Don't Do That.

[seatazzz]

Been brewing for 12 years and yesterday was the first time the brewery really fought back. When I started my whirlpool and the wort was about 208f, pump running at full tilt, boom, the quick connect on the out port of the pump came off spraying near boiling wort everywhere, I was startled, mind blown, like wtf just happened. I acted quickly though and shut the valve off at the kettle stopping flow to the pump and minimizing wort loss and stopping me from getting burned anymore. So don't forget to push your quick connects on all the way, DO make sure they lock in. I got away with a minimal burn on my hand considering what happend it coulda been way worse... don't do that!View attachment 849038View attachment 849039

After a couple of similar mishaps (ask me about the burn scars on my ****s) (or maybe not), I've learned to double check the connections on the plate chiller and kettle twice before turning on the pump. Because both times the connector popped off AFTER I had come back in the house from turning on the garden hose.

 

[balrog]

(ask me about the burn scars on my ****s) (or maybe not),

I think that's a different forum

 

[HM-2]

Don't do whatever I did that resulted in 15L of WCIPA flowing out of my kegerator tap, over the top of the drip tray, down the fridge and onto the floor of my office over the last 48 hours.

When I figure out what "whatever" was, I'll let you know.

 

[Willy]

As you are transferring the freshly brewed wort into a fermenter bucket and walk away for a few minutes - make sure the fermenter spigot is closed. Ouch.

Don't do that.

 

[fluketamer]

Don't do whatever I did that resulted in 15L of WCIPA flowing out of my kegerator tap, over the top of the drip tray, down the fridge and onto the floor of my office over the last 48 hours.

When I figure out what "whatever" was, I'll let you know.

not in the office - dang

As you are transferring the freshly brewed wort into a fermenter bucket and walk away for a few minutes - make sure the fermenter spigot is closed. Ouch.

Don't do that.

i do that more often than not


also dont use your finger to test the out put temperature from your chilling coil. its hot enough to scald skin - trust me

 

[Willy]

not in the office - dang


i do that more often than not


also dont use your finger to test the out put temperature from your chilling coil. its hot enough to scald skin - trust me

Done it!!!

 

[pvpeacock]

When my sons were in high school, they did not understand how my flow control taps worked. So, one night when they were stealing beer, they thought they had shut the tap off using the flow control lever, but left the tap handle open. It obviously dripped all night until I had almost 5 gallons of beer all over the garage floor. I immediately replaced the flow control taps with spring loaded taps (never really liked the flow control anyway) and bought a tray to put on the floor under the taps that holds up to 5 gallons of liquid as insurance.

 

[MaxStout]

If you find bottles floating at sea, don't drink from them, thinking it's booze.

 

[balrog]

If you find bottles floating at sea, don't drink from them, thinking it's booze.

And if there’s a message in it, send it along to Sting.

 

[HM-2]

not in the office - dang

For the first maybe 3 days it smelled great.
Now...less so.

 

[Deadalus]

The key to the smooth operation of a multiport glycol unit is properly labeling the ports and the pump wires; otherwise, the key doesn't fit and the glycol alarm will go off. What exactly is the "glycol alarm" you ask? It is the sound of the glycol popping off the black rubber caps on the unusued ports. A healthy supply of oetiker clamps is also good to have.

Don't think you won't ever use those extra 10 clamps, buy the 20 pack instead.
Don't mislabel your pump wires.
Don't connect any pumps to ports labeled return.

Notice in this picture that ports 3R and 3P are now labeled in reverse and their glycol alarms need to be reset.

Also, if at all possible, decide on the desired number of glycol lines before initial pump installation. (I had two but wante a third.) You can buy the lines and disconnects later, the extra pump(s) are much easier to install initially rather than retrofiitng later.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

As you are transferring the freshly brewed wort into a fermenter bucket and walk away for a few minutes - make sure the fermenter spigot is closed. Ouch.

Don't do that.

Did the same thing recently except with the mash tun draining into the boil kettle. The wife walked up and asked why I was just draining it onto the floor. (Note: I have a hearing problem, and don’t hear all sounds and cannot locate sound source well, even if it’s right behind me! )

 

[Jmspears]

Don’t forget to check your CO2 tank before kegging your beer. Especially on a weekend when there is nowhere to buy gas until Monday

 

[balrog]

Don’t forget to check your CO2 tank before kegging your beer. Especially on a weekend when there is nowhere to buy gas until Monday

That is the sad corollary to checking your propane tank before brewing.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

That is the sad corollary to checking your propane tank before brewing.

I cured both issues with extra tanks. Craigslist is your friend.

 

[Willy]

I cured both issues with extra tanks. Craigslist is your friend.

