First Brew Outdoors! Advice Please

[Bobcatbrewing42]

A wind screen is critical as several have noted. Your boil kettle may seem fine until the wind dies and then suddenly boil over. When chilling, there is a lot of wild stuff in the breeze. Depending on what you have, a cloth wetted with sanitizer over the whole thing can save some grief. I brew in the dead of winter on good days and the air has less mold, yeast, etc. and the snow is a great pre-chiller.

 

[FiddlersGreen87]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned that might be a good idea that I'm definitely doing Friday is a trial run. Since I'm using a lot of new equipment for the first time that I never used in my kitchen, I'm going to hook everything up and run water through everything so I can find any leaks or make note of any equipment or steps I missed in preparation.

I'm about to go down the same road, moving out of my kitchen for my first outdoor brew this weekend as well. Fortunately most of the things mentioned here I've covered, I do need to still do a checklist.

I am really excited to brew in the winter too. I'm not too sure why, but I just like the thought of being outside on a chilly crisp day with the brew cooking away. Although I do live in GA so I don't know how much of a winter we'll get, but either way since this is going to be my first full winter since moving from HI I'm just excited for the season changes in general.

 

[cannman]

Does yours look similar to this:

Where the black coupler part just screws onto the propane tank?

Then no, no teflon tape needed.

Its more metal on metal, no plastic over cap

 

[hezagenius]

If you are going to use an immersion chiller and plan on sanitizing it in the boiling wort for the last few minutes of the boil, make sure to keep the hoses up high and away from the flame and side of the brew kettle. I guess that goes for both indoor and outdoor brewing.

A few batches ago, I spaced this off and the outflow hose melted closed. I didn't realize it right away when I turned the water on since it takes a little bit of time for the water to go through, but then I could see it block and I had this "oh s...!" moment right before it blew the outflow hose right off the metal coil. The clamp couldn't hold it on. Luckily I was able to keep most of the water out of the wort until I could cut the line and re-attach it. Beer turned out OK so I chalked it up as a good lesson.

 

[firerat]

Its more metal on metal, no plastic over cap

I don't think you need teflon for those either, but wait for someone smarter than me to chime in.

Side Note:

If you want to switch from that type of regulator fitting to the more standard ones like I posted, buy a tank gauge. It will fit to the regulator you have. They are like $13 at home depot. Makes switching tanks a bit easier. Not really a big thing, but i did it so I figured I'd share.

Tank gauge:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Brinkmann-Propane-Tank-Gauge-812-9220-S/202994547

 

[william_shakes_beer]

Before i did my first banjo brew, i purchased 2 sheets of aluminum, 12x24, bent them to cover the space between the burner and the bottom of the pot rack, and slipped it underneath the heads of the bolts holding the burner to the rack. Works great as a wind screen. Also, if you're in colder weather, you need something to keep mash temps from falling during the rest. I purchased a roll of 24" wide reflectiv foil vapor barrier and 2 really long double sided velcro tie wraps.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

If you have a low profile burner and a brew pot with a ball valve, be sure to raise the burner enough so the output of the valve is high enough to slide the fermenter underneath. My setup requires 4 bricks under each leg. YMMV.

Be sure to level the burner with a level before you put a full pot of liquid on it. A little off center or rock when empty could end up tossing your wort to the ants.

 

[cannman]

If you have a low profile burner and a brew pot with a ball valve, be sure to raise the burner enough so the output of the valve is high enough to slide the fermenter underneath. My setup requires 4 bricks under each leg. YMMV.

This is the EXACT reason why i'm brewing 5 gallons at a time and did not splurge on the 25 gallon kettle. My burner IS low profile so if I went BIG, I'd have to invest in a pump to get the wort into the primary carboys. With 5 gallons, I can easily lift that onto my work bench. thank you for the tips

 

[cannman]

Before i did my first banjo brew, i purchased 2 sheets of aluminum, 12x24, bent them to cover the space between the burner and the bottom of the pot rack, and slipped it underneath the heads of the bolts holding the burner to the rack. Works great as a wind screen. Also, if you're in colder weather, you need something to keep mash temps from falling during the rest. I purchased a roll of 24" wide reflectiv foil vapor barrier and 2 really long double sided velcro tie wraps.

Generally speaking, wind storms are announced on our weather band, but often times, its only hours in advance. Certain hours of the day also seem to produce more ferocious winds than others...

Just to be sure, what am I worried about with wind?

1. Crap being thrown into the wort?
2. Wind blowing out the flame?
3. Wind cooling the tank preventing or hindering a boil?
4. Wind disturbing the flame so much off center that it throws off boiling times etc?


thanks

 

[Koach]

Always a good idea to keep a bucket of sanitizing liquid to put spoons, floating thermometers, etc in so that they aren't laying around, exposed.

I recommend spending the money on the tank larger tank connecter as well. Well worth it, although I don't think the gauge is a must-have.

Also, I keep a spray bottle with sanitized water in it nearby in case boiling over is a possibility. Works better than stirring IMO. If your pot is large relative to your 5 gallon batch, then that's a moot point.

Good luck!

 

[EthanH]

I stack cinderblocks 2 high on 3 sides around my burner to (a) block the wind and (b) provide added stability.

 

[cannman]

Also, I keep a spray bottle with sanitized water

Just to be clear, you mean water that is in a sanitized bottle or treated water (iodine, boiled?), or both?

 

[FiddlersGreen87]

Just to be clear, you mean water that is in a sanitized bottle or treated water (iodine, boiled?), or both?

He means a bottle of premixed sanitizer. I keep one of each, cleaner and sanitizer. Mine just saved me in an airlock disaster while my fermentation is going balls to the wall.