More to it than I thought.

[FunCat1828]

Thank you so much for the post and sharing your brewing experience with everyone. Tinker's are the people who figure out all the things that are broke and fix them and then we brake all the things that work to make them better

FWIW I do not have deep pockets money wise. However I have a list of engineers / lab junkies / contractors / programmers / consultants that will make your head spin.

Thanks for the post brother!



-Altrez

I still think your pockets are a little deeper than mine!

I've loved your enthusiasm over every part of what you've bought. I often over think things before jumping in (hence the slow 100 amp control panel build!) and you just jump in, buy what's needed keep on analysing and adjust as needed.

Looking forward to seeing your journey, this has been a fun thread!

Let me know if I can help in anyway, I'm by no means an expert, but I've bought a lot of sh#t, some has worked some hasn't. As a result of this thread I went and bought the water book tonight so I can read up on that. I'm currently researching the RO systems to try and improve my beers.

All part of the fun of this wonderful hobby!

 

[kombat]

Once I move up to 5 + gallons I am going to buy a fully computer controlled Glycol cooling system that monitors internal and external temps every secound.

Or - now hear me out - a $20 thermowell, a $20 heating belt, and the freezer you already have. Just sayin'.

 

[Altrez]

Or - now hear me out - a $20 thermowell, a $20 heating belt, and the freezer you already have. Just sayin'.

And that would also work! I just know what I want and I have seen several builds here that are way cool! I am going to budget 5k for my build all computer controlled 5 gallon. It will not be enough.

-Altrez

 

[rlmiller10]

Since early in this thread it was mentioned that you were doing this to save money because you drink a good amount...now spending 5K...

Wondering if we are all being trolled....

It has been an entertaining read...something to follow since the boneyard closed.

 

[plankbr]

I'm just going to go to Red River Gorge and get you your spring water straight from the source.

 

[Altrez]

Since early in this thread it was mentioned that you were doing this to save money because you drink a good amount...now spending 5K...

Wondering if we are all being trolled....

It has been an entertaining read...something to follow since the boneyard closed.

No trolling here I have just been looking at options. Still at least 88 brews away from anything big!

-Altrez

 

[kombat]

And that would also work! I just know what I want and I have seen several builds here that are way cool! I am going to budget 5k for my build all computer controlled 5 gallon. It will not be enough.

Do you want to brew beer, or do you want to automate the entire process to the point where you don't have to do anything, and a computer magically produces beer for you?

 

[Altrez]

Do you want to brew beer, or do you want to automate the entire process to the point where you don't have to do anything, and a computer magically produces beer for you?

I really want a beer brewing robot that handles all the brewing for me. I will just over see the operation Pretty much what I do at work now but with even less effort!

:rockin:

-Altrez

 

[PADave]

And that would also work! I just know what I want and I have seen several builds here that are way cool! I am going to budget 5k for my build all computer controlled 5 gallon. It will not be enough.

-Altrez

But you don't have deep pockets, lol.

 

[boarderx3120]

Another parallel: don't expect to save money on beer by homebrewing any more than you would save money on fish by buying a boat.

Hah! Well said. I got into this to save money. I quickly found out that will not at all be the case.

 

[PADave]

I am using the ITC-308 and it works great! I did data logging and it was always within a degree.

http://ink-bird.com/asset/file/ITC-308 V2.1 EN.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011296704/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I have two and they work well!

-Altrez

Ordered mine today. Now need to go get a freezer. Are you using yours with a heater, or only cooling? I'm just not seeing the need for a heater brewing ales.

 

[Northbank]

I'm really happy with mine. I use mine only with a freezer, which makes for some variability in temps, I kind of bounce between 67f and 63f, the cooling is vigorous enough that the ambient temps keep reducing the temp on the carboy long after the condenser shuts off ... I'm satisfied enough but if you really want narrow band control you might need a heater of some kind.

 

[Jwin]

I'm really happy with mine. I use mine only with a freezer, which makes for some variability in temps, I kind of bounce between 67f and 63f, the cooling is vigorous enough that the ambient temps keep reducing the temp on the carboy long after the condenser shuts off ... I'm satisfied enough but if you really want narrow band control you might need a heater of some kind.

I've found that with a freezer it's best to monitor beer temp and regulate ambient temp. I have a cheap probe thermometer in my thermowell.
I've peaked 7*F over ambient in a 11g batch in my speidel. It takes a bit of monitoring the first few days but set and forget by the 4th day

I started doing that after 002 flocced out halfway through fermentation because it got to cold

 

[PADave]

I've found that with a freezer it's best to monitor beer temp and regulate ambient temp. I have a cheap probe thermometer in my thermowell.
I've peaked 7*F over ambient in a 11g batch in my speidel. It takes a bit of monitoring the first few days but set and forget by the 4th day

I started doing that after 002 flocced out halfway through fermentation because it got to cold

Can you elaborate on this? Where are you putting your controller temp sensor? The wort temp was 7*F higher than the set temp? I'm just trying to figure out how to use this.

