ANVIL FOUNDRY ALL-GRAIN BREWING SYSTEM

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lol yeah I was thinking 0.030 but obviously put in a "gravity" reading instead. Brain and hand-typing not in sync on that one.
 
Digging this up from the archives, got a few questions for y'all, especially if you are using a brew bag:

1. Do you constantly recirculate throughout the mash? I want to say that not recirculating for most of the mash has given me better numbers. Then again, a stream of wort strain down probably isn't a good recirculation system, thinking about a spray valve.

2. Spray valve worth it?

3. Do you double mill your grains? I used to do this with BIAB kettle, but just stopped with the Foundry basket, but I have a bag now so I should probably get back to a double mill setting.
I mill once at .035, don't use a brew bag, I recirculate and have excellent efficiency since I started lifting the basket out two times during the mash. I also use a very accurate temperature probe to check the actual mash bed temp after stirring the top third of the grain bed. I have found that if I want the mash bed temp to be 152, I have to set the Anvil at about 157.
 
Very nice, appreciate the responses, everyone! :rock:

Im against the spray valve personally. I switched from the recirculation disc long ago in favor of putting Locline through the lid and the wort exists below the wort line to avoid splashing. I have a TC connection on top of my lid to accommodate this. As far as recirculating goes, I start recirculating until about 12minutes after doughing in to let the grains settle. Seems to work well overall. For crush, given you are using a bag, I've been going with 1.030" using a cereal killer. Definitely get some flour but it converts very well. I honestly don't understand double crushing. If the mill setting doesn't change, what are you gaining with the second pass?

Cheers!

Can I bug you to PM me your Locline setup pics? Do you perforate it for additional sparge water exit points?
This one looks pretty sweet. Loc-Line - 51837 Coolant Hose Circle Flow Nozzle Kit, 16 Piece, 1/2" Hose ID: Cutting Tool Coolants: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
 
Very nice, appreciate the responses, everyone! :rock:



Can I bug you to PM me your Locline setup pics? Do you perforate it for additional sparge water exit points?
This one looks pretty sweet. Loc-Line - 51837 Coolant Hose Circle Flow Nozzle Kit, 16 Piece, 1/2" Hose ID: Cutting Tool Coolants: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
SL, most of the folks using the lockline are using the regular stuff for the wart return below the wart level in order to reduce the splashing, ie. oxi ingress. I have used a short piece of 1/2 inch tubing attached to the hook think that comes with the recirc setup, it works. Recently I have stopped recircing and haven't noticed any real change. I will usually do a dunk sparge and get 75-85% efficiency.
 
Very nice, appreciate the responses, everyone! :rock:



Can I bug you to PM me your Locline setup pics? Do you perforate it for additional sparge water exit points?
This one looks pretty sweet. Loc-Line - 51837 Coolant Hose Circle Flow Nozzle Kit, 16 Piece, 1/2" Hose ID: Cutting Tool Coolants: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
I use this in my lid Mash Recirculation Return and/or Sparge Kit (locline) TC x BLQD with a TC bulkhead that I also got from Bobby_M.

This post here shows how I ran it within the system:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/anvil-foundry-all-grain-brewing-system.666090/post-9053773
EDIT: since the Locline discharges below the wort line, I never thought that a multiple point exit from the Locline was necessary. Although when I sample wort throughout the mash I rotate the Locline simply by turning the lid so that the discharge point changes throughout the mash. I really don't even think thats necessary but Im fidgety and makes me feel like Im doing something useful lol.
 
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3 brews under my belt and I’m really liking this thing. First brew was rough, but I bottled it this weekend and first tastes are right where I’m going for. Bought a grain mill for my second brew, just because I knew I wanted a finer grain and wanted to start getting grain in bulk.

Second brew was a 2.5 gallon DIPA that went amazingly smooth, but still a bit short of my OG. Have that fermenting in a couple 1 gallon fermenters and so far so good.

