Most of the choices I've made are based on being a real cheapskate who is married to an even bigger cheapskate. That's the extent of my defense.
One of these days I'll probably get around to moving the now-unused dryer outlet over to the garage door, maybe even outside. Then maybe I'll ask Santa for recirculating eBIAB system.
There are pros and cons that can be listed for each system type but they are always going to be contextual for the goals of any given brewer.
To be fair, My HLT is only used for heating water. I use it to collect hot water at the end from the chiller, but that is still clean water that I then use for cleaning. And while the mash tun has to be cleaned, it's a quick rinse to get all the sugars out. I did just switch to a new bottom draining mash tun that I will be using with a bag, so we will see of it makes it any easier.
That’s fair, but also sounds a bit like you had to buy more (expensive) things to make it as easy to clean as a BIAB setup might be.
But this is a pretty significant difference for me as well. With my current house layout I’m essentially renting our common space for brew day. I might feel differently if I had a dedicated room (though I honestly suspect not).
I agree.. The dedicated space alone saves me a significant amount of time carting equipment from basement to garage and back. Space and finances have not always allowed me to have this, but man, it's nice.
Can you post an image of this and where did you buy the pulley?
This isn't mine, I use a 3v system, this is my brother's. Harbor Freight has rope pulleys.
This. I enjoy the alone time. I can sit in the garage, put on my music and watch water either boil, or soak up into grains. To me, and being a very simple minded guy, this is a day well spent. Almost as good as playing golf, of course because I can drink beer when I do that. LOL>
If I remember correctly, Alton Brown (yes the cook) had a setup on his website that he used to lift turkey's he had fried in buckets of oil. Here is the link:
Here's my rig. I use an 8 ft step ladder (more room to work under it than with a 6 footer.) I don't use the perforated basket anymore, just the bag. I got the pulley from Wilser with the bag. And I have a better burner now.
You may know this but depending on the age of the residence, there may two 20 amp GFCI countertop branch lines as that is code for a kitchen. Not sure if that extends to multi-unit dwellings but it would be obvious if there were two GFCI outlets along the countertops.
Wheels on the brew table makes both equal if you can wheel out the brew rig from its storage space. Does not apply to everyone.
I have a laundry sink in the garage that I installed that gets used heavily for brewery cleanup. But that could be used for either. Other than that, I just have a couple different brushes, a garden hose sprayer, scrubbies, and rags which are used to clean the vessels. A bag can be used in the MT to begin with if one wanted to but I get the feeling cleaning the bag is about the same as cleaning the false bottom of the MT. I've cleaned mesh bags before that held grains and hops. Stuff collects on the seams which takes time. Personally, I'd rather clean the false bottom. I do have a different mash tun in the works myself as well, which will be easier to clean as it's the SS brewtech insulated one vs. a keggle, but it's also for better efficiency and a slight weight savings. I will be getting rid of the lip around the keggle opening at the top which is awkward to scrub and makes dumping the grains harder.
Yeah, definitely depends on the age of the dwelling. My kitchen had one 15 amp and one 20 amp circuit when I bought the house, and no GFCI. Built in 1967, new 200 amp service installed by second owner in 1994. NEC didn't require GFCI for all kitchen counter receptacles until 1996, and who knows when any particular jurisdiction implemented that requirement.
The aughts I think would be a good guess for many jurisdictions. And I'll say while two GFCI receptacles is a good indication, the owner/renter/handyperson may have installed another one on the same line not knowing just the first one upstream is needed or thinking the second outlet was a second line, or even trying to put one over on the inspector. Hit the test button and check which outlets work and don't to be safe!
Or maybe just not giving a crap.
What was the BK originally?This is 3 vessel brewing. I love this hands on brewery. I know it inside and out. If I started now, I’d have a single vessel. This one will have to do me, I’m not changing now. Gotta go, mashing into 41# of grain. She does have her advantages.
Looks like there is a lot more love than money invested in that rig. It's easy to see why you wouldn't want give it up.
Honey centrifuge
$$ doesn’t make great beer. We can all agree on that. Only thing I hate is being an outdoor brewer. Can HERMS it, FVBIAB, but I still think about a single vessel indoors though.
There is. You just have to be willing to use extension cords to reach an outlet on a separate breaker. It's a slight extra hassle but not a deal breaker.
I gotta ask, why no eyebolt in the beam above? Rental? How about a piece of angle iron laying across the tops of the beams?Here's my rig. I use an 8 ft step ladder (more room to work under it than with a 6 footer.) I don't use the perforated basket anymore, just the bag. I got the pulley from Wilser with the bag. And I have a better burner now.
Brew on
The beams are not very well located for where the burner has to go. I would have to move a very heavy outdoor table and chairs every time I wanted to brew, if I wanted to put an eyebolt in the beam.
Yeah, but you need two separate 20A circuits & 2X - 2000W elements to get 4KW of power input. Can be done, but it's way less convenient than a single 240V, 30A circuit.
Yeah, but you need two separate 20A circuits & 2X - 2000W elements to get 4KW of power input. Can be done, but it's way less convenient than a single 240V, 30A circuit.
Brew on
Yeah, the one on the right is too close to the edge of the deck, and not shielded enough when it rains. The one on the left would force me to move the table, etc. in order to brew. The ladder is simpler.fwiw, I'm betting @Bobby_M was looking at those joists either side of your ladder for a nice thick eye bolt location.
They look like 2x8s, which would be plenty strong enough to hold a big bag o' sopping wet grain
Cheers!
If anyone has brewed a no-boil NEIPA, how hot do you heat your wort between sparge and whirlpool, and for how long do you hold it there?Here's my rig. I use an 8 ft step ladder (more room to work under it than with a 6 footer.) I don't use the perforated basket anymore, just the bag. I got the pulley from Wilser with the bag. And I have a better burner now.
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Brew on
