Home Super Brewery Build: Hybrid Electric/Gas 3BBL Build

[marcb]

Use the pex 3 way valves most rv water heater bypasses have. 2 of them to direct either to the glycol chiller or to a container with a few fish tank heaters in it for those pesky Belgians.


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Do you have a link? I haven't seen any that would be non-restrictive at 1" or even 3/4" for that matter. I'm thinking of building a supply and return loop similar to larger breweries and just T'ing off to 24 vdc asco solenoids for the drops. For the Fermenters I can have them be PID controlled and the chiller a manual switch. With a low H20 flow and secondary glycol I'm projecting single pass at about 5 or 6 GPM to get 65 degree wort into the fermenter.

 

[FredTheNuke]

The RV water heater bypass valves are typically only 1/2". 2 larger options to consider:

Here is a heavy duty brass option:

http://www.pexuniverse.com/taco-562-5-3-way-zone-valve

Another manual but better priced option:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006G0B7U0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[marcb]

The RV water heater bypass valves are typically only 1/2". 2 larger options to consider:



Here is a heavy duty brass option:



http://www.pexuniverse.com/taco-562-5-3-way-zone-valve



Another manual but better priced option:



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006G0B7U0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I like those taco valves, I may need to get a couple to play with.... Guess what showed up today?

 

[marcb]

Wowsa, it's been awhile but things are progressing well with the brewery. We purchased a steam heated, fully automated pilot system with cellaring for the brewery that should hold us for the next year or so in very limited production. Our licensing is still slowly progressing although TTB process hasn't moved in two months. our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benoit-Casper-Brewing/272708736225142 if you'd like to check out what we are up to!

Cheers!

 

[Carlscan26]

Wait, wasn't the 3bbl setup in your garage going to be moved to your brewery? How big is this "pilot" system of yours?


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[marcb]

Wait, wasn't the 3bbl setup in your garage going to be moved to your brewery? How big is this "pilot" system of yours?


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The pilot brewery is 3.5bbl with every valve pneumatic and steam heated kettle. The touchscreen controls the brewhouse and cellaring. It came with two 3.5bbl ferms, one 3.5 bright, 2 7bbl ferms, one 7bbl bright and a 10bbl single wall unitank. I am keeping the 3bbl stout rig in the garage for the time being to get it dialed in and then we'll figure out what to do with it. The new system is closer in process to what we'll end up with in production in the next few years so we can build out run book operations for the production brewery and ultimately keep the new system as our pilot brewhouse.

 

[Dog House Brew]

Wow! An amazing transformation. Your making it happen, just a small upgrade from the garage.

 

[marcb]

Wow! An amazing transformation. Your making it happen, just a small upgrade from the garage.

Perfect storm this year, found a great partner for the business and funding magically appeared! It really is amazing that it is coming together so well.

 

[Carlscan26]

That looks a lot bigger than 3.5 barrels

Thinking back is your garage setup actually dual 1.5 barrels?


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[marcb]

That looks a lot bigger than 3.5 barrels

Thinking back is your garage setup actually dual 1.5 barrels?


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It was.... That gear went over to our warehouse and I now have a 3 bbl stout electric setup in my garage ; )

 

[maierhof]

Wowsa, it's been awhile but things are progressing well with the brewery. We purchased a steam heated, fully automated pilot system with cellaring for the brewery that should hold us for the next year or so in very limited production. Our licensing is still slowly progressing although TTB process hasn't moved in two months. our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benoit-Casper-Brewing/272708736225142 if you'd like to check out what we are up to!

Cheers!

Truly an AMAZING build my friend... this pic took me by surprise for sure. Whoa.
Just jaw dropping...

Keep up the good work!

Btw - Still patiently waiting for the invite to come slobber - er - I mean come and visit your hard work...

 

[branman]

Been following this build for a while, but WOW! truly amazing...

 

[RedBeard08]

This is the craziest home brewery build I have seen. Nice job!

I was doing my best to read through the whole 77 pages of information, so much good information. Did you ever get the permits and other requirements completed so you could legally sell it from your home?

 

[marcb]

This is the craziest home brewery build I have seen. Nice job!



I was doing my best to read through the whole 77 pages of information, so much good information. Did you ever get the permits and other requirements completed so you could legally sell it from your home?

