And so it begins! My E-Herms build

[Brettomomyces]

I love the fermentation setup ...some day....

 

[homebrew57]

awesome update. awesome system.

 

[Huaco]

What do the rest of you HERMS/RIMS brewers do?

I have experienced the grain-plug on my bottom draining keggle MLT previously... It's frustrating. However, I think I've found a way to eliminate the issue.
My last several brews, I've moved all my strike water (heated in my BK) to the MLT and then start my full speed (all valves open all the way) re-circulation of the MLT. As I dough-in, some grains and hulls get past the false bottom, but nowhere near in the same quantity as if I had doughed-in all the grains and stirred having only then attempted to start my pumps. I have had MUCH better results with this method. It still lets me stir the mash and break up all the dough balls and I've never had my pump get clogged since doing this...

 

[Hello]

That is an amazing setup. I love the innovative way you placed the brew house so you don't seem to lose your garage space.

 

[RocketBrewer]

I have experienced the grain-plug on my bottom draining keggle MLT previously... It's frustrating. However, I think I've found a way to eliminate the issue.
My last several brews, I've moved all my strike water (heated in my BK) to the MLT and then start my full speed (all valves open all the way) re-circulation of the MLT. As I dough-in, some grains and hulls get past the false bottom, but nowhere near in the same quantity as if I had doughed-in all the grains and stirred having only then attempted to start my pumps. I have had MUCH better results with this method. It still lets me stir the mash and break up all the dough balls and I've never had my pump get clogged since doing this...

Do you leave your pumps at full flow for the whole mash?
With a bottom drain kettle, I'm guessing that you transfer cold break and all to the fermenter? do you deal with it there or just leave it?

 

[RocketBrewer]

I love the fermentation setup ...some day....

Thanks, a bit of an investment, but I think they'll be worth it.

awesome update. awesome system.

Thanks. Thanks again

That is an amazing setup. I love the innovative way you placed the brew house so you don't seem to lose your garage space.

Thank you, It seems to be working out pretty well so far. The only thing that is a little inconvenient is running power cords to the fridges in the center of the garage. It would also be nice to have a sink for clean up. I'm thinking about making a portable one on wheels that I could roll into position and hook up with a garden hose. Maybe even hook up hot water from the HLT. That's another project, they never seem to stop.

 

[Huaco]

Do you leave your pumps at full flow for the whole mash?
With a bottom drain kettle, I'm guessing that you transfer cold break and all to the fermenter? do you deal with it there or just leave it?

Yeah, I open the pumps and the Chuggers do a great job of re-circulating the mash. My Wort Pump stays on and open the whole time. The Water Pump circulates the HLT to keep stratification at bay... Plus, my sensors are inline on the out-going plumbing so I have to have pumps moving fluids around to get accurate temps.

Yeah, if I had to do it over, I'd get a nice flat bottom kettle to build into my Boil Kettle. I do transfer break material but usually let the wort rest in a sanitized vessel prior to racking over to the fermentor. This allows the cold break to precipitate and fall out... Nothing but nice clean wort goes into the fermentor! Then, I'll inject oxygen and pitch yeast.

 

[Brettomomyces]

Where did you find the bev coolers? Those are the perfect size for your conicals

 

[RocketBrewer]

Where did you find the bev coolers? Those are the perfect size for your conicals

I found the True GDM-10's on Sacramento Craigslist and bought them before the conicals. I had to travel 1 1/2 hours to get them in Tracy, CA, but think it was worth it. They are only 10 CF but pack a 1/3 hp compressor. They have glass doors on both sides (grocery store soda fridges), but seem to be fairly efficient. I have to measure the power consumption on the next batch. They came out of Safeway stores across all of Ca. because the soda distributor started supplying coolers, not because they had problems. There must have been at least a couple hundred of them (I imagine there are still some left). I picked up 3 of them for $195 ea. and hard wired the controllers in. You can get some more details in the build thread in my signature. I then set out to find a conical that would fit as the inside height is limited. The Stout Tank conical 14.5 gal short conical fit the bill perfectly, and at less than $600 ea., fit the bill perfectly. They are very nice, but I think I will probably upgrade to butterfly valves for them eventually as they are much easier to clean and sanitize than the ball valves.

 

[Brettomomyces]

195 for those is not bad at all! Well worth the drive

 

[BTizo]

I use a grain sack in addition to the false bottom. Have never once had a stuck pump.