Third brew was last night and was a take on fest bier with two row, German Pilsner, and light Munich. Did a finer crush and added a pound of grain and overshot my OG by over 5 points. So think I’m starting to get what I need out of it.

Takes about 5 hours from mash-in to everything cleaned up. Not the worst, but makes for some long nights since I have to mash at 7 after the kids go to bed. Quite a difference from the 3 hours it takes to do a one gallon batch on the stove though. Hopefully I’ll be getting a keg setup next week off Facebook so I can stop worrying so much about bottles.
 
@aceluby - Stating the obvious here, use the timer to get the water heated up so as soon as the kids are in bed you can get started. Or do what I do (I time mine with my kid getting out of the house on the bus since I tend to brew in the AM) and actually mash in about an hour before the time you are truly "free". They can get a kick out of helping (mine's 6 years old) pour in the grain and stirring. After that you can still do stuff with them while the grain sits there converting in the hot water. You might still get a chance or two to come back and stir / lift and lower the basket to get it all merged in. Once they are in bed / out of the house is when you can remove the grain and start boiling.

Also of course get stuff set up the night before. Equipment out, water in the Anvil, minerals added, grain milled, and so on. So that the next night you are just going right to it.
 
@aceluby - Stating the obvious here, use the timer to get the water heated up so as soon as the kids are in bed you can get started. Or do what I do (I time mine with my kid getting out of the house on the bus since I tend to brew in the AM) and actually mash in about an hour before the time you are truly "free". They can get a kick out of helping (mine's 6 years old) pour in the grain and stirring. After that you can still do stuff with them while the grain sits there converting in the hot water. You might still get a chance or two to come back and stir / lift and lower the basket to get it all merged in. Once they are in bed / out of the house is when you can remove the grain and start boiling.

Also of course get stuff set up the night before. Equipment out, water in the Anvil, minerals added, grain milled, and so on. So that the next night you are just going right to it.
Yeah… tried that and my youngest just won’t let it happen (he’s almost two). Just getting the water started while they were around I had to fish a toy out of it, clean up about a gallon of water because he turned the spigot on, had grain thrown in my face as I milled it (twice), and nearly knocked the entire thing over trying to look inside. He’s a tornado and my wife has basically said I can’t do that again.

I may see if it’ll fit on the counter, but I think my ceiling is too short to pull the sleeve out. Hmmm…. I should check that today
 
For those with a 10.5, being used on 240V, what % power are you using to hit approximately 1 gallon of boil off per hour? Assuming you're doing a roughly 5 gallon batch.

I'm determined to get 240V installed in my garage (vs. the current 120V) and am just getting ahead here. I'll do my own dry run with just water but would appreciate a target to start off with.
 
For those with a 10.5, being used on 240V, what % power are you using to hit approximately 1 gallon of boil off per hour? Assuming you're doing a roughly 5 gallon batch.

I'm determined to get 240V installed in my garage (vs. the current 120V) and am just getting ahead here. I'll do my own dry run with just water but would appreciate a target to start off with.
Im on 240V with the 10.5gal. I boil at 87% and get about 0.75gal of boil off. mid-high 80s is a solid boil with minimal issues with boil overs/foaming. I've never gotten 1 gallon boil off in 60min boil but then again, I haven't boiled at 100% throughout the boil either.
 
For those with a 10.5, being used on 240V, what % power are you using to hit approximately 1 gallon of boil off per hour? Assuming you're doing a roughly 5 gallon batch.

I'm determined to get 240V installed in my garage (vs. the current 120V) and am just getting ahead here. I'll do my own dry run with just water but would appreciate a target to start off with.
I'm on 240V with the 10.5 gal. I boil at 90% and get about 1.0 gal of boil off with a solid boil and no issues with boil overs/foaming.
 
These questions regarding calibrating boil-off expectations got me wondering....

What target pre-boil volume are you folks aiming for? and...
What post-boil volume is going into the fermenter? 6.5gal/24.6L?

I cannot answer the question asked specifically as I run a 6.5, and generally run 23-24L pre-boil in the kettle.

