the name, and who's welding is truly, truly bad?). No pumps, just manually recirc'ed and ran wort over the kettle and then fermenters.
3-valve gas manifold, 20 lb tank, using the King Kooker small banjo, I think it must be the same as Bayou Classic's "classic" 4 inch.
Getting the bug to build out again, but this time bigger, and a pump. Wonder if I could get some advice on a couple things?
20 gallon vessels, though brew length into fermenter will rarely be more than 12 gallons. I just like the flexibility - I was pushing my old system with some of my bigger beers, e.g., "Black Stag," an imperial stout.
First, the frame. I plan on 2 x 2 16 gauge mild steel, coated with whatever that paint or coating is that goes up to what, 2000 F, something like that? I don't plan on welding this time, but I also don't know what something like this costs to hire out, so that may require me to spend some serious practice time and do it, again, myself. I don't mess around with safety however, and if I'm truly bad, it goes to the welder.
The question: Is 16 gauge thick enough?
Second, burners and gas. I know this has been covered closely, but in searching I've not quite seen the situation where a brewer wants to go with from between 14-18 gallons into the kettle, for 12-15-16 gallons of finished bitter wort.
I know many feel the 10" high pressure banjo is overkill at 10 gallons; I also know many who feel if you're going over 5, move to the SP14 or equivalent, possibly, or go all the way to the 10" banjo.
My concerns are more to do with a quick boil and rise to strike temp, but also good performance when I have to dial things down. I never seemed to mind propane efficiency, and never had much of a problem with freezing up on a 3-burner (4" cajun") manifold. But maybe these things become an issue with the 10" banjo, I don't know.
At any rate, for these volumes and 20 gallon vessels, how do people feel about the 10" banjos and 0-30 psi regulator, to the manifold, as shown here? I'm looking for proper needle valves, if possible, or ball valves, as I've seen on Ruby, I think it was, and others.
My manifold is black pipe and brass flares. Stainless steel braided, 0-30 psi regulator; and I likely plan on braided stainless out to to the burners as well.
Thanks for any thoughts, all. I've learned a lot already, just lurking and reading.
First post. Long time brewer but I've been away for many years for a variety of reasons. Used to work for Goose Island. When I did, I had a keggle system, 2-tier. I'd never welded (nor welded since) but was able to finagle a mig unit in exchange for beer brewed on the system, and somehow I put together "Ugly Betty" (guess why she had the name, and who's welding is truly, truly bad?). No pumps, just manually recirc'ed and ran wort over the kettle and then fermenters.
3-valve gas manifold, 20 lb tank, using the King Kooker small banjo, I think it must be the same as Bayou Classic's "classic" 4 inch.
Getting the bug to build out again, but this time bigger, and a pump. Wonder if I could get some advice on a couple things?
20 gallon vessels, though brew length into fermenter will rarely be more than 12 gallons. I just like the flexibility - I was pushing my old system with some of my bigger beers, e.g., "Black Stag," an imperial stout.
First, the frame. I plan on 2 x 2 16 gauge mild steel, coated with whatever that paint or coating is that goes up to what, 2000 F, something like that? I don't plan on welding this time, but I also don't know what something like this costs to hire out, so that may require me to spend some serious practice time and do it, again, myself. I don't mess around with safety however, and if I'm truly bad, it goes to the welder.
The question: Is 16 gauge thick enough?
Second, burners and gas. I know this has been covered closely, but in searching I've not quite seen the situation where a brewer wants to go with from between 14-18 gallons into the kettle, for 12-15-16 gallons of finished bitter wort.
I know many feel the 10" high pressure banjo is overkill at 10 gallons; I also know many who feel if you're going over 5, move to the SP14 or equivalent, possibly, or go all the way to the 10" banjo.
My concerns are more to do with a quick boil and rise to strike temp, but also good performance when I have to dial things down. I never seemed to mind propane efficiency, and never had much of a problem with freezing up on a 3-burner (4" cajun") manifold. But maybe these things become an issue with the 10" banjo, I don't know.
At any rate, for these volumes and 20 gallon vessels, how do people feel about the 10" banjos and 0-30 psi regulator, to the manifold, as shown here? I'm looking for proper needle valves, if possible, or ball valves, as I've seen on Ruby, I think it was, and others.
My manifold is black pipe and brass flares. Stainless steel braided, 0-30 psi regulator; and I likely plan on braided stainless out to to the burners as well.
Thanks for any thoughts, all. I've learned a lot already, just lurking and reading.
