Any brewers in the Conway Area?

[estricklin]

I like either place, but end up ordering a lot of stuff online.

What do ya'll think about this cheap stainless table for a brew stand? Currently ordering everything I need to get this electric setup going, will be supporting about 250 lbs max.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/24-x-72-St...811789?hash=item2caa1126cd:g:4tQAAOSwwpdW72tk

 

[mmmooretx]

I like either place, but end up ordering a lot of stuff online.

What do ya'll think about this cheap stainless table for a brew stand? Currently ordering everything I need to get this electric setup going, will be supporting about 250 lbs max.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/24-x-72-St...811789?hash=item2caa1126cd:g:4tQAAOSwwpdW72tk

I like it. I looked at one similar, used, and talked to a friend. Basically with electric, like me, the stainless soaks up heat so put some wood under them (NO paint or sealer or it will stick to your pot). Mineral oil should be fine. My friend went high end with a soapstone top.

 

[mmmooretx]

Just finished ordering 2 BrewPi Sparc3's to set up my 2 fermentation chambers (I used the original Brewpi and loved it). Should have them in ~10 days, rewiring my temperature sensors (my units have heat and cooling with constant air circulation). My PID controllers arrive tomorrow and rewiring from Brewtroller is in process, for brewing. Will do an IPA for profiling, then a Urquell clone second.

 

[mmmooretx]

Picture of my fermenter.

 

[estricklin]

Picture of my fermenter.View attachment 563340

I am wanting to build a brewtroller from a Pi, just need to get off my ass and write the code, I have most of the hardware and everything else for this electric brewing project.

 

[mmmooretx]

I am wanting to build a brewtroller from a Pi, just need to get off my ass and write the code, I have most of the hardware and everything else for this electric brewing project.

I ordered 2 BrewPi' s and they are shipping from Netherlands today. I have my Raspberry pi ready to install Docker once my toyz arrive ~ 6 days via FedEx.

 

[estricklin]

I read up on the Brew Pi and noticed it's mainly for fermentation but they are working on a full brewing system. It looks really slick though.

I just noticed your a ham?

 

[mmmooretx]

I read up on the Brew Pi and noticed it's mainly for fermentation but they are working on a full brewing system. It looks really slick though.

I just noticed your a ham?

YES on the Ham, Extra. Elco has had ups and downs over the last 3-4 years. I will be glad to see him get the brewing system up and running, for distribution. My first issue was that if you are fermenting and want to brew it won't work. But once he gets it running you will only need 1 BrewPi Sparc 3 and one Raspberry pi dedicated to brewing (cannot use the same system for both). Also he already has the one wire interfaces for valves and SSRs. In all fairness he was a one man shop for a long time, so I will be glad when he finds a full time code pounder he is happy with. When I had my BrewPi ver. 1 running it was so sweet to check both chambers with a browser. Also you can program your cold crash to 2 degrees a day without going out to tweek the temperature controller.

 

[estricklin]

I may end up just cobbling together some code together for now. I am probably going to start with the Arduino and a serial interface, then as I have time I'll write some code for the Pi. I'm still going to try the Craftbeer Pi but am not sure about the support/documentation on it.

The STC 1000+ has the ability to ramp up or down ferm temps. It's super easy to flash one, but of coarse the Pi setup is way better and can be done remotely.

Maybe I noticed you were a ham before? I'm the webmaster for the Arkansas Diamond Amateur Radio Club, and I try to stay active although I haven't been on the air much lately. Punched my extra ticket a couple of years ago, was KF5WHN before the short call.

 

[estricklin]

Hope everyone is well.

I tried the Sweetwater sampler over the weekend, love the Pineapple IPA.

 

[BowAholic]

I had one of their older samplers and they were all good... I was just out working on some bows and having a few beer samples... dang NB needs to have an all grain kit sale soon! If they would I wouldn't need to order 100# of grain ...

 

[estricklin]

The first couple I tried had Grass Monkey and some others that weren't in this one, I actually didn't know the samplers were different until I got home, but it turned out to be a good thing.

I'm writing code today for my ham radio club website.