Yup. In this house I have 3 propane tanks (and 2 Weber grills , 2 CO2 tanks & 2 beer gas tanks. One of each is in use, the other is ready to replace when empty.

Why? Cuz the magic gas always runs out at the worst time.

 

[JAReeves]

CO2
1-20# on the Kegerator
1-10# on the keezer
1-5# sitting on a shelf yelling, "Put me in coach!"

 

[BongoYodeler]

That is the sad corollary to checking your propane tank before brewing.

I cured both issues with extra tanks. Craigslist is your friend.

I was able to "cure" that potential problem easily since my house has a gas line available on my patio where I brew. I converted my Weber grill and my Blichmann burner to run off natural gas. Nice to not have to worry about running out of gas, or tank swaps/refills.

 

[HM-2]

Unless you want to verify or validate how good the quality of your varnish, wax or lacquer is through direct experimentation, I would strongly advise against knocking a full 250ml bottle of 80% lactic acid all over your wooden floor.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Adding this one for its humor value as it was inconsequential to my brew. However, I would rather not do this again.

I like to clean up whatever I can while waiting for the boil kettle to reach the boil, and also during the boil. One obvious point of focus is getting the grain out of the mash tun and over to the chickens. This morning, after disposing of the grain, I reached in and pulled out the false bottom. Using my hose, I started rinsing it off thoroughly of the grain clinging on both sides. After rinsing off the top, I flipped it over to rinse off the bottom, not paying any particular attention to the orientation of the 90° connector on the upper side. Well, I imagine you see where this is going! As I directed the high pressure water into the bottom side, the exit water was shot right back onto the front of my pants! No harm done to my brew, but I had to walk around the rest of the morning looking like I peed in my pants!

 

[Deadalus]

Adding this one for its humor value as it was inconsequential to my brew. However, I would rather not do this again.

I like to clean up whatever I can while waiting for the boil kettle to reach the boil, and also during the boil. One obvious point of focus is getting the grain out of the mash tun and over to the chickens. This morning, after disposing of the grain, I reached in and pulled out the false bottom. Using my hose, I started rinsing it off thoroughly of the grain clinging on both sides. After rinsing off the top, I flipped it over to rinse off the bottom, not paying any particular attention to the orientation of the 90° connector on the upper side. Well, I imagine you see where this is going! As I directed the high pressure water into the bottom side, the exit water was shot right back onto the front of my pants! No harm done to my brew, but I had to walk around the rest of the morning looking like I peed in my pants!
View attachment 853510

I do this every once in a while when I use the hose on the mash tun fittings from the inside. The upper one has a 90 on the outside and generally misses but the bottom valve is straight through and often gets my shoes!

 

[balrog]

“What the heck are they talking about”, thinks the BIAB-er.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

“What the heck are they talking about”, thinks the BIAB-er.

Right! That’s kinda where I would like to be, but for the present, I’m brewing under a roll up door shop opening, which means no really good spot to attach a hoist, and I don’t think I want to try to lift 17.5 lbs (dry weight) of wet grain by hand. Give me a little time, and I’ll be there.

 

[doug293cz]

which means no really good spot to attach a hoist

Step ladder, deer hoist, engine hoist all make excellent movable hoist mounts.

Brew on

 

[Northern_Brewer]

Also you don't have to lift 17.5lb, you can dig out some of it until you've got a manageable amount...

 

[balrog]

Step ladder, deer hoist, engine hoist all make excellent movable hoist mounts.

Brew on

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Using the ladder is a good idea where it works. I’m hoping to move to a new brewing space where I can employ overhead floor joists to attach a hoist.
For the time being, I’m using 15 gallon pots for 10 gallon batches on a stand that I built for 8 gallon pots and 5 gallon batches.
It’s a two tier with the burner on the lower tier, which I set at a height that would allow me to drain into a fermenter sitting on the floor. With the smaller batches, it was possible to heat the strike water on the low tier, put the mash tun on top, and just mix it in with the grain a little at a time, leaving it poised to drain back down into the boil kettle.
Now, I am using a Digiboil on the top tier to heat the water, and underlet the mash tun as it sits on the lowered lift table. From there I can pump it up to the height to drain into the boil kettle.
I was still in a bit of a jam because letting the boil kettle drain into the 14 gallon fermenter sitting on the floor meant that I could not lift it back up onto the lift table for my gravity, closed transfer. I got around this easy enough by putting the empty 14 gallon fermenter on the cart, and just catching the wort a couple gallons st a time in a 5 gallon pot and pouring it over into the fermenter.
Overall, it was one of my better brew days. The underletting the water worked great, I didn’t have any real heavy lifting to do, it’s just as I started out saying; I had to walk around most of the morning looking like I peed in my pants!

