Moving my brewing outside, help me not miss anything please :-)

[Rev2010]

Got a Blichmann Boilermaker 10 gallon recently and can't do 5 gallon batch full boils with my stove so I have a Blichmann floor burner with leg extensions on the way and just want to make sure I don't miss anything for my first brewday outside. I'm planning on getting a separate shorter garden hose (will be close to the faucet) and sprayer that I won't keep outside under funky conditions - I know I know, boiling sanitizes anyway but still. I'm currently doing extract so I'm planning on putting the extract in 1 gallon RubberMaid pitchers with lid to simplify puring into the kettle and keeping the extract contained in case there's any wind (will remove lids when pouring to prevent clogging).

Are there any pointers that people can recommend for newbies to outside brewing? Any additional helpful items to have on hand? I also have never used a propane burner for brewing, only BBQ'ing. From a Blichmann Youtube video it seems the flame regular is on the attachment to the tank and there's also the air input regulator. Any tips there? Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to avoid any mistakes if I can avoid finding them out first hand. I've done many batches of beer so I'm not new to brewing, just new to brewing outside - to save any confusion.


Rev.

 

[likwidbliss]

You'll figure it out. It will be the best beer investment to date. I try to keep my flames blue. I do sometimes have no pressure coming from the regulator. If that happens shut the regulator off and the propane off and disconnect. Reconnect the regulator to the tank, open tank then regulator. Hopefully yours doesn't do that.

 

[Mongrel]

Make sure to get a potable water hose not just a regular garden hose, and turn off the burner while adding your extract.

 

[Rev2010]

@likwidbliss - thanks! I'm sure the much shorter steep and boil reach times will be well worth the outside brewing, which so far seems less convenient but might work out for the better of course.

@Mongrel - this is exactly the type of input I am looking for. I've never even heard of a potable hose and just Googled it. So a potable hose is drinking water safe I'm gathering?


Rev.

 

[DosGatosBrewing]

I started brewing outdoors when I went all-grain ( stove won't hold a 5 gallon full boil), and it's been great. Looks like the previous posters haven't missed anything that I can think of. You'll figure it out; just don't get in a hurry!

 

[jfr1111]

Your garden variety garden hose will make the water taste like rubbery crap. You can buy RV lines pretty much everywhere.

 

[Rev2010]

Your garden variety garden hose will make the water taste like rubbery crap. You can buy RV lines pretty much everywhere.

In searching on the potable hose I found this Homebrewtalk thread which still notes an unusual taste by a few posters:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/potable-water-hose-weird-smell-taste-164402/

Is it best to just fill strait from the faucet into the bucket and pour in or are those instances of odd tastes rare or just cause of a lack of proper pre-use cleaning prep?


Rev.

 

[joeybeer]

Fwiw, I fill a 5 gallon bucket in the sink in the kitchen, and run it outside to the kettle. You don't have to fill it to the brim, make a couple of runs ! The advice above about the order to disconnect if nothing happens is great advice to have

 

[Seven]

Congrats on your new equipment. You're going to love that kettle and burner.

My advice is to place it somewhere where it won't get hit with a lot of wind when you're boiling and do a practice run with some water to get a feel for the new boil off rate. Use the supplied heat shield under the sight glass to keep the contents of the sight glass from boiling. I found cleaning this kettle is a breeze with a little Bar Keeper's Friend and water. Windex also works great to remove any exterior smudges.

 

[jfr1111]

In searching on the potable hose I found this Homebrewtalk thread which still notes an unusual taste by a few posters:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/potable-water-hose-weird-smell-taste-164402/

Is it best to just fill strait from the faucet into the bucket and pour in or are those instances of odd tastes rare or just cause of a lack of proper pre-use cleaning prep?


Rev.

All my brewing water comes from the kitchen faucet because I don't trust the hose I have and I'm too cheap to buy another one. I always mash inside though.

Get your garden hose and a pint glass and take a good drink from it. It will most likely taste horrible: garden hoses are made to water plants and fill pools, not dispense drinking water. I wouldn't chance it when you have interior plumbing that is all food grade and potable water hoses in every home depot.

 

[Goaltender66]

Wear a coat!

 

[starrfish]

I use a cheap coiled hose stored in doors flushed by blowing through so its pretty dry. I flush for 15min by hosing out mash tun & brew pots, watering lawn etc. will taste water no plastic taste ever. none in final product so far will replace after this brewing season, since it's cheap

 

[starrfish]

Wear a coat!

lol

 

[Rev2010]

I have no problem using a bucket to fill straight from the outside faucet (would still purge the line a bit first), but I was originally thinking it would be convenient to use a hose with sprayer since I could fill and calm any foaming with the mist spray setting. but, I also have a water bottle so it's certainly no trouble to just bring that out for that purpose. Guess I may just skip the hose and sprayer.


Rev.

 

[Rev2010]

Wear a coat!

I know about that well enough I have an SCT telescope and have on several winters spent much time outside viewing the better sites we have during the winter (Orion Nebula, Jupiter, Saturn, other nebulae and Globular Clusters, etc). I've got these awesome ski gloves that are uber reinforced LOL. I can definitely stand a brew session outdoors being I used to spend hours late nights to early morning hours out here in the fall and winter


Rev.

 

[two_hearted]

I run my garden hose to a household water filter then out a stainless hose. No issues with off flavors.

 

[chezhed]

Use a water filter on the hose, no matter what type hose...one of those fairly cheap RV filters is what I use. Wal Mart...$10. Connects right to the hose and has male hose fitting on the other end to put a shut off, sprayer, whatever.

Portable work table/surface to put stuff on.

Layout your work area and play with it when you do some of those test boils. Then you will be ready brew day. The legs are great on that burner and the burner itself is the best wind performing one I've used. You can get it high blue to get to boil and then turn it down just as you reach boil and never need that spray bottle, especially with that pot.

My other non dedicated brewing equipment list for outside....cuz SWMBO hates me running in and out

pot holders
tongs
clean rags/towels
scrub pads
bar keepers friend (can't store it in garage in my humidity)
scissors (finally got my own kitchen scissors now but used to borrow kitchen ones)
aluminum foil for possible wind screen/heat shield

 

[Whippy]

Throw some crabs and red potatoes in the pot with your brew and make dinner at the same time!

 

[Rev2010]

Portable work table/surface to put stuff on.

Check, have the outside table out there with enough space for all the items to sit on.

My other non dedicated brewing equipment list for outside....cuz SWMBO hates me running in and out

pot holders
tongs
clean rags/towels
scrub pads
bar keepers friend (can't store it in garage in my humidity)
scissors (finally got my own kitchen scissors now but used to borrow kitchen ones)
aluminum foil for possible wind screen/heat shield

Already factored in:

the pot holders
towels/rags
scissors

Just curious, what do you use the tongs for? Scrub pads - I will be cleaning up everything indoors, is that why you listed them and the bar keepers friend? Thanks again for your, and everyone else's, input!!! :rockin:


Rev.