76-80% gets me approx 2L boil off in a full hour. 21-22L goes into the ferm-keg, so I finish with ~19L in the serving keg.
 
My 6.5, set at 70%, and with a "steam slayer" inspired setup on top, will evaporate 0.55 to 0.60 gallons in an hour. On it, I typically end the mash / start the boil with 3.55 - 3.60 gallons target, get it down to 3 over an hour, and then a touch under that ends up in the fermenter (fermonster 3 gallon).

For bigger batches it's always been propane in the garage, for decades now, but I've got a recently purchased 10.5 to probably take over. At a minimum it'll be a great temp controlled mash tun and ideally I'll have 240 out there soon and use the Anvil the whole time.
 
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Some time back, someone here made a hook for lifting the basket. It fit the flat section of the basket handle nicely, and had a hole where it oculd be attached to a hoist.

Bad description but maybe made sense.

Does anyone recall who made it or any other information? I'd really like to get one (I think they were for sale).
 
After conversing with @tracer bullet in another thread related to conversion efficiency on these AIO systems, I thought it would be good to post this here.

Well, I think Ive reached my limit for what I can do with the 10.5g foundry lol. Today I did my 3rd imperial stout on this system. For those of you who haven't seen, I ditched the malt pipe long ago for all my beers but it is necessary for these big beers. I use a brewzilla false bottom with a bag from wilserbrewer that was fitted to the kettle itself, not the malt-pipe. For beers that I need to sparge, like these imperial stouts, I drain the wort to a second vessel and "manually fly sparge" one quart at a time so that there is some liquid on top of the grain bed throughout the sparge. Not perfect, but it works. Nevertheless, I think I've reached the point of diminishing returns by pushing this system to its max.

1st Stout: 21.75 pounds (20.75lbs grain and 1lb rice hulls), and got 97% conversion efficiency and 80% mash lauter efficiency after mashing for 90minutes with a 2.5gal sparge. OG was 1.092.
2nd Stout: 25 pounds (24 lbs grain + 1lb rice hulls), and got 94% conversion efficiency and ~73% mash lauter efficiency. Same mashing and sparging as above. OG was 1.100.
3rd Stout (today): 25.75pounts (24.75lbs grain + 1lb rice hulls), and got 94% conversion efficiency and 71.7% mash lauter efficiency. Same mashing and sparge as above. OG was 1.102.

Hindsight is 20/20 lol: Today, I should have stirred the mash once more about 1hr into the mash to maximize conversion efficiency but didn't. Also, today I used a new pump which has more suction than the anvil pump. Combined that with this big grain bill, I didn't get a good lauter as I noticed the pump run dry but with sparge water still on top of the grain bed. Essentially I created a lil vaccuum and the sparge got stuck. Yes, I ran the pump VERY slowly but this didn't matter. SO not all the water ran through the grain bed (which is tall and narrow on this system) and I had to raise the bag a little earlier than I wanted. You can also see that my "vacuum comment" was likely right as the false bottom was starting to collapse.

So with all of these beers, I used a 2hr boil as well to help reach these gravities and I haven't used DME or any boil sugars/syrups in any of them. In the end, Im still happy with the outcome despite not hitting my numbers today like I was expecting due to the issues explained above. This system, with some modifications, can handle large grain bills and TBH anything 1.100+ is a big feat for a 10.5gallon foundry.

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Nice, thanks for the info. I typically do a dunk sparge, lifting the very well squeezed (over the Anvil) grain bag into another pot of water and letting it sit there for a while. Repeat the squeezing and dump that pot into the Anvil. I find it to be pretty easy, but it's a variation on a theme and of course not everyone will want to bother.

Extended boils are definitely required. Perhaps a willingness to have less beer in the end as well - 4.5 gallons say instead of 5.0 or more. I may resign myself to a few pounds of DME for the higher gravity beers to get to 5 gallons. But to be honest that's like 1 - 2 times a year, and the beers will be so intense I really doubt there's a taste difference between 3lbs of light DME for example vs. 5lbs of 2-row.