 

[BowAholic]

that's the one that I had... Hop Hash, Grass Monkey, 420, and something else... all pretty tasty.

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

Hey fellas! Just moved to Cabot from San Diego and have been trying to sell some equipment if anyone is interested. Took awhile to build and only used once unfortunately, I'm trying to go back to a basic setup now to save some space. Not parting it out just yet, I'd like to sell it as a whole but I realize that's unlikely... $1,600 OBO.

 

[BowAholic]

that's some nice equipment... most of us just brew it in whatever we can find for cheap.
Eric and I both us gas for most of our beers but have just started using home made electric rigs on days the gas would be a problem. Best of luck to you!

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

that's some nice equipment... most of us just brew it in whatever we can find for cheap.
Eric and I both us gas for most of our beers but have just started using home made electric rigs on days the gas would be a problem. Best of luck to you!

Thanks man! It's hard to sell a system as a whole, basically have to find someone that wants EXACTLY what you have. So I'm going to start parting it out and I'm willing to negotiate pricing if you know anyone interested in the area

 

[BowAholic]

good luck... there was a guy in Greenbrier with a big fancy setup for sale...not sure if he ever sold it. "We be po-folks" that just make due.

 

[BowAholic]

two other things... I was born in National City 64 years ago...and Green Flash is one of my favorite breweries...

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

I'm not a rich man, just had some money I saved up from a deployment to the Middle East and thought having 3 vessels and two pumps would make my brew day much easier and shorter.. I was wrong [emoji23] And yeah Green Flash is awesome, I was just at their brewery a few weeks before I moved out here

 

[BowAholic]

Eric, the guy that started this thread, and I both do BIAB after many years of full blown all grain. It has made our brew day much easier. I also build a nasty electric 20 gallon pot with an ammo box controller for 10 gallon batches...Eric is about to finish his 25 gallon kettle and do the same thing...

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

Eric, the guy that started this thread, and I both do BIAB after many years of full blown all grain. It has made our brew day much easier. I also build a nasty electric 20 gallon pot with an ammo box controller for 10 gallon batches...Eric is about to finish his 25 gallon kettle and do the same thing...

Electric seems like the way to go but I hate electricity haha

 

[estricklin]

I'm not a rich man, just had some money I saved up from a deployment to the Middle East and thought having 3 vessels and two pumps would make my brew day much easier and shorter.. I was wrong [emoji23] And yeah Green Flash is awesome, I was just at their brewery a few weeks before I moved out here

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I did see your equipment for sale though. Hopefully someone will show some interest. Contact the CAFA club to see if if any of their members might bite.

My in laws are in San Diego and I have visited Green Flash and some other breweries there, Duck Foot was a stand out also.

Are you going to brew on a smaller system now or..? Thanks for your service!

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I did see your equipment for sale though. Hopefully someone will show some interest. Contact the CAFA club to see if if any of their members might bite.

My in laws are in San Diego and I have visited Green Flash and some other breweries there, Duck Foot was a stand out also.

Are you going to brew on a smaller system now or..? Thanks for your service!

Thanks for the support! Well, I didn't get much interest so I'm exploring some different options. I think I might scrap my HLT. Not really trying to "downsize", I just want to simplify a little bit. My boil kettle can serve as a dual purpose vessel (HLT/BK). Just wondering how well my MT will hold heat with out the recirculation through the HERMS coil..

 

[BowAholic]

heck...I'd just keep it all and work on my schedule until I got the brew day down to a time I could live with... Or brew with friends to pass the time...

 

[estricklin]

I'm sure it won't loose much more than a degree over an hour. Trying to brew fly or batch sparge with only 2 vessels is trickier when you go above 5 gallons. I have just stored strike water in 5 gallon buckets though, heat it to 200 or so and it stays plenty hot enough by the time the mash is over. If your really looking for simple you can't beat BIAB though. 1 vessel, super simple. I just got my electric setup going, it's built from an arduino and some code I wrote. It is a BIAB setup for now but I am working on changing it to a 3 vessel in the future.

Having a Lost 40 this evening after working all weekend. Hope everyone is staying cool!