 

[Broothru]

CO2
1-20# on the Kegerator
1-10# on the keezer
1-5# sitting on a shelf yelling, "Put me in coach!"

1- 20#
2 -10#
1 - 5#

‘Cause ya’ never really know when one or more of them might run out… until they do… on a weekend…. when you’ve got thirsty guests. Ask me how I know.

Those pressure gauges lie, then they laugh at you!

 

[doug293cz]

Those pressure gauges lie, then they laugh at you!

They don't lie, they just confuse people who haven't learned about gas/liquid equilibrium, and thus don't understand this chart:

If there is any liquid CO2 in the tank, then the only information you can obtain from the high pressure gauge on the regulator is the temperature of the tank. If you want to know how much CO2 is actually in the tank, you need to weigh the tank.

Brew on

 

[Broothru]

They don't lie, they just confuse people who haven't learned about gas/liquid equilibrium, and thus don't understand this chart:

View attachment 853803
If there is any liquid CO2 in the tank, then the only information you can obtain from the high pressure gauge on the regulator is the temperature of the tank. If you want to know how much CO2 is actually in the tank, you need to weigh the tank.

Brew on

Of course you are correct, Doug. I do kinda’ remember this whole equilibrium of fluids thingy, and the mass=weight only in a fixed gravitational reference, sorta’ maybe.

It’s just that my contemporary brain has grown flabby with age. I long for the instant gratification of looking at a gauge and not having to decipher what the expressed value really is.

That’s also why I bought three more tanks than a reasonable person would purchase. Please don’t tell SWMBO’d. I finally have her convinced that each gauge is specifically calibrated to its independent tank. Therefore, I had to buy matched sets. Or something like that…

 

[doug293cz]

Of course you are correct, Doug. I do kinda’ remember this whole equilibrium of fluids thingy, and the mass=weight only in a fixed gravitational reference, sorta’ maybe.

It’s just that my contemporary brain has grown flabby with age. I long for the instant gratification of looking at a gauge and not having to decipher what the expressed value really is.

That’s also why I bought three more tanks than a reasonable person would purchase. Please don’t tell SWMBO’d. I finally have her convinced that each gauge is specifically calibrated to its independent tank. Therefore, I had to buy matched sets. Or something like that…

I'll admit to having three 5lb and one 20lb tank. Only one dual and one single regulator tho.

Brew on

 

[Broothru]

I'll admit to having three 5lb and one 20lb tank. Only one dual and one single regulator tho.

Brew on

How’d you get ‘em calibrated? My wife wants to know.

 

[day_trippr]

True confessions day? I also have 3 five pounders and a 20 (siphon tank). Can't live without 'em all

Cheers!

 

[Closet Fermenter]

While we’re fessing up; I have four 5# CO2, tanks, one 20# CO2 tank, one 5# sized tank with beer gas, and one with nitrogen. Gonna swap out the empty 5# CO2 tank for a back up nitrogen. Then, I will switch the next empty CO2 tank for a 2nd beer gas tank. At that point, I should have it covered.

 

[Rish]

I have a bag of sugar and some cups.

 

[Kee]

I have a bag of sugar and some cups.

You could upgrade by shelling out $10 for a kitchen scale. (Please disregard if you are getting consistent desirable carbonation).

 

[Rish]

You could upgrade by shelling out $10 for a kitchen scale. (Please disregard if you are getting consistent desirable carbonation).

Thanks, @Kee ! I do have a scale for use with <5 gallon batches and brews I want to tinker with carb levels but for most of my beers 2/3 cup of table sugar in 5 gallons works just fine.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Thanks, @Kee ! I do have a scale for use with <5 gallon batches and brews I want to tinker with carb levels but for most of my beers 2/3 cup of table sugar in 5 gallons works just fine.

I sugar my kegs as well, but I still use gas to push it back into my cups!

Also, had a leaky fermenter lid, so my kegs weren’t purged with fermentation gas as I had planned. I had to hook up my tank and push the StarSan.

I had a thought in the midst of purging my kegs, so I will just throw it out here. Since nitrogen is about half the cost of the CO2, and I use it only to push a little wine, is there any reason why I should not have used the nitrogen to push the StarSan out of the kegs for a purge? The only thing I could think of is that there could be some funky interaction between the nitrogen and StarSan, but that seems like a very remote possibility.

 

[Lampy]

The only thing I could think of is that there could be some funky interaction between the nitrogen and StarSan, but that seems like a very remote possibility.

Yeah, nitrogen gas is quite stable and not very reactive except under fairly extreme conditions.

 

[balrog]

2x5#
1x20#
1 useless paintball (what, maybe 20oz?) tank w adapter that Dick's no longer refills so useless
1 micro regulator with small and large co2 cartridges
1 64oz UKeg

And a beer.

In a tree.