Hoppo's E-Brewery Build

[Carlscan26]

I've always meant to ask you why you never combined all of those cables for the ferm controller into one conduit or pipe to hide the individual lines? Why are there 5 again? Two supplies, 1 for probes, 2 for the controls for the chambers?

Not trying to hate or anything - it's just a little octopus looking/cluttered and to my eye sticks out in an otherwise super clean layout.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I know, it is a strange design. I was meaning to conduit the supply cords, but never got around to it and probably won't at this point. Basically all of the tentacles of the "octopus" consist of 2 input power supply cables (one for the Lager controller/one for the Ale controller), which are in the corrugated tubing, 2 temperature probes that cannot be seen in this picture, then the 3 conduits. The conduits house the power output supply to the 3 receptacles.....one powers the lager cooling source, one powers the ale cooling source, and one for the ale warming source. Although it looks a little goofy, it looks better now that the power supply cords are sleeved in black expandable mesh and the probe wires in blue to match the brewery control panel. I just covered the wires last night and will post some pics once I get the both panels hung.

I was able to take an extra flat panel HDTV mount (designed for 42" an larger) that I had laying around and modify it, so that it will work to mount the new brewery control panel. I cut all of the components down to size, re-drilled some holes, and did some touch up paint. I'm going to anchor it to the wall tonight and mount the hanging brackets onto the back of the panel, but have to stop by HD tonight after work for some bolts, lock washers, nuts, etc. Slowly but surely it's coming along. Hopefully this weekend I can finish grouting the tile pieces and get my clear coat on the rest of the woodwork. I would love to have everything put back together sometime next week. Still need to purchase a plate chiller, so any feedback on that would be great.

 

[Gridlocked]

looks flipping awesome man! I'm impressed!!!
Have a great 4th!!!

 

[Carlscan26]

I guess my only last question is why two power source feeds? Doesn't seem like more load than one cord could handle.

:cheers:

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Ignorance I guess. I was under the impression that refrigeration units should technically be on their own 20 amp. dedicated circuit, so the power feed for the temp. controler that supplies the lager chamber plugs into a dedicated 20 amp. outlet on it's own circuit. The ale chamber power feed plugs into a 15 amp. outlet.

Anyways.....I finished sanding my kegs and got most of the plumbing put back together last night. Pics. later today, but we are in the middle of having an inground swimming pool installed, so my time is very limited outside of work. Not enough hours in the day!

 

[Carlscan26]

Ignorance I guess. I was under the impression that refrigeration units should technically be on their own 20 amp. dedicated circuit, so the power feed for the temp. controler that supplies the lager chamber plugs into a dedicated 20 amp. outlet on it's own circuit. The ale chamber power feed plugs into a 15 amp. outlet.

Anyways.....I finished sanding my kegs and got most of the plumbing put back together last night. Pics. later today, but we are in the middle of having an inground swimming pool installed, so my time is very limited outside of work. Not enough hours in the day!

Makes sense - I know code in my area requires every kitchen appliance (range, micro, disposal, dishwasher, fridge, etc) to have its own dedicated circuit breaker and in many cases contractors end up putting each outlet in the kitchen on its own circuit breaker too.

Dude can you cut it out with all of your overlapping projects? You're making me feel lazy

 

[Patricknobles]

love the thread - will check in for more updates! Keep it going!

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I'll post some updated pics over the weekend. We are having an inground pool installed and they are going to start the digging early next week. Last weekend, I decided to rent a sod cutter and strip out 1800 sq.ft. of sod to transplant into two large perimeter landscape beds that I am sick of dealing with. Every night this week, I have been moving the sod and will be spending this entire weekend digging up and pulling back the main lines of my sprinkler system to the back yard to try to salvage it. Haven't had much time to get the new panel up and running.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Here's the reason I have gotten so far behind on my brewery build. This little project has taken up the majority of every waking moment outside of work for the past few weeks. The prep work of stripping sod and digging up sprinkler system zones affected by it has been a nightmare....especially in the 90 degree plus weather with near 100% humidity.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I did manage to get the HDTV wall mount modified and the control panel hung. Sure makes it much easier to take off of the wall if need be, and I can mount it higher to keep it out of the reach of the kids, but still tilt it downward slightly for a comfortable reach for me.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Kegs cleaned up and reassembled. Still need to build a pump mounting system and some hoods for over the pumps. I've decided that I don't have the patience or time to polish to a mirror finish, so I'm keeping them in a matte finish to match the other stainless in the brewery.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Pics didn't load for some reason.....trying again.

