NattyBrew's Electric Brewery Build

[ScubaSteve]

What is it about the Blichmanns? Have you considered the Megapots? You get a better quality pot for the money, but I DO like the sight gauges on the Blichmanns.....

 

[adivito]

Has anyone thought about doing this but welded? Is there a reason other than preference for all the weldless fittings?

 

[NattyBrew]

What is it about the Blichmanns? Have you considered the Megapots? You get a better quality pot for the money, but I DO like the sight gauges on the Blichmanns.....

I still am considering the Mega Pots as well but the one fear for me is the flexibility to brew a 5 gallon batch of beer for new recipes and the like. The 20 gallon mega pot is only 17" tall versus 22" for the bilchmann. Obviously the same volume is attained by the mega pot because it is wider than the Bilchmann and through good old geometry means that the mega pot is 18.6 inches wide versus 16.2 with the bilchmanns.

And because I am an engineer at heart in general terms that means 5 gallons in the megapot would fill up to 4.25 inches high versus 5.6 inches in the Bilchmanns. While not a huge difference that inch and a half more water height gives me some more room to have both elements installed without having the boxes on the outside right at the bottom of the kettle.

Of course I could just order one of each and test fit the dang things with five gallons of water in each but that would destroy the analyzing, posturing, and fun now wouldn't it?

But on a serious note I still haven't officially settled on the bilchmanns yet, but by setting a savings goal which is high enough for both I have my bases all covered when it comes to step two of my build.

-=Matt=-

 

[bbognerks]

Wow, way to overanalyze the situation, LOL.

 

[NattyBrew]

Haha, appreciate the humor. And seriously I let myself go sometimes and it turns into spurts of writing/talking like seen above. Gotta make sure to reel myself in every once in a while!

Anyway in my rush to over-analyze my pot choice I forgot to mention... Thanks for bringing up the alternate pot choice ScubaSteve it most definitely is cheaper option for this set up.

-=Matt=-

 

[ScubaSteve]

Sometimes...you just want what you WANT. Blichmann's are pretty slick....but there's pro's and con's to all. If it were me, I'd go with instawares pots (unmodified megapots) or the penrose kettles (when they come back in stock) and solder in fittings exactly where I wanted them. I did it on my build, and I've got a completely custom setup that does what I want it to. Weldless is cool, but soldering really is easy and the results are excellent.

 

[adivito]

Blichmanns are definitely slick pots, but I think when I put mine together I really want welded bulkheads. I can buy the pots then screw in all the fittings and hopefully save some costs and gives some flexibility.

 

[adivito]

scubasteve I just looked up the penrose kettles, have you seen on in person? Im thinking with the help of a friend who is a talented welder I could make something like that up to whatever size I desired.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Nope...but they're definitely made with quality materials. No one else is using that thick of steel, nor are they giving you that level of customization. I like Stout kettles too....I'd go that route too....and it would solve the height vs width issue...plus you can go triclover....mmmmmm....triclovers.....

Okay....quietly tiptoeing out of someone else's thread.....

 

[NattyBrew]

No worries ScubaSteve, no need to tiptoe out of the thread. These are meant for discussion after all!

And advito, welded fittings would be super nice but I've had absolutely zero problems with my weldless setups on my current keggle so I don't really have a bias at all against them. I do know plenty of people who have had issues and it tends to turn them off from the weldless design pretty quickly; most the time its simply a error in the install process but I totally get how some get upset when they just won't stop leaking!

Never heard of the penrose kettles, I will definitely have to take a look at those as well...

-=Matt=-

 

[BrewBeemer]

Never heard of the penrose kettles, I will definitely have to take a look at those as well... -=Matt=-

Try this then click on the Penrose kettle photo;
http://brewhemoth.com/

 

[adivito]

Im looking at making up kettles similar to penroses but with welded in bulkheads for an electric brewery setup.

 

[Yooper]

Oh. Just "Oh". I'm speechless. That is the coolest thing ever.

I have electric envy. Real bad.

 

[NattyBrew]

Oh. Just "Oh". I'm speechless. That is the coolest thing ever.

I have electric envy. Real bad.

Thanks Yooper. Now you now EXACTLY how I felt the first time I stumbled upon TheElectricBrewery.com. This stuff makes you just drool and dream of electric doesn't it? Clearly I didn't have the willpower to stick with my perfectly fine propane/keggle/cooler AG setup, I folded like a house of cards!

Now all I have to do is keep my eyes on the prize and keep saving towards step #2! Piece by piece my dream system is coming together.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks Yooper. Now you now EXACTLY how I felt the first time I stumbled upon TheElectricBrewery.com. This stuff makes you just drool and dream of electric doesn't it? Clearly I didn't have the willpower to stick with my perfectly fine propane/keggle/cooler AG setup, I folded like a house of cards!

