Need ideas for stovetop brewing smell

[GANEWBREW]

Hello, Brewing on the electric stovetop, brewing extract kits with grains, currently. My wife has been tolerant with smell of brewing, but is in treatment for cancer and I don't want to cause a problem. I don't foresee getting an all in one as a solution for now. I appreciate any low cost ideas.i hope to try all grain, but we will see. Thanks.

 

[Broken Crow]

I looked at your other posts and since you're using a bucket and concerned about headspace I'm assuming you're working in the common 5-gallon kit size batches so probably have an 8-12 gallon pot. Not too large.. Is moving outdoors to a propane burner an option? Alternatively I've seen a lot of creative DIY vent-hoods on here; https://www.homebrewtalk.com/search/9565712/?q=diy+vent+hood&o=relevance If you do have some cash to spend, there is the option of adding a steam-condenser that greatly reduces the strength of the airborne aroma; You can buy one: https://www.brewhardware.com/category_s/1967.htm or DIY one: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/boil-kettle-condenser-no-overhead-ventilation-needed.636955/
Just a thought.

 

[Snuffy]

My wife hates the smell but she knows resistance is futile. I try and give her a break by brewing in a closed off laundry room with the back door open and a fan for air movement. It helps but still doesn't stop it all. Mashing and boiling is just smelly business. I don't mind the smell, but then I'm prejudiced. I have brewed on the back porch before, but that is farther from my water sources than I like and I have to be on constant watch for kamikaze bugs. My ultimate goal is a separate dedicated brew space in an out building of some kind. Or a woman that brews.
An electric unit would give you more flexibility to move around and brew remotely. Just not a cheap option.

 

[mac_1103]

I don't think you can get the smell out of the kitchen unless you get the brewing out of the kitchen.

 

[MaxStout]

Brew in the garage or outside. You don't need an expensive rig. A turkey fryer setup with propane burner will do nicely.

 

[WI_Wino]

I have a steam condenser on my kettle (heated with electric element) and it does NOT reduce the wort cooking odors much, if at all. I brew in the basement, door closed, and it stinks up the whole joint. 3500 sq ft, 1.5 story house.

 

[GANEWBREW]

Brew in the garage or outside. You don't need an expensive rig. A turkey fryer setup with propane burner will do nicely.

Looking at propane burners, they seem to be all over the map cost and specs. What are good options?

 

[Snuffy]

I have a steam condenser on my kettle (heated with electric element) and it does NOT reduce the wort cooking odors much, if at all. I brew in the basement, door closed, and it stinks up the whole joint. 3500 sq ft, 1.5 story house.

And then it lasts a couple of days. Sometimes I think it's burned into my sinuses.

 

[WI_Wino]

I started with a used turkey fryer burner, then bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-Square-Patio-Stove/dp/B0009JXYQ4. It was good if there was no wind. If I was looking today I would go similar burner style (lots of little jets vs. hurricane flame style burner) and that has an integrated wind shield. I have 0 experience with this one but it has the features: https://www.amazon.com/GasOne-Single-Burner-Propane-Stove/dp/B071ZM8YVC

But electric is the way to go. So quiet. No propane tanks to worry about filling or freezing up. Can easily brew inside (if you don't mind the stank).

 

[firerat]

Looking at propane burners, they seem to be all over the map cost and specs. What are good options?

You don't need to get crazy with a burner. I used a cheap home depot one for years and it did the job.

Are there better more efficient burners? Yeah. I have a dark star 2.0 that honestly can sometimes be TOO good at getting a boil going. I only use it when i make a bigger beer than my mash and boil can handle. But a cheap turkey fryer will work fine.

That being said, if you can go electric, go electric. So many affordable options. 240v is superior but 120v works too.

 

[Spartan1979]

When my wife was pregnant with our first (34 years ago) she couldn't stand the smell of me brewing in the house so she bought me a nice 10 gallon pot and a propane burner. I brewed out in the garage for years. That solved the problem. I brew inside again these days and it does smell but it doesn't bother her (much).

 

[MaxStout]

Looking at propane burners, they seem to be all over the map cost and specs. What are good options?

My first burner was a Bayou Classic. I see their prices have blown up. I think I paid about $50 for mine, 15 years ago. This one looks promising, and reasonable.

 

[Snuffy]

I started with a used turkey fryer burner, then bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-Square-Patio-Stove/dp/B0009JXYQ4. It was good if there was no wind. If I was looking today I would go similar burner style (lots of little jets vs. hurricane flame style burner) and that has an integrated wind shield. I have 0 experience with this one but it has the features: https://www.amazon.com/GasOne-Single-Burner-Propane-Stove/dp/B071ZM8YVC

But electric is the way to go. So quiet. No propane tanks to worry about filling or freezing up. Can easily brew inside (if you don't mind the stank).

I have gotten used to being able to wander away from my GF during both mash and boil and then being prompted by the alarm that lets me know when the next step is due. I like fire as much as the next guy, and electric is slower to reach boil, but the ability to setup the recipe in detail with the app, setup my mash water and then connect the controller to my iPad with Bluetooth, choose to brew it and then get prompted when mash temp is reached to mash in, each step of a stepped mash occurs, precise temp for each stage is maintained, time to heat strike water, mash out, sparge, boil temp is reached, time for each hop addition. Boil is complete. CF chiller. It’s a heck of a lot more than just an alternative boiler. If I still had to map it all out in a notebook and time each step with my phone, I think I might have burned out on the process long ago. No pun intended.
Oh, and integrating Tilt readings into the app to generate a graph of fermentation progress so you can ditch the hydrometer and sampling and know your OG, FG, when to package. That is the sauce.

 

[mac_1103]

I got a Gas One burner similar to the ones that were linked above. Model B-5250 - "only" 100k BTU but a better stand and wind protection. Less than $60 at the time, but doesn't seem to be available anymore unfortunately. My only concern about the B-5450 (above) is wind. The B-5350 is a bit pricier, but could probably get 7 gallons of ice water to a boil in about 6 minutes.

 

[Spartan1979]

My first burner was a Bayou Classic. I see their prices have blown up. I think I paid about $50 for mine, 15 years ago. This one looks promising, and reasonable.

I still have my Bayou Classic. I bought off Amazon in 2011. It was $62 then, now $93. So 50% more.

 

[MaxStout]

When my wife was pregnant with our first (34 years ago) she couldn't stand the smell of me brewing in the house so she bought me a nice 10 gallon pot and a propane burner. I brewed out in the garage for years. That solved the problem. I brew inside again these days and it does smell but it doesn't bother her (much).

I brew in the garage in the warmer months, but indoors on the stovetop in winter. My wife hates the wet grainy smell, as it reminds her of the aroma of the feed mill in the town where she grew up. She visits her elderly mom a few hours away every couple weeks or so and spends the day there or stays overnight. That gives me the opportunity to brew inside while she's gone.

 

[shoengine]

I brewed inside when I first for started, but the first time I made an IPA was the last time I brewed inside. I ended up getting a very used outdoor propane burner that I've now used for seven years for around $30 if I remember correctly. I agree that moving it outside or to a garage is the solution. Plus I get to play really loud music and make a mess.

 

[Saunassa]

We all love the smell until the hops get added. That is when my wife would go outside to garden or would be gone shopping.
once i had a dark star burner I moved to the garage. As long as temp is 0 Fahrenheit or above I am plenty warm. You can also small batch brew on an induction plate and small pot on a workbench.