My Electric Brewery Build!

[jbsengineer]

Also, I picked up a HDMI cable for my laptop and toyed with using the TV as a large Beer Smith panel:

 

[rockinmarty]

nice can't wait to start building my own and the hdtv in the brewery that is very bling

 

[CidahMastah]

Great work!

Keep me apprised on your approach to a swing arm for your panel. I am doing the same thing on mine but haven't come up with the design yet. Looking great!

I am still waiting for a few tidbits to come in before I start drilling holes, but at least I have my first control panel in place for now

 

[zeno27]

subscribed. Love the TV with Beersmith!

 

[Biohazard]

cant wait to see how this turns out. I think I am leaning this way as well since my house is already all electric (no gas in the city I live in).

 

[jbsengineer]

My 2nd and 3rd 20 Gallon Blichmann's arrived today:

 

[rockinmarty]

My 2nd and 3rd 20 Gallon Blichmann's arrived today:

I hate you with a passion.
Love the bling:rockin:

 

[CidahMastah]

now that's just greedy...

 

[kal]

Shiny. No thermometer on the second and third Boilermaker? I didn't know you could order them without!

Kal

 

[Prime]

I am also looking forward to how you approach the arm for the panel. I have been trying to come up with a solution that I am comfortable supporting that much $$ worth of electronics.

 

[milldoggy]

Shiny. No thermometer on the second and third Boilermaker? I didn't know you could order them without!

Kal

Kal,
Looks like the holes for them are still there.

 

[jbsengineer]

The two on the left are fresh out of the box. Didn't get a chance to install the thermometer's yet.

 

[kal]

Yes, you can get plugs for the holes if you don't want to use the thermometers. I was more curious if he had (and could) order the kettles without the thermometers. Guess you still can't.

Kal

 

[Neopol]

I'm kind of a fan of the thermometers being there... I consider mine a mechanical failsafe

 

[kal]

Yes, you can use them as a backup to what your electronic temp probes tell you. My Blichmann thermometers seem to have drifted a bit as they dont measure the same as my electronic probes ... haven't bothered re-adjusting them so I just ignore them.

Kal

 

[liebertron]

Isn't your only by product steam when electric brewing? Do you need a hood?

 

[jbsengineer]

Isn't your only by product steam when electric brewing? Do you need a hood?

Correct. Once I have my stand completed and in place I will begin building a custom sized hood. Using NattyBrew's basic design (2x6's lined with FRP panels) with some modifications. I plan to use 2x8's to make the hood a little deeper. I am also going to build in a lip around the bottom edge to prevent moisture from dripping down.

 

[Lucky_Chicken]

Isn't your only by product steam when electric brewing? Do you need a hood?

its a lot of steam! 1 gallon per hour

 

[CannibalAJ]

I'm interested in watching this build! I'm building a much more boot leg electric set up as I have a wedding this summer and the future Mrs. only lets me spend so much on a hobby that detracts from time spent with her! If you are planning on getting a 6" inline 400 CFM plus fan, save your $$ and get one off of amazon. Sunset's cheapest patchouli removal fan (that's a hippie joke!) is $140. You can get one shipped for $100 off of amazon.

 

[jbsengineer]

Made a little progress. The brew stand is complete. I liked the final color. My clear PVC pipe came in. It has a bit of a bluish tint but I'm still moving forward with the plan to put fill the pipe in each corner with some barley.

Aside from the brew stand I was able to make some progress on the ventilation hood. I should have that finished and stained tomorrow. I hope to mount it tomorrow evening.

All my parts are in. Including the control panel parts (wow).

My bulk grain from the CNY bulk buy also came in so I included a few of those pics as well.

Stainless steel 24x24 sink with drainboard (need to get in plumbed):

Brew stand with the test stains (went with the darker one):

Clear PVC that will be filled with grain:

Ventilation hood first coat of stain:

 

[jbsengineer]

Backside of FRP panels (these will line the ventilation hood - credit to NattyBrew of the idea):

Finished brew stand minus the PVC pipe:

Control panel parts:

CNY bulk buy (specialty grains):

Base grain (need to build a custom shelving unit):

 

[jbsengineer]

I figure I'm probably being to much of a perfectionist with the woodworking. So I hope my progress will start to speed up when I finish the hood!

