If I understand what you mean--is that to cool the wort, or to heat to strike temp? Anyway, I am pretty sure, yes, I have that included somewhere.... still laying out my inventory... thank you for replying!
I'm so lost. HELLLP! Just upgraded from white buckets to 10+ gallon stainless system...
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Hope my questions help you too! Let's GOOOOOO!!!!Jump into the deep end from the wading pool.
A bit ironic though this came up. Just yesterday I bought a two burner Blichmann Top Tier stand and a single controller Tower of Power off FB marketplace, but not all the kettles and extra bling you got.
I've been doing 5g all grain with one kettle, a cooler mash tun, and lots of lifting so maybe not quite as steep learning curve but still some, no doubt.
Thank you so much for all of this amazing info. I'll get there... it may take a while... but I will! I'll keep the group informed!
AND YES re propane and the ventilation--I appreciate your reminder--never hurts to put safety first!
It will make 10-gallon batches. I bought the grain at the local home brew supply and I put it through the crusher there. The guy was not helpful to me otherwise... but I didn't want to leave empty handed. It seems I am headed toward a pale ale of sorts, but Smash sounds cool... um, what is a Smash?
Single Malt And Single Hop (i.e. one variety of each), often used to try out different hops and base malts for comparison.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I gotta give this thing a shot! But it is nice to know an experienced brewer like you can also do your thing with a do-over setup that works best for you. ...I'm giving this all-grain system my best shot. What's the worst that can happen? Thank you again. Glad you came back to brewing too. I'm sure you are a master!
Oh, thank you bmac, but I am about as far from a master as it comes, though I've been plinking for a long time now. The people on here, in particular the Brits like @Northern_Brewer and @cire and all the people who have really worked to make good ale in this line (but there are so, so many more here, too numerous to mention, who do such a boundless variety of excellent beers!), are where I learned. I just know my intent and do my best. And it's taken a long time for me to simply relax and quit chasing some kind of impossible ideal. Age will tend to take the wind out of that sail, I suppose.
Good luck and happy brewing to you! Looking forward to seeing how things come along for you.
The issue is that you bought a rather advanced system from someone that kind of pieced it together to suit their own progression in the hobby. If I were you, I'd sell it immediately and grab a Brewzilla Gen 4 or Anvil Foundry. I can't emphasize enough how much easier it is to brew on systems like that, especially given the stage of brewing you're at right now.
Brushwood Brewing
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Keep it simple: Remember that the only difference with all-grain brewing (compared to the extract brewing you were doing) is that you soak the grains first, for roughly 60min around 150F. Otherwise everything is the same.
You've received some very helpful responses which should help you piece it together, and I definitely agree with the advice to do a test run with water first. Try a few batches on this system, but if it's not for you, don't give up the hobby. You have a very advanced system, and it may not fit your brewing style. Like @Bobby_M said, you could switch over to an electric all-in-one system and do brew-in-a-bag (BIAB), with something like an Anvil Foundry. There are much simpler ways to make beer that's just as good.
Most of all: keep it fun. Keep trying. That's fantastic that you were enjoying the extract beers you started with, so don't lose that joy!
You've received some very helpful responses which should help you piece it together, and I definitely agree with the advice to do a test run with water first. Try a few batches on this system, but if it's not for you, don't give up the hobby. You have a very advanced system, and it may not fit your brewing style. Like @Bobby_M said, you could switch over to an electric all-in-one system and do brew-in-a-bag (BIAB), with something like an Anvil Foundry. There are much simpler ways to make beer that's just as good.
Most of all: keep it fun. Keep trying. That's fantastic that you were enjoying the extract beers you started with, so don't lose that joy!
As a homebrew store owner, I kind of understand how you feel like you couldn't get the kind of help you needed. Did the guy have the benefit seeing all the pictures of what you had or were you just trying to describe them not knowing what they were yourself? Maybe he hadn't seen some of that gear and was unfamiliar. Not every shop owner has operated a Blichmann Tower of Power. I certainly haven't as automated gas valve systems where on their way out over 10 years ago. This is kind of like buying a car that needs a new clutch and you tow it to the shop, you tell the guy you want a racing clutch even though you've never driven a manual transmission car before.
Join a local homebrewing club. And search YouTube.
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Sweet system you got there. I used to live in Salem and learned to brew there. I used to go to a small homebrew supply store where the owner guided me through my brewing issues and mistakes. I am now in Florida and belong to a very active homebrew club. Do you have a local homebrew club where you could seek out a brew buddy?
