Brewery updates and changes

[BigFatDad]

Hey homebrewtalk,
I have frequently browsed many of the topics on here, especially the electric brewing section. I have been using all sorts of different methods of brewing from when I started. I have decided ebiab is not for me because the amount of crud in the fermenter makes harvesting yeast really hard to do.
I also decided I do not like using an aluminum boil kettle and upgraded that recently. Right now I use a rheostat based controller (5500 element on 240v) but I wanted to future-proof this and put a port in the kettle to allow a temperature controller if I would ever want to change to a kettle rims style set up. Right now it will just be plugged.
So, below are the pictures of the aluminum pot with ripple element compared to the stainless pot with straight element. I also upgraded to triclamp for the elememt but kept the NPT for the other ports.
Next on the list is to actually record cooling times to see if I want to upgrade chilling.
I will continue to update this thread as I add to/ change my brewery.
Cheers!

 

[BigFatDad]

Cold side updates
I started with a bucket in the basement and still use that from time to time. Then I got a free fridge and played around with how to control temperature. This has made vast improvements in my beer. Now I've gotten to where I'm trying to use fermentation gas to purge kegs to reduce oxygen exposure. This has worked well so far after a few initial hiccups.

 

[NewJersey]

Moving right along, eh?
I'm curious as to why you have a copper pickup tube.

 

[BigFatDad]

The copper pickup and whirlpool are because I had all female fittings before. To add stainless nipples to use the old stuff made my immersion chiller not fit. The copper threaded in as a male fitting easily. I do plan on tracking chilling time to see if a counter flow chiller would be better. If it is,those copper pieces will be swapped with stainless.
On another note, I just complete my first closed transfer with the anvil bucket and a keg today. Sample from the keg smelled and tasted pretty good! I will be purposely looking for oxidation issues with this brew (kviek NEIPA) to see if I have eliminated them.
Thanks!

 

[Jag75]

Thats not a blow off tube .......

This is a blow off tube

 

[BigFatDad]

All it takes is a very energetic Notty fermentation to realize the biggest blow off is the best blow off...

 

[BigFatDad]

Updated from a 2 tap Kegerator to the 4 tap draft system. It was a Christmas/ birthday/ Father's day/ all other special days present from my wife and boys. Now to make some tap handles.

 

[BigFatDad]

My venting issue has always been a problem. In this new house I have an egress window right here so I figured I might as well use it. This is a Mason's mixing tub and a 4 inch duct vent with a cheap Amazon fan. It's vented directly outside with such a short run and being able to mix in ambient air, I have had zero condensation on the ceiling but there is a little bit in the venting. I usually have the lid on until the last 10-15 for the immersion chiller.
Also, I like trees so I am growing a few oaks in the basement over the winter.

 

[BigFatDad]

I also was able to get the 4 tap Kegerator all up and running with the handles my 9 year old and I made together. He picked out all the logos from his favorite Xbox game, Portal 2. He and I play it somewhat frequently and I try to have him solves the puzzles a little more each time. I was able to repurpose most of the sign and just add in a little tap list on the side. I was originally going to make individual labels for each beer that I made. But I got sick of that after 1 so instead I went to Lowe's and got some chalkboard MDF.
I also really like going to breweries and getting a test flight. So I made the same thing for down here in my basement.

 

[Nick Poggetti]

One tap handle should have been similar to your grenade handle.... but a Companion Cube instead.