 

[Jwin]

Can you elaborate on this? Where are you putting your controller temp sensor? The wort temp was 7*F higher than the set temp? I'm just trying to figure out how to use this.

I no longer use this and use an old fridge instead. The freezer is now my kegerator, but I still use the same method. I duct tape the probe to one of those tiny soda cans in the kegerator to help regulate and minimize compressor cycling.
It's not hard for a deep freeze to stay in the 60s if the seals are good.
So if I aim to ferment at 65, I may start it at 63 until fermentation starts, then drop the temp settings a degree every 10-12 hours until my probe thermometer in the thermo well is reading is 65. Let it ride at that temp until fermentation slows, then ramp the temp up a couple degrees every couple days.

The small soda cans temperature will change more immediate than a 60l fermenter, but that will drop the ambient temp in the freezer much lower than the set point. If you try to change the temp of 11g of fluid one degree with a freezer(controller probe in thermowell), the temperature of the air in the freezer will be below freezing by the time that happens and the fermenter will continue to drop temp.

You must stop looking at it as controlling the beer temperature. Instead, you control it's environment. It's a 63* F(+/-1*) room that you ferment in, oh and it has a super powerful AC unit that will freeze your nuts off if not careful.

 

[Jwin]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R42K82C/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This is what I use in the thermowell
It's not available now, but they are on aliexpress as well.


Also, a refrigerator is a lot easier to use for fermentation in my experience.

 

[Altrez]

Update:

Bottled and mini kegged my first batch today. It had a slight taste of green apple however the instructions said that it might and needs to age 4 more weeks.

-Altrez

 

[PADave]

Bought a chest freezer today, and my Inkbird controller will be here Tues. Then I can get back to brewing, as I'll have 3 empty fermenters that need something in them. But right now it's time to bottle my second batch of Dead Ringer. Tried a bottle of the first batch a few days ago and it's delicious! :rockin:

 

[Sammy86]

Update:

Bottled and mini kegged my first batch today. It had a slight taste of green apple however the instructions said that it might and needs to age 4 more weeks.

-Altrez

Congrats on this very fine accomplishment...let the corn sugar do its thing to carb those bad boys us and enjoy!

 

[Altrez]

Ordered mine today. Now need to go get a freezer. Are you using yours with a heater, or only cooling? I'm just not seeing the need for a heater brewing ales.

I just use the cool side for now and that seems to be enough. I am thinking about putting a light on the heating plugin so I know when the temp drops below what I have it set to.

-Altrez

 

[PADave]

I just use the cool side for now and that seems to be enough. I am thinking about putting a light on the heating plugin so I know when the temp drops below what I have it set to.

-Altrez

What kind/how do you data log? I think I might be interested in keeping a record of what's going on in the freezer.

 

[Altrez]

What kind/how do you data log? I think I might be interested in keeping a record of what's going on in the freezer.

Hello,

I use this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MTIMQJY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It works great!

-Altrez

 

[gromitdj]

What kind/how do you data log? I think I might be interested in keeping a record of what's going on in the freezer.

Hello,

I use this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MTIMQJY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

It works great!

-Altrez

My advice... Go BrewPi, and don't look back

 

[Altrez]

My advice... Go BrewPi, and don't look back

I have been looking at the BrewPi for a bit. Seems pretty cool Not sure what the hookup is like. Might pick one up to tinker with.

-Altrez

 

[PADave]

My advice... Go BrewPi, and don't look back

No thanks, way to high tech for me.

 

[gromitdj]

No thanks, way to high tech for me.

If accurate temp control and logging is what you are after, it cant be beat. If you go pre-built, it's really not that bad. But I understand, as it's a little bit of work to get it all set up.

 

[Altrez]

I am looking at this water kit over the Hach. Does anyone have any experience with it?

http://www.sensafe.com/smartbrewkit/

-Altrez

 

[MaryB]

Yikes! You can have a water test done once way cheaper! https://producers.wardlab.com/pay/order-brewers-kit.php?step=1&op=kit unless your water source changes a lot once is all you need.

 

[Altrez]

Question:

My heavy Oak'ed beer has been in the primary for 2 weeks. I would like to let it sit 2 more weeks with the Oak before going to barrel for 30 days. Would that cause any issues?

Thanks!

-Altrez

 

[rlmiller10]

Question:

My heavy Oak'ed beer has been in the primary for 2 weeks. I would like to let it sit 2 more weeks with the Oak before going to barrel for 30 days. Would that cause any issues?

Thanks!

-Altrez

Should be fine. Many if not most people let their beer sit in primary for at least three weeks, so one more would not make a lot of difference. If it were mine I would probably put it in the fridge for the last week to cold crash is before putting it in the barrel.

The only real worry is the yeast breaking down and releasing flavors (autolysis) or if you have dry hopped, the hops releasing veggie flavors. But from reading this site for three years now the it seems the it take more than 4 weeks for autolysis. And it you didn't mention dry hopping so that should not be a problem.