I blame this forum!!!

[redbrewsathome]

Years ago I posted my system build in the automated brewing category, after ruining my wife's kitchen I thought a full out automated rig would be the way to go. As my system came together I could not at first afford electric valves etc. so I used manual valves and got to the point when I suddenly realized this thing will make beer! It never got electric valves and has brewed hundreds of beers since. But the build was great and this spring it was time for something new, so I started over in the upstairs from the old brewery still in my shop. This time no automation because I had shown myself it was beer I wanted! Here's some pics of what reading to late into the night on this forum gets you into.

 

[redbrewsathome]

We have also enlarged our hop yard and grown our own barley this year!

 

[redbrewsathome]

Here's some more!

 

[Smellyglove]

Those tanks looks like something from NASA, BLING! I wanted to say that that control panel looks sweet, but then I saw the rest of the pics and everything looks sweet! This is amazing.

 

[Bigfly]

I like the stainless wallpaper.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

How is it possible you have such an awesome setup and Fotek SSR's

 

[jcav]

Wow, that is amazing. I love the farming too!

John

 

[BrunDog]

Not sure it’s fair to blame the forum. Ain’t never seen ANYTHING like this here before. Wowser!

Can you show more pics of the condensate stack?

 

[Justinphillip911]

Is this Homebrew or just Professional. This is next level here!!!

 

[Totally]

Beautiful setup you have there!

I am happy to know who I can now blame when this happens to me some day, thank you.

 

[beernutz]

You must have a large family OP.

 

[redbrewsathome]

Thanks everyone. Johnnyrotten you'll be happy to know those ssrs have already been replaced!!

 

[redbrewsathome]

Heres some pics of the condensate stack as well as the soap tanks I started with and hop back I'm building. This is 4 years of home brew and dreaming although admittedly with a future dream of going pro! But for now I'll continue to feed family and friends! The system is approximately 1.5bbl.

 

[BrunDog]

Thats INSANE!

So the condensate stack is just a pipe with a mister and a drain? It doesn't vent anywhere, just turns the steam back to liquid with the mister, correct? Is there any pressure equalization needed?

 

[augiedoggy]

Thats INSANE!

So the condensate stack is just a pipe with a mister and a drain? It doesn't vent anywhere, just turns the steam back to liquid with the mister, correct? Is there any pressure equalization needed?

It looks a lot like the one I just ordered with my 3 bbl brewery... I did not think it used any mister... I thought the steam just collected to condensate in the pipe like a how a Still works? the remaining hot air exits out the hole in the top..

This "home" brewery is amazing btw.... as someone whos "going pro" with a 3 bbl nano I'm jealous of what you've accomplished.

 

[MaxStout]

Great brew gear porn! Thanks for sharing!

 

[BrunDog]

Ya but he has no "hole at the top".

I ask because I have been playing with a system to eliminate steam from my brewery. I brew in my garage, but like to brew in the evening and in FL with the door open at dusk, the 'squitoes are a PITA. Closing the door makes it a steam room during the boil.

Honestly, I think a solution like this can save the headaches that so many indoor brewers have installing an overhead vent system. Condensing steam back to water with a mister can be super easy, use very little water, and require no venting (just a drain). Water expands/contracts ~1600x on phase change, so an ongoing volume of condensing steam should create a vacuum to pull more out of the boil kettle.

I am testing this by adding a TC port to the very top of the BK, and with a TC tee, adding a conical mister spraying water down from the top of the tee, then placing a drain tube at the bottom of the tee. Hoping it works!

 

[LarMoeCur]

WOW! Do you need a roommate?

 

[milldoggy]

I request the admins to delete this thread as it makes me so jealous.

 

[redbrewsathome]

I did start with a design like augiedog suggests but then saw a candie cane shaped one with a mister from stout tanks and thought I'd give it a try, it works pretty good but I think I will add more length and misters to chill it quicker, that hose to the drain is 1" id and I think that is key! Thanks a million augie its been a lot of work but now its brew time! LarMoeCur there are two rental units on my farm!! You may have to pick hops and brew beer though, and it gets cold up here for six months!! Milldoggy I think thats unfair cause over the years theres tons of posts that I am still jealous of! Cheers

 

[BongoYodeler]

Great googly moogly!!

 

[doug293cz]

I request the admins to delete this thread as it makes me so jealous.

Not gonna happen. Continue eating your heart out

Brew on

 

[passedpawn]

like to brew in the evening and in FL with the door open at dusk, the 'squitoes are a PITA.

Mosquitos are terrible flyers. Get some heavy duty wallmount fans and they'll leave you alone in the garage. Aside from DEET, it's the only solution.

 

[passedpawn]

My takeaway from this thread (besides I don't have enough acres in my farm and sqft in my garage): I need a mig/tig/whatever it takes to make stuff outta SS. This is a hole I've gone down many times before, and here we go again.

 

[Drumminguy81]

That is an amazing brewery. It's nicer than many pro breweries I have been to. I wish I had the space to do something like that, but I'm getting there slowly. I completely agree on blaming the forum. This forum took me from stovetop to my current in progress electric 1bbl build.

 

[cabron99]

WOW!! And I had thought the chain had come MY sprocket!