Brewpastor's Personal Sized Randal

[Brewpastor]

A year or so ago I found this on ebay:

I did not know what I would do with it, but the price was right. It has sat around, waiting for my inspiration and this weekend it hit me – a personal sized Randal.

If you are not familiar with Randals, they are devices invented by the good folks at Dogfish Head Brewery. They are a means of infusing beer with fresh hops in-line from the tap to the glass. Hops are placed in a cylinder of some sort and beer is passed through, picking up fresh hop goodness along the way.

Here is my version:

I placed a fine stainless screen on both ends inside the cylinder. The top has a needle valve to control the flow. The bottom has a cornie fitting. A hose with a cornie connector on one end runs from the tap. The wall bracket is the stand from the ebay unit. The drip tray utilizes the tray that came with one of the beer engines/hand pumps I have.

It is super easy to take apart and clean and you don't have to use a ton of hops for the pint or two you wish to flavor.

Maybe I should market them. Anybody interested in a $200 beer toy?!

 

[wormfishin]

Very nice, does it foam any less than the traditional randals?

 

[Brewpastor]

It settles down after the first few ounces. The needle valve is a bit slow to open.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

This is a really cool idea.

 

[RonRock]

Great foresight! To buy some shiny stainless stuff just in case.

I love it.

 

[Brewpastor]

Great foresight! To buy some shiny stainless stuff just in case.

I love it.

You always need stainless!

 

[android]

pretty damn sweet there BP, nice work once again.

 

[pickles]

Brewpastor,
I have some stainless steel pieces from a medical surplus store and was wondering how best to clean the nooks and crannies. Did you soak the valve in anything? I've tried oxy-clean but would like to find something a bit stronger to ensure the crud is gone from inside of my tubes, valves etc.

 

[johnnyc]

How bout an action shot?

 

[Bsquared]

I love the shamrocks on the wing nut's thats classy!:rockin:

 

[Brewpastor]

Brewpastor,
I have some stainless steel pieces from a medical surplus store and was wondering how best to clean the nooks and crannies. Did you soak the valve in anything? I've tried oxy-clean but would like to find something a bit stronger to ensure the crud is gone from inside of my tubes, valves etc.

In general use I would use Oxy-clean, PBW, caustic and or acid. I think a soak in hot OXY is going to get most anything loose. Once in a while you can take valves apart and give them a clean, but the need depends of the intended use. In this piece's case I am not too concerned because it is going into a glass and then down my throat. In the case of my plate chiller I worry a lot more and give it a thorough cleaning before and after each use. In that case I clean off the dirt/organics with a caustic followed with acid.

 

[Brewpastor]

How bout an action shot?

I will get some shots over Thanksgiving and post them.

 

[Brewpastor]

I love the shamrocks on the wing nut's thats classy!:rockin:

The clamps are Tri-Clover clamps and so have the shamrocks. I agree, they add a nice touch, but I can't take credit, they are what came with the unit.

 

[MacBruver]

A year or so ago I found this on ebay:

Everybody keeps saying this is awesome but it looks as though you've gone and ruined a perfectly good flux capacitor!!!


Just kidding. That's a cool piece of kit- does the needle valve help keep it from foaming up too much?

 

[FreebootersBrewing]

Hope I'm not hijacking. I think your setup is awesome!