 

[BadNewsBrewery]

Get some beer brewing on this thing already!!!

 

[SPR-GRN]

I just poo'd a little bit when I saw this thing... oh my goodness is that pretty.

 

[TrickyDick]

Looking impressive!


Have you milled any malt in there yet, and if so, how do you deal with the malt dust? I apologize, that I wanted to see your build, but mostly skimmed the thread and looked at the pics, so redirect me if this is already discussed.

Also curious about the fermentation chambers. How are they cooled? I see some control panel, but again confess I skimmed and gawked.

How has the sump pump drain been working for you? I've been thinking about doing something like that on a much smaller scale for the beer tap drain plate, which currently drains into a bucket. Not fun to clean and dump....

TD

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I have used the mill a half dozen times down there. There is a little dust at the top end of the mill, but not bad at all. The grain drops down a chute into a bucket housed in a sealed cabinet below. Everytime I mill, I wipe down the top surfaces of the mill cabinet and shop vac. the lower compartment. I plan on simply placing a garbage bad over the control panel above while milling, so I don't anticipate any issues.

I have a full thread devoted to the grain mill build, as well as the fermentation chambers. Check out my signature line and you will find the links. The chamber thread explains my cooling sources in both chambers.

The ejector pump works great. It has made life so much easier having a big deep well sink with a drip pan and pre-rinse faucet. Clean up is much quicker.

Hey BadNewBrewery......I'm getting to it! I am having a pool installed, so all of my time has been devoted to that project. Don't worry though....I continue to brew the "old fashion" way with my other system, so the pipeline is full.

 

[jeffmeh]

I have used the mill a half dozen times down there. There is a little dust at the top end of the mill, but not bad at all. The grain drops down a chute into a bucket housed in a sealed cabinet below. Everytime I mill, I wipe down the top surfaces of the mill cabinet and shop vac. the lower compartment. I plan on simply placing a garbage bad over the control panel above while milling, so I don't anticipate any issues.

I have a full thread devoted to the grain mill build, as well as the fermentation chambers. Check out my signature line and you will find the links. The chamber thread explains my cooling sources in both chambers.

The ejector pump works great. It has made life so much easier having a big deep well sink with a drip pan and pre-rinse faucet. Clean up is much quicker.

Hey BadNewBrewery......I'm getting to it! I am having a pool installed, so all of my time has been devoted to that project. Don't worry though....I continue to brew the "old fashion" way with my other system, so the pipeline is full.

A pool as a mash tun would make some big batches.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

The pool has a high efficiency boiler to heat it, along with a solar cover, so I'm sure it could hold some pretty consistent mash temps. I think your onto something.

 

[TrickyDick]

Looks like a great build, and you've clearly thought it all out.

I have the "luxury" of outdoor brewing ability year round. Rain or shine, I can usually get er done, but indoor brewing sounds like a lot of fun. I could get in trouble thinking about it..

Mom went to Oxford HS btw. Spent lots of time there visiting grandparents.

TD

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Had a couple of hours today to build the pump and plate chiller mounting system. Of course, I had to incorporate knotty pine boards and cedar logs. Hard to tell by the pics, but should look decent once clear coated. I just need to order a couple of more cam lock fittings for the plate chiller and run the duct work for the ventilation fan. Almost there!

Thanks TD! My kids go to Oxford Schools....great school system and a great place to live. Close to everything, but still some seclusion if you want it.

 

[newbiewinemaker]

WOW! This looks amazing!! I am very envious of this! I started homebrewing wine and after being pretty successful at that my interest has shifted gears a little into all grain! I skipped extract. I tried a Mr. Beer kit once and hated it! I have been pretty cheap with my all grain equipment. ( I made a mash tun out of a cooler) :rockin: Some day I would love to be able to have a brewery like this in my basement! You are quite the carpenter! Nice work man!

 

[Gridlocked]

Looking awesome man!
This has come a LONG way. Are you going to live-stream your first brew session? Or, maybe the third or fourth - once you get the bugs worked out?

 

[Hoppopotomus]

WOW! This looks amazing!! I am very envious of this! I started homebrewing wine and after being pretty successful at that my interest has shifted gears a little into all grain! I skipped extract. I tried a Mr. Beer kit once and hated it! I have been pretty cheap with my all grain equipment. ( I made a mash tun out of a cooler) :rockin: Some day I would love to be able to have a brewery like this in my basement! You are quite the carpenter! Nice work man!

I appreciate the compliments. I started with a deluxe home brewing kit from my local HBS and a SS kettle that my wife surprised me with a few years back. At first it was just extract with steeping grains and then I moved to more of a BIAB partial mash approach. When I decided to move to AG, I started with a cooler too. Very effective at keeping temps! Like I have said for a long time, it's not about the equipment that you use, it's the process that you use that produce great beer. I tend to be a little ADD, so I have to have projects going at all times. Once I starta project, then tend to get a little carried away with things.....what do they call that....OCD? Anyways, it all started from a redwood bar top that I found in northern California, then the rustic bar, then the keezer, etc., etc. Once I started with the whole rustic decor thing, I decided to carry it though to the brewery. I am not a master carpenter by any stretch of the imagination....knotty pine paneling and cedar logs are very forgiving to work with, so you don't have to be a highly skilled cabinet maker to produce some pretty cool things. Thanks again!

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Looking awesome man!
This has come a LONG way. Are you going to live-stream your first brew session? Or, maybe the third or fourth - once you get the bugs worked out?

Dude! I'm not that high tech.....I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to do that. Maybe you and Chip could take a little road trip to Michigan....it's only 750 or so miles! Shoot a little video of my set up in action (if it ever gets done!), tour, and showcase some of the great breweries in my state, etc. Sounds like a great episode 25 for C&B.....make it happen brotha!

Seriously, I don't anticipate the first go round with this system to go too smoothly, so it would probably be a live stream of me swearing and thowing sh*t. Maybe someday I'll post a video, but not until I have a few batches through it.

 

[junkyard brewer]

I just drank 3 cups of coffee spending my Sunday morning reading about this! Awesome build and thanks for reminding us that we all have lives outside of brewing and it can take time to build what YOU want.

The question is, how did the first brew day go!?! I'm only a short distance from you, and know the pool days are about over get to brewing!

 

[cheez]

Dude! I'm not that high tech.....I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to do that. Maybe you and Chip could take a little road trip to Michigan....it's only 750 or so miles! Shoot a little video of my set up in action (if it ever gets done!), tour, and showcase some of the great breweries in my state, etc. Sounds like a great episode 25 for C&B.....make it happen brotha!

Seriously, I don't anticipate the first go round with this system to go too smoothly, so it would probably be a live stream of me swearing and thowing sh*t. Maybe someday I'll post a video, but not until I have a few batches through it.

I was still swearing after 4-5 batches on my new eherms system

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I just drank 3 cups of coffee spending my Sunday morning reading about this! Awesome build and thanks for reminding us that we all have lives outside of brewing and it can take time to build what YOU want.

The question is, how did the first brew day go!?! I'm only a short distance from you, and know the pool days are about over get to brewing!

I still haven't brewed on it. I'm juggling way too many things at once right now. I'm trying to get the landscaping done around the pool before winter and just finished harvesting my hop garden. I just opened my 3rd PT practice on top of working a crap load of hours. Not to mention family obligation, two kids in soccer, etc., etc. Just not enough hours in the day. I really want to hold off on brewing until the entire space is 100% complete, or I'm afraid that I will just keep brewing and never finish it. I meant to grout the backsplash and countertops this weekend, but couldn't find time. Still need to finish a bunch of woodwork and run the vent for the exhaust fan. Too much to do!!!!

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I was still swearing after 4-5 batches on my new eherms system

Great, that makes me feel much better about things....thanks.

 

[dburgette]

I was still swearing after 4-5 batches on my new eherms system

That is definitely true. I remember thinking there was going to be a relatively quick learning curve. I was surprised how long it took to get a decent handle on all the moving parts. But now it is always smooth sailing.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I have been assured by Ryan at ebrew supply, where I got the panel, that he would walk me through the initial setup and programming when I'm ready to fire it up. I already have my entire process for a typical brewing protocol mapped out, so if I can get those processes programmed into the BCS, hopefully it will be far less frustrating than I'm anticipating. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Now that fall is upon us and I'll be cutting out 4 hours of lawn work per week, I should have some free time to finish the flooring, woodwork, and grouting in the brewery. I have also been exploring water chemistry and am sending samples out to Ward Labs to determine if my hard water, dual filtered setup is going to work or if I'm going to have to install an RO system. I know that my water is quite alkalinic, so I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.