Pretty nuts to see 25lbs in there!
 
After conversing with @tracer bullet in another thread related to conversion efficiency on these AIO systems, I thought it would be good to post this here.

Well, I think Ive reached my limit for what I can do with the 10.5g foundry lol. Today I did my 3rd imperial stout on this system. For those of you who haven't seen, I ditched the malt pipe long ago for all my beers but it is necessary for these big beers. I use a brewzilla false bottom with a bag from wilserbrewer that was fitted to the kettle itself, not the malt-pipe. For beers that I need to sparge, like these imperial stouts, I drain the wort to a second vessel and "manually fly sparge" one quart at a time so that there is some liquid on top of the grain bed throughout the sparge. Not perfect, but it works. Nevertheless, I think I've reached the point of diminishing returns by pushing this system to its max.

1st Stout: 21.75 pounds (20.75lbs grain and 1lb rice hulls), and got 97% conversion efficiency and 80% mash lauter efficiency after mashing for 90minutes with a 2.5gal sparge. OG was 1.092.
2nd Stout: 25 pounds (24 lbs grain + 1lb rice hulls), and got 94% conversion efficiency and ~73% mash lauter efficiency. Same mashing and sparging as above. OG was 1.100.
3rd Stout (today): 25.75pounts (24.75lbs grain + 1lb rice hulls), and got 94% conversion efficiency and 71.7% mash lauter efficiency. Same mashing and sparge as above. OG was 1.102.

Hindsight is 20/20 lol: Today, I should have stirred the mash once more about 1hr into the mash to maximize conversion efficiency but didn't. Also, today I used a new pump which has more suction than the anvil pump. Combined that with this big grain bill, I didn't get a good lauter as I noticed the pump run dry but with sparge water still on top of the grain bed. Essentially I created a lil vaccuum and the sparge got stuck. Yes, I ran the pump VERY slowly but this didn't matter. SO not all the water ran through the grain bed (which is tall and narrow on this system) and I had to raise the bag a little earlier than I wanted. You can also see that my "vacuum comment" was likely right as the false bottom was starting to collapse.

So with all of these beers, I used a 2hr boil as well to help reach these gravities and I haven't used DME or any boil sugars/syrups in any of them. In the end, Im still happy with the outcome despite not hitting my numbers today like I was expecting due to the issues explained above. This system, with some modifications, can handle large grain bills and TBH anything 1.100+ is a big feat for a 10.5gallon foundry.

View attachment 781916View attachment 781917View attachment 781918
hah, this is pretty awesome to see. same exact set up as mine, but I haven't done anything over 14#.

you mentioned that the malt pipe is necessary for those beers... looks like youre not using it though in the pics? I could be mistaken though.
 
Just brewed an Irish Stout today, BIAB on the anvil 10.5 (wilser bag, full volume, no malt pipe). This was a pretty light brew, about 9# of grain. This is about the 3rd brew in a row that I've been short on efficiency, and I'm not really hung up on it, but just kinda annoyed.

Love the bag, never had a stuck sparge after ditching the malt pipe. The one area I think might make the most difference is the crush, and I always forget to tell the LHBS to turn it to cornmeal. Aside from that (which might make all the difference).. does anyone have any tips on w/ BIAB on the anvil. Thinking of utilizing the malt pipe w a sparge. cheers!
 
I like the false bottom, I'm not really worried about the bag burning or anything but I think (without evidence) that it probably helps w/ the recirculation through the bag, not having totally dead spots in the corners. Mill gaps are a big deal, I have my own cheap mill and set it to .030" gap with a feeler gage. I don't know if there's a perfect setting but it works well for me. pH is a thing but a small factor. Mash temps and time can affect gravity but Id' say crush is #1. With a bag anyhow, with a pipe it's mostly that dead space around the pipe.
 