Really cool set up. Looks like you will have a very capable brewery once you get your process figured out. I would reach out through your LBS to identify someone in your local home brew community or HB Club to come by and help you out. Perhaps even walk you through a couple brews. Most folks I know around me would welcome an opportunity to help out and play on someone's new gear. Good luck and have fun
I'm still looking for a group like that! But there has to be. I appreciate my new friends here. I'm getting closer to knowing what I am doing.
You are not incorrect about this. He kind of sold me on the idea that I was getting a turn-key "nano brewery, ready to go. I can't give up yet! And I can't afford the systems you mention, but if this goes south, I am sure I can get my money back selling each of my components separately. I am trying to make this work. I've received a lot of good help here. Thanks!
The seller--the poor guy is in the hospital. Something serious, I believe, so I don't want to bother him until he is well again. He did offer to guide me later. Thank you for replying.
Just an update: getting closer to brew day! Of all the great replies in this forum, yours probably helped me most. Cleaning garage, getting set. Thank you for encouraging me with the equipment IDs and kind words. The baby steps were missing... I am at least crawling and cruising now...Odds were against me, but improving now...having fun thinking of names already:
"UNLIKELY PALE ALE"
"IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY ALE"
"SMASH & LIKE"
"HULK SMASH" (maybe add some drops of green? Ha! For St. Pat's?
"ALL-GRAINER NO-BRAINER"
Today I am tackling temp control for the fermenter. Oregon winter temps and my garage range mostly in high 40s, low 50s. I'm checking out heating ideas and working on insulation jacket (using furniture pads.) I think I could get away with a long heat wrap designed for outdoor plumbing freeze-protect... wrapped multiple loops around just above the cone. The other way to go is to build a little wooden box around the fermenter and keep a small space heater in that box. I will decide today. Pics to follow...
Getting there. having fun.
Micraftbeer, I am replying to your post, but I mean to thank the whole thread. Still getting used to this site. Everyone has been helpful. I will keep everyone posted!
Could also brew on your new system but ferment in your old buckets until the weather is more favorable, that would remove a project that is keeping you from brewing.
Putting something flammable against the heat wrap does not seem like a good idea. I am sure the heat density of the wrap is low but they meant to be used in free air.
Putting something flammable against the heat wrap does not seem like a good idea. I am sure the heat density of the wrap is low but they meant to be used in free air.
beren
Well-Known Member
Great that you are getting there! One thing did stick out which says a lot more than it seems: 'a turn-key "nano brewery, ready to go.' You bought a borderline semi-pro brewery, not simple homebrew, gear before fully learning how to brew. Not the end of the world but makes things a lot more complex. Also, 10gal batches are a lot unless you give a lot away or like drinking the same thing all the time, that's 5 cases of beer. I do 5-6 gal batches on the stove with a heatstick and a cooler mash tun. Some batches I wish I had more of, but some are kinda 'meh'. Not bad enough to dump but takes forever to finish the keg. Just some personal thoughts as every so often I'm tempted to get a bigger setup.
beren
Well-Known Member
Simple solutions are an old freezer or fridge. if you only ever need heat, they don't even need to run
All you need for heat is something like a brewbelt or waterproof seed heater and an inkbird temp controller. Or a thin plywood box with 2" of foam panels if you want a more custom diy route.
Pick 1 and substitute a lager yeast suitable for the lower temperatures and see what happens. I am just about sure the result will enjoyable. Here is the heat wrap I use when my temps get too cold. Seemed to work well w/out further insulation keeping my beer @ ~68 while ambient temps were in low 50's a couple years back. My basement stays warmer now that it is occupied by my F-in law so cool is less of a problem.
https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/fermotemp-electric-fermentation-heater
https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/northern-brewer-dual-stage-temp-controller
https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/fermotemp-electric-fermentation-heater
https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/northern-brewer-dual-stage-temp-controller
If you can get one of the burner running, the 15gal kettle and one of these,
BIAB Mesh Grain Bag 27.5 x 32.5 in. – F.H. Steinbart Company, would work well for making 5gal batches.
Don't have to deal with the pump and the all of the fancy stuff, just heat to 150s and dunk your grain for a while.
BIAB Mesh Grain Bag 27.5 x 32.5 in. – F.H. Steinbart Company, would work well for making 5gal batches.
Don't have to deal with the pump and the all of the fancy stuff, just heat to 150s and dunk your grain for a while.
You've got an amazing stack of new gear. You might consider learning it one stage at a time. For example, make wort as before and learn about the fermenter. Or, learn to use your new mashtun but boil with your old kettle.
All that said, you might consider the wisdom according to @Bobby_M, skip the mashtun and HLT altogether and go with BIAB as others have suggested.
Enjoy learning your new brewery, @bmac8 !
All that said, you might consider the wisdom according to @Bobby_M, skip the mashtun and HLT altogether and go with BIAB as others have suggested.