Now all I have to do is keep my eyes on the prize and keep saving towards step #2! Piece by piece my dream system is coming together.

I've been all-electric for over a year, but mine isn't pretty! I'm having a friend help me with some changes right now, but it still isn't going to be very pretty. Functional yes. Pretty, no.

 

[NattyBrew]

Oh sorry Yooper, its me then that is joining your club! What kind of electric system do you call your own, is it a HERMS or RIMS system? And it doesn't have to be pretty Yooper, just functional.

However thanks to Kal, all of us now have to aspire to create something that is darn near perfect! Damn you Kal, damn you...

 

[Feurhund]

Have any of you thought about using the BCS 460 controller for the build. The wireless interface with my IPAD possibility has me pretty excited. I have all the kettles pumps etc. Ready to start building, but just want to see everyones thoughts on using the BCS. Thanks.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Yup, sold it still NIB.
Future plans owning a 462 I needed more functions that the 460 could not handle not wanting to pile of BCS expansion cards with power packs. Adding these additional items it would be cleaner with a 462.
Still waiting for added features like pressure sensor reading for volumes plus a flow meter reading features to come out hence i'm waiting not buying.

 

[NattyBrew]

Have any of you thought about using the BCS 460 controller for the build. The wireless interface with my IPAD possibility has me pretty excited. I have all the kettles pumps etc. Ready to start building, but just want to see everyones thoughts on using the BCS. Thanks.

Wow, a wireless interface with an iPad??? That would be a gadget freak's dream!! You'd be showing up some of the control systems most craft breweries have! I definitely to read more about this.

 

[Feurhund]

Yeah the app is called brew buddy and is currently on the iPhone. If I go that route I will be able to adjust temps, turn on pumps etc. From the IPAD. You can also hook up a fermentation chamber and ramp temps. I have started dreaming about it.

 

[NattyBrew]

I can just imagine this conversation at work...

"Hold on a second on kicking off this meeting Steve, my Saison is fermenting a bit high and I need to kick my fermentation fridge on. Okay, done. Now where were we in these expense reports?"

Gadgets like that are EXACTLY what I love about brewing your own beer. You can go as crazy in your own little world as you like! Awesome.

 

[kuips]

Sometimes...you just want what you WANT. Blichmann's are pretty slick....but there's pro's and con's to all. If it were me, I'd go with instawares pots (unmodified megapots) or the penrose kettles (when they come back in stock) and solder in fittings exactly where I wanted them. I did it on my build, and I've got a completely custom setup that does what I want it to. Weldless is cool, but soldering really is easy and the results are excellent.

have any of you thought about Stout Tanks and Kettles http://conical-fermenter.com/products/ welded and tri-clamp...

 

[ScubaSteve]

I can just imagine this conversation at work...

"Hold on a second on kicking off this meeting Steve, my Saison is fermenting a bit high and I need to kick my fermentation fridge on. Okay, done. Now where were we in these expense reports?"

Gadgets like that are EXACTLY what I love about brewing your own beer. You can go as crazy in your own little world as you like! Awesome.

Ummmmm....yeaaaaahhhh.....I've been meaning to talk to you about those expense reports.....

 

[ScubaSteve]

have any of you thought about Stout Tanks and Kettles http://conical-fermenter.com/products/ welded and tri-clamp...

I did....in post #69.

 

[NattyBrew]

Ummmmm....yeaaaaahhhh.....I've been meaning to talk to you about those expense reports.....

Thank you ScubaSteve, someone FINALLY made the connection. That movie is classic

 

[shroomzofdoom]

Looks swell! Subscribed!


One question though, don't you mean "Flux Incapacitator"?

 

[Flomaster]

Matt, at first I though I had replied in this thread because of your -=Matt=-

however I soon realized it had been coined from me

nice electric build you have going on.

-=Jason=-

 

[NattyBrew]

Looks swell! Subscribed!


One question though, don't you mean "Flux Incapacitator"?

This actually came up when I was deciding the name in the first place, and after a few beers with some of my buddies we decided that it made a little more sense to alter "capacitor" as it's used in Back to the Future instead of using incapacitator. Plus I think that just doesn't quite roll of the tounge as nicely as incapacitor!

And Jason, didnt mean to steal your sign off man... I've borrowed it and now I am putting it back!

- Matt

 

[dutch101st]

Great job on the build!! Yea, this inspired me to redo my entire control box as well. I am going to be working on a new brew rig this spring...the control box will be moved over but it will also give me reason to re-vamp it as well.

Looking forward to seeing more on this! SUBSCRIBED!

 

[NattyBrew]

Sounds awesome man, it's always exciting to have a new "project". I've found however that no matter what it is I've just finished there's always just that "one more thing" I could use to make my brewing process just a bit easier.

I am afraid after finishing this rig that could involve the training of live apes or maybe seals; not sure how my significant other would respond to that one...