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I'm doing this as well, and it works great!
So I bought a standard true weldless TC bulkhead from Bobby a long while ago so that I could recirculate through the lid with Locline on the inside allowing me to skip the Recirculation disc all together. Works great. Just remove the anvil lid handle and the bulkhead fits perfectly with no drilling needed. I imagine if @youngdh wanted to fabricate a lid handle that has a TC connection it would work....although it might go down as the most expensive lid handle in history lol.

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15wlf.htm
 
I use this in my lid Mash Recirculation Return and/or Sparge Kit (locline) TC x BLQD with a TC bulkhead that I also got from Bobby_M.

This post here shows how I ran it within the system:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/anvil-foundry-all-grain-brewing-system.666090/post-9053773
EDIT: since the Locline discharges below the wort line, I never thought that a multiple point exit from the Locline was necessary. Although when I sample wort throughout the mash I rotate the Locline simply by turning the lid so that the discharge point changes throughout the mash. I really don't even think thats necessary but Im fidgety and makes me feel like Im doing something useful lol.

I had every intention of doing this as well, purchased a good portion of the parts but then I came across something...can't recall where exactly of course, but something which stated that you shouldn't have liquids exceeding a certain temperature through the locline, which makes sense since it is just plastic.

My intent was to use to it stop using the stock angle metal pipe that the Anvil comes with, and have it recirculate during the mash, as well as for chilling and whirl pooling. Which would require running boiling wort through it to sterilize...so...

Plan abandoned...
 
I used a bag without the malt pipe for the first time two weeks ago. All went well until I lifted the bag and it spread beyond the edges of the kettle and made a mess all over the floor. Granted my bag is the same one I used to use when doing BIAB in a converted keggle so one fitted to the Foundry might work better. For now however I'm going back to no bag.
 
can anyone here confirm if this bag will work as a malt pipe replacement? (i.e. brewing without the malt pipe)
https://www.morebeer.com/products/mesh-grain-bag-275-325.html

That would work since anvil diameter is 12.5 (says up to 19) but I’d buy a Wilser bag instead.

I used a bag without the malt pipe for the first time two weeks ago. All went well until I lifted the bag and it spread beyond the edges of the kettle and made a mess all over the floor. Granted my bag is the same one I used to use when doing BIAB in a converted keggle so one fitted to the Foundry might work better. For now however I'm going back to no bag.
And here we see why an oversized bag can be a problem. An undersized bag brings different issues. If you are going to use a bag, get one properly fitted for your equipment - they just work better. Wilser is a good source.

Brew on :mug:
 
I used a bag without the malt pipe for the first time two weeks ago. All went well until I lifted the bag and it spread beyond the edges of the kettle and made a mess all over the floor.
I use a Wilser Bag made to fit the malt pipe of my Mash&Boil and the top goes over the outside of the kettle. When I pull it out, there’s no excess bag to expand and cause what you describe. Just have one made to fit and you won’t have that problem.
 
I used a bag without the malt pipe for the first time two weeks ago. All went well until I lifted the bag and it spread beyond the edges of the kettle and made a mess all over the floor. Granted my bag is the same one I used to use when doing BIAB in a converted keggle so one fitted to the Foundry might work better. For now however I'm going back to no bag.
I use a Wilser bag (made for my old, fatter, kettle) inside my malt pipe. My first 2 batches on the Foundry I had stuck sparges. The dozen or so that I have done since using pipe/bag combo have sparged perfectly. It makes no sense why this works. Maybe an expert in fluid dynamics can explain it, but frankly I am afraid to mess with it.
 
With the Anvil Foundry 6.5, if I plan on discarding the malt pipe and just using a bag, do I really need to mess with the pump and re-circulation?
I would like to place the AF 6.5 on my counter top and just use gravity for transferring to my fermenter. Is recirculation worth it in the smaller form-factor?
 