Enjoy learning your new brewery, @bmac8 !
Brewer Mike
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I don't think it would work for your fermenter, but as a tip for others...
I have a big 120 qt (I think) cooler. I set it on it's end, and it'll fit my Fermonster, or a bucket, carboy, etc. I use one of those seed starter type heating mats with an Inkbird temp controller. I can pull the drain plug out and run a blow-off tube in when necessary.
Thank you. Yeah. Turn-key nano brewery is a lot to understand...but also going to enjoy the journey. I am really enjoying the discussion here and learning.
In the past, brewing 5 gallons seemed to work out to about 50 12-oz bottles of beer or two cases (call it 48 beers after -2 breakage/sample.) So if I make....14 gallons (it's a 14.5 gallon fermenter,) then that should be something between 5-6 cases of bottles. I could say about 22-23 six packs which will be fun to give away.
I really do like to give most of the beer away. I enjoy naming the brew and getting creative with funny labels.
Thank you and I understand your concern about heat wrap under insulation or blankets. I will be very careful. Taking my time to design the best option. Leaning toward plywood box-in with insulation. I have a small space heater with temp setting that would keep the box nice and warm, and it has safeties built in. I think building out that square box will also give me someplace to stack bottles and materials on top. Measuring... stay tuned!
Well, I hate to post this, but FH Steinbart has a store here in Portland, and I was disrespected there. I will not give another penny to FHB unless I could be convinced there was just one bad apple behind the counter that day. But I have been reading reviews, and I do see similar experiences to my own. My original "HELLLLLLP" post followed that visit the same evening and it left me discouraged. Pretty rude place.
Great suggestions. Thank you.
Sorry to hear that about the place, I picked that place as I knew it would be local to you. Maybe things have changed since the last owner passed away. There is an earlier post by @doug293cz for bags made by a fellow HBT incase you want to give BIAB a shot.
Sorry to hear that. Steinbart has been my main LHBS for over 30 years, and I've never been treated poorly there. I've often observed staff patiently advising customers at all levels of expertise.
There are others not too far from there - a small shop called The Homebrew Exchange on NE Interstate, and a big one in Hillsboro called MainBrew. We're fortunate here in the Portland metro area.
Since posting this, I have learned that I have a 14.5-gallon fermenter, so I am trying to make 14 gallons. That should amount to something like 22 or 23 six-packs to give away... or about 135 bottles of beer. Need to have at least "100 bottles-of-beer-on-the-wall" so we can sing the song!
It looks like you have a 15gal brew kettle which can brew a 10gal batch including the trub/break but needs to be watched.
Your fermentor needs some head room if you put 14gals in there you are going to lose some beer to blow-off. You will also have more sediment/trub with a all grain brew vs an extract brew.
Your fermentor needs some head room if you put 14gals in there you are going to lose some beer to blow-off. You will also have more sediment/trub with a all grain brew vs an extract brew.
Thank you again. I want to avoid changing the methods--I need to learn how to operate the system I bought. I've learned a lot and I am enjoying the challenge. I found a very good resource less than a mile away--Bridgeview Brew Supply in Oregon City. That place and the owner have been very helpful and they are right around the corner.
Oh. How much head room do you think I need to leave? Should I go 13 gallons?
The mash is 20 gallons.
Whisky River
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Glad to see you’re rising to the challenge ahead of you. I don’t recall which fermenter you have but usually when a fermenter lists it’s capacity as 14.5 gallons that is taking into account the extra room or headspace that is needed for fermentation so that would probably indicate a maximum batch size of 10 or maybe 12 gallons. Just something to keep in mind as you start figuring out your batch size.
If you want to do a full volume boil the brew kettle is your determining factor for midrange beers. The 20gal mash tun would allow for a larger volume if you want to top off the wort after the boil. You need a couple gallons of head space in your brew kettle to keep from boiling over. I can do a 10gal batch in my 15gal kettle. I start with about 13gal of wort and end with about 11gals after it cools. I watch the pot for boil start or I have a mess.
I would say 12 to 12.5 would be safe but the head space is somewhat dependent on the yeast. I brew 5gals batches in a 7gal fermentor and most of the time dont have a mess but some ale yeasts still require a blow off tube.
I would say 12 to 12.5 would be safe but the head space is somewhat dependent on the yeast. I brew 5gals batches in a 7gal fermentor and most of the time dont have a mess but some ale yeasts still require a blow off tube.
I have poured 13 gallons of water into the fermenter and there is still about 4 inches of room at the top of the vessel. It's a Stout fermenter.
Whisky River
Well-Known Member
I just posted these recently in another thread but these are from a 5 gallon batch.
