Can you start with e brewing

[r270ba]

So I have never brewed a batch of beer in my life. I am ready to start. I have spent the last couple of months researching the process, theory, and watching a lot of videos.my question is this… Is it crazy to go ahead and build an E brewing?

I actually have access to most of the e brewing panel and components at my office. I understand how to build the panel. So am I cheating by starting off this way? Should I spend time in the manual process to better understand the process?

Thanks for your help and advice!

 

[augiedoggy]

So I have never brewed a batch of beer in my life. I am ready to start. I have spent the last couple of months researching the process, theory, and watching a lot of videos.my question is this… Is it crazy to go ahead and build an E brewing?

I actually have access to most of the e brewing panel and components at my office. I understand how to build the panel. So am I cheating by starting off this way? Should I spend time in the manual process to better understand the process?

Thanks for your help and advice!

I went direct from stovetop to electric... I say yes but you want an idea if you truly enjoy the hobby before investing that kind of coin IMHO.

 

[r270ba]

I love cooking. I love cutting meats. I love beer. I just can't imagine I wouldn't love brewing but that is the ultimate catch there.

What kind of coin am I looking at for the e-herms setup with out the kettles?

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

The only hang up is cost and complexity, if you have a handle on that then there's no problem. E-brewing is just another way to heat up water with relative accuracy, which is all brewing is. Get some good recipes, read some books (particularly about fermentation) and you're set.

Edit: as far as actual cost, that depends on exactly what kind of system you want and the parts you already have. Check out theelectricbrewery.com if you haven't already.

 

[poptarts]

panels can range from a 20$ toolbox with lightswitches to a NEMA 50A spa panel full of PIDs for 1000s. your going to need at least 1 pump at 150$ pots 150ea, coils 200$, chiller 150$... the list keeps going.

 

[stlbeer]

Look in the area where you live for a home brewers, a home brew store, and home brew clubs. Reach out to someone who can mentor you through the processes. You will learn techniques and get additional inspiration from that brewer. This in addition to continuing to read this forum.

 

[overeducated_idiot]

I agree with finding a homebrew club and making friends. Go to a meeting and offer to bring beer and help clean up afterwards if you can watch/help someone brew with an electric system, I bet you'll get plenty of takers. See a few different setups and talk to them about efficiency and what other systems they have had previously.

 

[Hello]

Of course you can start with electric. I think a member named Roadie may have done that. My concern initially was that I would hate the hobby. I was told it's stressful to make sure things were super clean and sanitized. It was almost a huge deterrent but I tried it anyway. It is a fun hobby and I'm always cleaning something.

If I invested the money to go electric right away and my first few beers weren't awesome, then I think I would regret my investment. Everyone is different though.

Pricing can vary all over the board.

 

[milldoggy]

Yes, ebrewing is great. But I agree with others. Maybe get a turkey cooker and do a few extract batches to get a feel for cleaning and bottling.

 

[Gameface]

Yeah, my biggest concern would be that you might expect that your results will be exceptional right off the bat and if they're not you'll get frustrated and troubleshoot possible equipment issues instead of just taking it as part of the normal learning process. On top of that you might have to troubleshoot actual equipment issues when you're learning the basics of the process.

It might actually make it harder to identify the easiest areas for improvement.

My goal when I started brewing was to make something that contained alcohol that I could drink without gagging too much. And although I was happy with my early beers, had my expectations been much higher than they were I might have been very frustrated and might have obsessed too much over fixing everything about what I was doing wrong all at once. As it went I was able to address one small issue at a time.

 

[wardens355]

Go simple first to get familiar with the process and how much work it is. You can always upgrade, but you will be kicking yourself if you start brewing and don't like it, or don't want to spend all the time it takes per batch. The amount of questions that come up when you are first learning are plentiful, and it will be bewildering if you go all out right off the bat.

 

[jddevinn]

I went directly from never brewed to an "Electric Brewery" clone E-HERMS, chest freezer temp controlled fermentation and kegging. I have a few batches complete and wouldn't do anything major different.

Before deciding on this type of system I read several books starting with How to Brew and through most of the Brewing Elements Series. I also read through most of the builds in the DIY forum and through the first several pages, when sorted by most viewed of the different subforums here.

If you want your first brew to be all grain electric I say go ahead. If you have good DIY skills systems can be made for cheap or for "not cheap." While the panel itself is a large expense hoses, fittings, chillers, pumps, ect add up quickly. I went "not cheap" and have a mostly complete BOM I can send if you are interested. (I haven't gotten around to a build thread). Also remember if you go 240V you will probably need to do electrical work on your building/house and you must add a GFI.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

If you lived next to me I would have you over for a brew day. If you can find someone local to see the eherms thing first hand first I think it would be beneficial. Either way, jump on in! Ebrewing is awesome.

 

[r270ba]

Thanks for the feedback guys!. I just talked to one of my panel builders and he said no sweat on building the panel and Controls (technically I could do it but it would look like ****).

As far as components go can I source through my own component vendors or do this have to be special food grade equipment?

 

[ChocolateMaltyBalls]

As long as your components are rated for your intended use, it's like any other electrical system. As far as food safe that should only be an issue if you use plastic for anything that touches wort, metals like Al, Cu, SS should be fine. First thing to figure out is where the GCFI goes.

 

[jddevinn]

r,

If you are interested in building an electric brew system you should read Kal's site and a bunch of electric build threads in the DIY section. They should get you started, and will definitely answer the questions you've had so far. I wouldn't purchase anything until you have the full design intent worked out. In fact you should read through some of the Brutus style direct fire builds as well, you could change your mind on what you want to do.

 

[chisena]

After two years of brewing I just upgraded to eHERMS. I love it! Still gas boil. If I could go back, I never would have wasted my time with extract and would go full electric right from the start. This is just me though.

 

[r270ba]

Thanks guys. Just bought his book to support his efforts and am reading it now.

I just don't want want to go out and spend money on something I will want to upgrade after a couple of batches.

 

[BSD_Glass]

About wanting to upgrade after a few batches...

I, like most of us here, built out my kit in stages. As I desired a new bit (bigger BK, stainless mash tun, whatever) I would build it and sell the previous bit of kit for not much less than I paid to build it. Everyone has been happy who has snapped up my "old" gear. I have made and sold an electric BK, 10 gallon electric HLT (my first "big" BK), a coleman extreme MLT and all of my glass carboys (switched to speidels and bigger batches). I always felt I set a fair price and the gear was always snapped up RIGHT AWAY.

That's just my experience.

Cheers.

BSD

 

[r270ba]

Ok that is great advice. Thank you!

 

[Ben58]

Read this thread. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/never-brewed-wanting-jump-right-into-all-grain-451694/ . And I too, went all grain. This forum is an invaluable resource of information.