 

[rockinmarty]

Love the buckets and whats written on them is true those are emergency essentials:rockin:

 

[NattyBrew]

JBS,

The build looks great so far man! I can remember how exciting it was to have packages piling up on my door step every other day during the midst of my build. I really like the final color you went with for your stain. I totally wussed out when I was picking mine out and went with a lighter color. Seeing yours all finished in the photo has me jealous!

I am really digging your idea on the corner posts filled with barley. Quick question though, even if the tubes are sealed would you have to worry about the grain decomposing or rotting at all and looking worse down the road? I only ask because I am designing a bar for my basement and was thinking about ripping off a variation of your idea! Let me know what you think.

Good stuff and happy building! I will definitely be following this one.

Matt

 

[nvr2low]

Backside of FRP panels (these will line the ventilation hood - credit to NattyBrew of the idea):

Finished brew stand minus the PVC pipe:

Control panel parts:

CNY bulk buy (specialty grains):

Base grain (need to build a custom shelving unit):

was thinking my brewstand was looking pretty good, thanks for posting yours and showing me i need to improve my wood working skills!

 

[CidahMastah]

looking great!

FYI - I think I found out what I am going to used for my control panel arm. We have this direct TV satelite dish attached to our house (but we don't have direct TV). Well wouldn't you know that the arm holding the satelite looks like it could make a hell of a control panel arm?

I will be posting some pictures when i tear it down and we attempt to use it. But for now I am getting dangerously close to the wiring stage on my build (might be a while).

 

[jbsengineer]

JBS,

The build looks great so far man! I can remember how exciting it was to have packages piling up on my door step every other day during the midst of my build. I really like the final color you went with for your stain. I totally wussed out when I was picking mine out and went with a lighter color. Seeing yours all finished in the photo has me jealous!

I am really digging your idea on the corner posts filled with barley. Quick question though, even if the tubes are sealed would you have to worry about the grain decomposing or rotting at all and looking worse down the road? I only ask because I am designing a bar for my basement and was thinking about ripping off a variation of your idea! Let me know what you think.

Good stuff and happy building! I will definitely be following this one.

Matt

Matt,

I actually didn't give it that much thought. I'm going to cap each end with a universal carboy stopper (remaining within the brewing theme). Then to attach the tubing I plan to drill a couple holes behind the tubes and they will latch onto some screws. So if the grain does start to spoil I can easily switch it out. They don't hold to much volume so I'm not worried about wasting my precious malt, !

 

[jbsengineer]

Cidah - that's a great idea. That arm should be about perfect! To bad my dish is actually in use.

Lately I have been leaning towards mounting the panel onto a ceiling TV mount which would hang from the floor joists above. Similar to how I mounted the TV in my basement. My only concern would be how much swing from front to back it would have while working with the dials and buttons. I could always change it later I figure...

 

[CidahMastah]

Cidah - that's a great idea. That arm should be about perfect! To bad my dish is actually in use.

Lately I have been leaning towards mounting the panel onto a ceiling TV mount which would hang from the floor joists above. Similar to how I mounted the TV in my basement. My only concern would be how much swing from front to back it would have while working with the dials and buttons. I could always change it later I figure...

That wouldn't be too bad of an idea pending you have enough reach on your wires from your probes, etc. I can see how pressing the PID buttons might cause a little travel on the tv mount.

The arm fixed to the brew stand is a little more ideal for my end use. I want to be able to move my brew stand to my garage in the summer and brew up there (or at least wheel my stand out the back door of my walk out basement) and then in the basement during the winter.

We originally wanted a full on swing arm. I think now we are leaning more towards a fixed position, or a two position swing that would be controlled by wing nuts or similar. Now that we decided we are going to use that arm, it is just a matter of how we will end up fabricating it to the stand. Luckily my buddy is a welder, so that opens up some more "custom" options.

 

[jbsengineer]

Vent hood has been built and mounted. I just need to cut the 6" hole for ventilation and caulk the frp seams.


Bracing spaced every 16" for joist mounting:

Plywood and FRP installation:

Freshly bucketed grain is getting a little workout today: