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How has your Brewery grown in 2010

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JorgeIsKing

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Joined
Aug 30, 2006
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Location
City of Champions (Circa 1979)
A little late I know, but that's pretty much the story of my life.

Figured I'd put together a post where we can reflect on/brag about all the ways our breweries have improved over the past year.

Here's my list:

  • Kegging Setup with 2 Cornies, 10lb tank, regulator, and picnic taps
  • New digital Thermometer
  • Digital Scale
  • 3 Brewing Books (Tasting Beer, How To Brew, Brewing Classic Styles)
  • Stirring Paddle (I used to use a plastic spoon, but it ended up being way too small once I started doing full boils)
  • Foodsaver
  • Beersmith

Not the most impressive list compared to some of the crazy setups I've seen on here, but I'm still pretty damn proud of it.

How did everyone else do this past year?
 
In 2010 I expanded as follows:

  • Kegging system (7 cornies, 10# tank, kegerator, picnic taps)
  • Two additional primary fermenters (6 total)
  • Three Sanke Kegs (for the 2011 move to All-Grain)
  • DIY Mash Paddle (for the 2011 move to All-Grain)
  • Brewed 54 gallons (more than twice any of my previous year's volumes)

Now that 2011 is here, I've got 3-4 months until I plan to do my first all-grain batch...time to get cracking! :ban:
 
In 2010:

- upgraded from a 9 gallon to a 25 gallon kettle
- started doing 10 gallon batches
- increased keg serving capacity from 2 to 5 (with 3 being portable)
- added an additional primary

In 2010 I hope to:

- upgrade HLT & MLT to handle 15 gallon batches at any gravity
- add 2 more taps
- add 2 more primaries to keep the taps full
- add a pump to get me off the ladder
 
Now that 2011 is here, I've got 3-4 months until I plan to do my first all-grain batch...time to get cracking! :ban:

Substitute 2010 for 2011 in your post and I think I have deja vu from last January! :cross:



For me in 2010:
1) Brewed more than I have ever brewed in one year.
2) Grew from ~6 gallon batches to 13-15 gallon batches.
2) Delved into wine and mead
3) Integrated a pump
4) increased fermentation capacity 10-fold.
5) Built a fermentation chamber

For 2011:
1) Build walk-in cold room and lagering chamber to go with Ferm Chamber
2) Complete brew stand to enable easier brewing days (no automation yet)
 
In 2010 I started my new hobsession with:
a) 2 books
b) 1 Extract Setup, including a 6 gal SS pot, 6.5 gal primary, and a 5 gal secondary
c) Built a dual tap sanyo-conversion kegerator & 4 cornys

and brewed about 50 gallons of great beer!

My 2011 all grain setup arrives today (so says UPS), including the following:
a) 15g HLT
b) 10g Igloo MLT Conversion
c) March 809 pump
d) 10g Kettle
c) 7.3 SS Conical Fermenter
e) Therminator wort chiller
f) Thrumometer
g) SS camlocks and silicon tubing for quick connects/disconnects!

LOOK OUT 2011!!!
 
From this


DSCN1902.jpg





To this


DSCN3088.jpg


I was busy in 2010!


.
 
Oh boy, here comes the realization I've spent too much in 2010.

2 tap tower w/ perlick faucets.
2 keggles w/ 3 piece ball valves.
march pump
3 Corny Kegs
15g keg for primary fermentation
Grain mill
Brew stand
Control panel.
Counterflow Chiller
(I'm sure there is more)

**Most of this fall under my eHERMS build. It was quite the expensive year.

2011:
2 more corny's, getting them this weekend.
More books
2nd march pump
Plate chiller
Jockey box
Possibly upgrade herms coil to SS

Looks like another expensive year. Altough a bit less than last.
 
In 2010 I added a few new toys to the mix
  • new 'Great Beers' book
  • bought a 2 tap jockey box and modified it to connect to corny and sanke kegs
  • acquired a 10 pound co2 tank
  • additional regulator
  • new mash tun thermometer
  • upgraded to a 10 gallon mash tun
  • picked up a dedicated HLT vs. using my current brew kettle
  • purchased the Blichmann TopTier stand

One other thing I did was enter my first beer competition. I was lucky enough to win the Stout category and take second in the English and American Brown category.
 
Love that picture WW. Best angle I've seen of the whole brewery.

My brewery has went from a function gravity 10G system with 1 keg, a burner and a cooler, to 2 incomplete systems using electric and pumps. So I guess I've went from brewing AG 10G batches to no brewery :eek:. 2011 should be better.
 
My brewery has went from a function gravity 10G system with 1 keg, a burner and a cooler, to 2 incomplete systems using electric and pumps. So I guess I've went from brewing AG 10G batches to no brewery :eek:. 2011 should be better.

Progression...you're doing it wrong. :p
 
Upgraded mash tun (5 gal to 52 quart)
bought a few more fermentors
secondary regulator
refractometer
thermapen

2011 will bring:
new brewpot. 15 gal at least
 
2010:

Added a ferm fridge in addition to my kegerator.
COMPLETELY scrapped/sold my old rig and am still building an all-SS electric rig

2011:

I plan to finish my build in the next month or two....
And get back to actually brewing beer!
I want to focus on nailing my process down.
I've considered getting a conical, but not sure I need one or can control the temp.
I'd like to get into using a spunding valve for pressurized fermentation
I want to start filtering my beers with a coarse filter.
Also, since I know I'll be here the next 2 years, I may plant hops.
 
the only thing I got in 2010 was a kegging set up. spent alot less than I did in 2009. would be nice if this year I only had to buy grain/hops/co2,LPG.
 
2010 advanced to all grain brewing, from extract to lauter in a bag to false bottom lauter/fly sparge. See pics in my profile gallery.

2011 should bring a better hands on understanding of beer.
 
Lets see....

Built a keezer and went from 2 taps to 6 in the basement. At least 10 books. More than doubled my kegs from 5 to 11. New fermentation fridge. Upgraded the brewery (although not as nice as WildWest's.....wow...)

From a 20 gallon aqurarium stand with one pot too.....

new set up.jpg
 
Also I went from a standard 2 tap keezer (still being used until the bar is finsihed) to a 7x7 L shape bar that is half done and will hold ~5-6 Cornies in the built in cold box.
 
the only thing I got in 2010 was a kegging set up. spent alot less than I did in 2009. would be nice if this year I only had to buy grain/hops/co2,LPG.

I really NEED to spend less in 2011. Even if I build a walk-in cooler I think it will be relatively easy to keep it under my 2010 expenses. I was seriously out of control this past year.
 
3 7.75 sanke kegs - future fermenting vessels
2 15.5 sanke kegs - 1 converted to HLT w/sight glass, the other will be the mash tun.
Single tier brew stand - (work in progress, just need the gas lines plumbed)
2 chugger pumps
9 sets of camlock quick disconnects
25' of silicone tubing
Etched 6 gal carboy


By the way, no sanke kegs were obtained illegally in the above post.
 
No I just posted it up after it was done. I built the cart from 80/20 and assembled it myself. I can give measurements if you're really interested. It's easy stuff to work with if you have a chop saw.
 
No I just posted it up after it was done. I built the cart from 80/20 and assembled it myself. I can give measurements if you're really interested. It's easy stuff to work with if you have a chop saw.

I'll take as much info as you're willing to type. I have no idea what 80/20 is.....

And don't be stingy with the motor and pulley sizes. :D



_
 
2010 for me...

I went from never brewing a batch of beer in my life to becoming completely obsessed with the hobby and now hoping to open my own micro brewery some day!

I started with a cheapo stovetop extract set up and within 6 months upgraded to an (almost complete) 10 gallon all grain HERMS set up and I'm now in the process of building a control panel just like Kal's!
My wife is ready to kill me, but I did give up another hobby in order to pursue this one. Fortunately she likes this hobby a lot more than my last hobby.
 

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