Brewery Upgrade Blog

[SteelManCM]

Here is a blog detailing my move from 5 Gallon extract batches to 10 Gallon All Grain. Every step of the upgrade will be detailed.

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com

 

[markvale5]

I really like this blog.

 

[SteelManCM]

Thanks! I really wanted to make it easy for others to create the items detailed in the blog. That's why I added the links to all the parts used.

Also, a note of the total price to build helps out a lot too. This way you know what you're in for before you start.

 

[markvale5]

That's exactly why I like it....all those little items sure do add up. The pictures and steps are very helpful as well. Will you be able to explain in more detail the brewing process with the complete set up? Thanks

 

[SteelManCM]

Absolutely. Once everything is set up, I will document a brew day showing all the steps involved.

 

[markvale5]

Sounds awesome. Thanks!

 

[SteelManCM]

In this post, I've detailed the pumps we decided on.

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/02/ok-so-in-going-with-pumps-in-our-system.html

 

[markvale5]

Those pumps are pretty awesome....will you be running the sweet wort through this when sparging? Can these pumps handle the small amount of grain running through them?

 

[SteelManCM]

I did a test run of this pump during a sparge and let me tell you: The manifold design is the key. The fact that I used such small holes turned out to be one of the best decisions throughout the whole system. During the vorlauf process, I got NO grains whatsoever. I went ahead and transferred the wort to the Brew Kettle with no issues and no grain pieces.

From what I have read, these pumps do NOT like particles, so I tried this before purchasing the secondary pump. This test successful, I have the second pump in place.

 

[SteelManCM]

I have updated the blog with a simple, but effective method for labeling pump hoses:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/03/so-i-was-researching-hose-labels.html

 

[SteelManCM]

How to Sparge? With this Sparge Assembly, of course!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/03/we-have-decided-on-sparge-method.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Here's my Stir Plate!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.mx/2015/03/since-we-are-graduating-to-10-gallon.html

 

[SteelManCM]

And now...the unveiling of the Brew Cart:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/03/brew-cart.html

 

[SteelManCM]

How about a 20 Gallon Brew Kettle for less than $250? Read on, I say!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.mx/2015/03/20-gallon-boil-kettle.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Have a double brew day coming up? Want to do a partigyle? Start your yeast with a dual stir plate!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.mx/2015/04/dual-stir-plate.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Making your Bottling Bucket efficient, taking the pain out of bottling day!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/04/improving-bottling-bucket.html

Most of you may have already seen this as the tips were taken from HBT.

 

[SteelManCM]

Not only do you get to see the last batch of labels that were created and used on our brews, I also explain the name and logo change.

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/04/label-list-2.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Wanting to do some High Gravity Brewing, I needed a larger Mash Tun. Enter the 70Qt Coleman!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/04/70-quart-high-gravity-mash-tun.html

 

[SteelManCM]

What did you do on National Homebrew Day? We brewed our Summer Wheat at a brewery and won our first homebrew competition with our Caramel Porter!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/05/national-homebrew-day-2015.html

 

[SteelManCM]

15 gallon conical in a standard refrigerator? YES! Yes, you can!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/05/15-gallon-conical-fermenter-and-chamber.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Simple way to add a whirlpool to the Brew Kettle:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/05/whirpool-port-added-to-brew-kettle.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Newest update is here!

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/06/15-gallon-conical-trub-dump.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Got a large flask or other vessel for starters and your regular stir plate is just not big enough? Here's how I solved that issue:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/06/stir-plate-for-5l-flask.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Do you bottle your beer? No? Move to the next thread. If you do bottle, you may be wondering if another type of bottle capper is worth the money. For pros and cons, Enter the circular ring of death!

Bottle Capper SHOWDOWN!

 

[jschein]

Nice site

 

[SteelManCM]

Thanks!

 

[SteelManCM]

More Artwork! Creativity abounds...

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/07/label-list-3.html

 

[SteelManCM]

More Artwork! Creativity abounds...

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2015/07/label-list-3.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Back at it! Here's a Counterflow Wort Chiller I built this past weekend:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2016/01/counterflow-wort-chiller.html

 

[SteelManCM]

Finally got this one done:

Overbuilding yeast to create your own yeast bank:

http://imperialhops.blogspot.com/2016/02/building-yeast-bank.html