No, doesn't look favorable in R1 zoning with the TTB although I believe in CA there is new legislation that may help. I went a different route and ended up with a partner in the venture and a commercial warehouse facility. The licensing is still in progress but moving along, we should be legal in the next few months.

 

[marcb]

Some pics from the inaugural brew day on the stout rig

 

[stonebrewer]

Marc,

Awesome pix. What stout did you brew and why Pils for the base? I love mashing in and having my arm hairs coated like the pix above!! Cheers bro!

T

 

[marcb]

Marc,



Awesome pix. What stout did you brew and why Pils for the base? I love mashing in and having my arm hairs coated like the pix above!! Cheers bro!



T

Stout tanks and kettles provided the equipment, the beer was a Belgian blonde and it will be tasty!

 

[stonebrewer]

Stout tanks and kettles provided the equipment, the beer was a Belgian blonde and it will be tasty!

Ahhhh! Should have recognized the sparge arm as I have the same thing, of course my Stout MLT is a bit smaller than yours

 

[RedBeard08]

No, doesn't look favorable in R1 zoning with the TTB although I believe in CA there is new legislation that may help. I went a different route and ended up with a partner in the venture and a commercial warehouse facility. The licensing is still in progress but moving along, we should be legal in the next few months.

appreciate the response... good luck on your commercial brewing!

 

[marcb]

TTB approval in! Filed with the ABC today, local is already in process and paid just awaiting final fire inspection! I love it when a plan comes together....

 

[stonebrewer]

Congrats! Can't wait to buy and try your beers!! Cheers bud!

 

[BadDeacon]

Nice!

 

[ClaudiusB]

TTB approval in! Filed with the ABC today, local is already in process and paid just awaiting final fire inspection! I love it when a plan comes together....

Congratulation!
Texas is waiting for your beers.

 

[marcb]

Thanks Everyone! I think we should be wrapped up and legal to sell in February if all goes well, shipping to another state without distribution, should be interesting.

The business plan right now is to do the opposite of everyone else and spend the next couple of years with a few local keg accounts while bottling to give away free samples and participate in international beer competitions. Most breweries at this scale quickly get over their head in distribution woes which typically results in quality issues. Stone, you and Claudius will definitely get preview and sample beers as soon as I can legally ship them in exchange for tasting notes and continuing collaboration with good peeps!

 

[stonebrewer]

Well as a certified, ahem, beer consultant on your payroll (yeah, I get paid in beer!) I believe we are not talking about distribution as I, being a paid employee (in beer...did I say you can pay me beer yet?) am performing quality control experiments on our product in order to verify that there are no impurities, off flavors, or (gasp!) lack of alcohol in the finished product. Damn, I need to get paid!! (TIC)

marcb, best of luck and I am elated to see you living your (okay, mine...) dream hoss!!!!

Cheers!

 

[marcb]

Well as a certified, ahem, beer consultant on your payroll (yeah, I get paid in beer!) I believe we are not talking about distribution as I, being a paid employee (in beer...did I say you can pay me beer yet?) am performing quality control experiments on our product in order to verify that there are no impurities, off flavors, or (gasp!) lack of alcohol in the finished product. Damn, I need to get paid!! (TIC)



marcb, best of luck and I am elated to see you living your (okay, mine...) dream hoss!!!!



Cheers!

Nice! Careful, I started off doing some similar beer consulting a few short years ago ; )

Shipping kegs and bottles interstate is tricky business and everybody wants their cut, hence why distribution is so attractive. For me I need to be able to pay the appropriate taxes for fed and state basis to ensure that I'm compliant. It may be more feasible to ship 20l kegs to you guys rather than bottles!

Rest assured the ABC got the rest of their paperwork today and we are on track to get this done!

I'm really looking forward to getting the production system going probably looking at sometime in February! Then the system that started this whole thread will go up on probrewer!

This has been an awesome journey and I am really excited at the next chapter!

 

[stonebrewer]

Keep working on your dream bud!! Might try to go the same way in a few years, depending on work/wife/etc. Happy holidays to you and yours!!
T

 

[marcb]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1418965739.979608.jpg

Happy Holidays Everyone!

 

[marcb]

Following up with a happy New Years!View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1420076230.806421.jpg

 

[stonebrewer]

Happy New Year Marc! Wish you great success with your brewery!!

Cheers!
Tony