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

I'm sure it won't loose much more than a degree over an hour. Trying to brew fly or batch sparge with only 2 vessels is trickier when you go above 5 gallons. I have just stored strike water in 5 gallon buckets though, heat it to 200 or so and it stays plenty hot enough by the time the mash is over. If your really looking for simple you can't beat BIAB though. 1 vessel, super simple. I just got my electric setup going, it's built from an arduino and some code I wrote. It is a BIAB setup for now but I am working on changing it to a 3 vessel in the future.

Having a Lost 40 this evening after working all weekend. Hope everyone is staying cool!

I'm enjoying a Lost 40 as well! I was there yesterday and picked up a 6-pack of their "Month of Sunday's" Amarillo hopped Pale Ale, it's pretty good! We went to Blue Canoe for the first time as well, really liked their warehouse setup but the beer was lacking.. Anyway, cheers!

 

[Surf_Brew_Imbibe_805]

heck...I'd just keep it all and work on my schedule until I got the brew day down to a time I could live with... Or brew with friends to pass the time...

I'm just a clean freak and worry about what's going on on the inside of that coil. I cycle boiling water through the system/pumps before and after my brew day, but once again, it adds on to the length of my brew day

 

[txnnok]

Hi Guys,
Noticed this thread a few months back,but havent had chance to comment. Well, I moved to Fairfield Bay several years back,guess that's fairly close to Conway (40 minutes).I started brewing shortly after moving here after discovering this is a dry county (a tear slowly runs down cheek). I never considered checking when I moved here, I had thought laws like this were abolished long ago with the blue laws.
Anyway, I had been extract brewing, but have been trying to change to all grain.I figured the savings made from all grain would slowly pay for the extra equipment in the long run. Well, who am I kidding, Im a cheap bstrd, the cheaper a good beer the better.lol I just upgraded to a ten gallon mash pot and the fermentasaurus.I was using a 10 gallon cooler and striking grains with mash water, but abv and more importantly the taste was varying to much from batch to batch and driving me crazy.
Glad to finally talk to yall, Chris.

 

[estricklin]

Hi Guys,
Noticed this thread a few months back,but havent had chance to comment. Well, I moved to Fairfield Bay several years back,guess that's fairly close to Conway (40 minutes).I started brewing shortly after moving here after discovering this is a dry county (a tear slowly runs down cheek). I never considered checking when I moved here, I had thought laws like this were abolished long ago with the blue laws.
Anyway, I had been extract brewing, but have been trying to change to all grain.I figured the savings made from all grain would slowly pay for the extra equipment in the long run. Well, who am I kidding, Im a cheap bstrd, the cheaper a good beer the better.lol I just upgraded to a ten gallon mash pot and the fermentasaurus.I was using a 10 gallon cooler and striking grains with mash water, but abv and more importantly the taste was varying to much from batch to batch and driving me crazy.
Glad to finally talk to yall, Chris.

View attachment 575749
View attachment 575751

Sure am glad you commented! Yep, dry counties what a state huh? I sure do like that fementer. What type of sparging where you doing? Your false bottom? Good to meet you, I'm Eric.

 

[txnnok]

Hi Eric,
As for sparging,I was heating up another pot of water and pouring it over the grains. I think the issue was not being able to maintain proper mash temps and not using enough water for mash.Still learning.
That pic of the fermenter is currently my first use of it. I was hoping that fermenting under light pressure and being able to transfer to keg without the beer touching air, would help stop any off flavors I was getting, plus fermenting in a chamber is new to. I had been fermenting at about 72f room temp, but just cause the yeast can ferment at that temp doesnt mean it should. I slowly realized that winter time beers turned out better cause my fermenting temps would be lower,like 65f, after doing some researching and not cherry picking data.I discovered i was stressing the yeast in the summer.
Anyway, after upgrading my fermenting gear, I thought it would be dumb not upgrade my mashing method too. I havent used it, yet, but got a sweet chocolate stout ready to brew in the new pot when I finish the fermenting the other or might wait to make it till September, so I'll have a good winter beer.
Oh,got to blabbering and almost forgot, I purchased a pump so I can recirculate the wort.
Do I still need to sparge with fresh hot water if your recirculating?