With the Anvil Foundry 6.5, if I plan on discarding the malt pipe and just using a bag, do I really need to mess with the pump and re-circulation?
I would like to place the AF 6.5 on my counter top and just use gravity for transferring to my fermenter. Is recirculation worth it in the smaller form-factor?
The pump and recirculation kit make a big difference as far as hitting a target temp and keeping temp even throughout your mash. The heating element is at the bottom and if you are not recirculating wort with the pump there can be a big difference between the temp of the mash at the bottom of the unit and at the top of the unit. If you ditch the malt pipe be sure to use something on the bottom to keep from melting your bag or burning holes in your bag.

Their little pump is the greatest thing. I love it. It is so quiet you can’t even hear it and all it does is work. I don’t much care for the clamp thing they give you to control the out flow but I’ve been too lazy to go find or rig up something better.
 
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The pump and recirculation kit make a big difference as far as hitting a target temp and keeping temp even throughout your mash. The heating element is at the bottom and if you are not recirculating wort with the pump there can be a big difference between the temp of the mash at the bottom of the unit and at the top of the unit. If you ditch the malt pipe be sure to use something on the bottom to keep from melting your bag or burning holes in your bag.

Their little pump is the greatest thing. I love it. It is so quiet you can’t even hear it and all it does is work. I don’t much care for the clamp thing they give you to control the out flow but I’ve been too lazy to go find or rig up something better.
Thank you. This was helpful.
I will go ahead and order it with the pump. They are including a free bucket fermenter with the order, so that is a pretty good deal!
 
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I agree, the little pump is perfect. I still do recirc but if you do a lot of single infusions things might be fine as the double wall holds temps well. If you want to do steps, you would want to manually stir while the heater is active. If you are ok with wiring, you can get a potentiometer and dial in the pump speed. This is way better than the clamp as the pump will not tear up your wort spinning way faster than needed.

I do not understand all of the posts I have seen about wanting to upgrade to a much more powerful pump when I have taken steps to slow the little thing down a lot. Must be for whirlpooling etc...
 
…pH is a thing but a small factor. Mash temps and time can affect gravity but Id' say crush is #1. With a bag anyhow, with a pipe it's mostly that dead space around the pipe.
PH made a big difference for me. I had been hitting around 70%. After I got my water tested and got ez water calculator (or whatever water software you like) and starting adjusting my ph into the desired range I’m now using 84% efficiency when I enter recipes and am finding thats about spot on with the end result. I never thought it made a big difference. Now I’m a believer. Just a tiny bit of acid malt and a little gypsum was all it took for me.
 
I recently moved from the US to Europe and my stuff has just cleared customs and waits for me in storage. I never got to use my Anvil in 220V in the US, but I so look forward to it in from now on, as 220 is default. Question to the electricians: If I simply change the US 3-pin plug into a standard European grounded plug (or use a heavy-duty adapter), am I good to go? Can I assume that a conventional wall-installed power outlet in house built to code will handle the Anvil in full blast without the need for any additional circuit breaker or am I missing something?
 
Don't think that is an issue at all.
You're probably right, and I kind of lean that way too. I just suggest finding out for sure. I bet the heater doesn't care. Whatever is controlling the heater however (the circuit board, generically speaking) could care. Before I took it overseas and found out afterwards.

I'd ask Anvil, not HBT :)
 
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I understand the European 50 Hz frequency will not be a problem for the heater or the controller. The original Foundry pump, though, is 120v/60Hz. Even with a transformer it may not work. Or it may just slow down a bit. Perhaps its time to get a proper pump!
 
With the Anvil Foundry 6.5, if I plan on discarding the malt pipe and just using a bag, do I really need to mess with the pump and re-circulation?
I would like to place the AF 6.5 on my counter top and just use gravity for transferring to my fermenter. Is recirculation worth it in the smaller form-factor?
I have the 6.5 and don’t use the pump - you just have to lift the basket a few times during your brew to keep from losing efficiency. Depends on how precise a brewer you are - I lose maybe 2-3 degrees in the mash with power off - you can always keep the temp stable in the mash leaving the power on and set a temp.

With a bag I’d just be concerned about it hitting the bottom heating element and melting - might want to put it in the tube to keep it simple.

I also transfer from countertop- just open it up and right into the fermentor.
 
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