- Joined
- Apr 16, 2020
- Messages
- 46
- Reaction score
- 27
Finally got the new system completed using a lot of advice from my friends on the forum. I cannot thank you for all of the guidance and information shared by our experts here on the forum and other than one small adjustment (grain basket is about 1/4" too tall and can touch the element if it is installed where a weld can hit the element) that is needed it worked exactly as I had hoped. As my brewing partner noted "We made twice as much beer with half as much effort" and it was truly an enjoyable brew day watching everything run as it is designed to run. I can't thank you enough to @brewman ! , @Bobby_M , @Jako , @mcd432 and others who guided me with their comments. I really appreciate it guys. I am in love with this system and don't really have anything I want to change or an option I wish it had.
Things that worked really well:
1.) Being able to run a full whirlpool with a stepped bottom which created the hop mountain in the center of the kettle. Please excuse the horrible narration but there is a video of this in one of the videos.
2.) Grounded Brewing Technology control panel with DSPR320 Ez-Boil controller worked flawlessly throughout the process. Need to add a whirlpool program (mash at 175 for 40 minutes) to the end of my normal batch and it will be perfect for what I need next time I run the system.
3.) Basket with a winch setup worked FLAWLESSLY and was done draining except for the smallest amount within 5 minutes after it started draining. When we lifted it out of the kettle and put it on the floor there was hardly any drops left over. Felt so much less wasteful than having a mash tun with a false bottom that we always fought to get the boil volume to the correct amount.
4.) Spike kettle, fittings, sight glass were so much fun to operate and worked perfectly throughout the process. The ability to use the pick up tubes for constant whirlpool and then to drain the kettle to the lip getting almost all the liquid out while leaving the trub and hops behind is very satisfying.
5.) Tri-clamp fittings to take everything apart for a full cleaning is awesome. We always wonder what little bits got left behind in the fittings and now there is almost nowhere for the creepy crawlies or gunk to hide.
6.) Ease of operation was so much easier and safer than having to lift a boiling kettle of wort and carry across the room over an uneven surface as we did previously. Much easier and safer which is really good considering that we "might" have a couple of drinks during the process which makes the boiling liquid even less fun.
There really is not a long list of things that I want to change other than the small adjustment to the grain basket and then it will work flawlessly and make it easier to brew beer on a more regular basis. We are going to flip the thermocouple with the element on the next run so there will be less chance that we could drop something on that small cord and cause damage to it.
Links to instagram post for videos:
First Mash:
Hop Mountain:
Things that worked really well:
1.) Being able to run a full whirlpool with a stepped bottom which created the hop mountain in the center of the kettle. Please excuse the horrible narration but there is a video of this in one of the videos.
2.) Grounded Brewing Technology control panel with DSPR320 Ez-Boil controller worked flawlessly throughout the process. Need to add a whirlpool program (mash at 175 for 40 minutes) to the end of my normal batch and it will be perfect for what I need next time I run the system.
3.) Basket with a winch setup worked FLAWLESSLY and was done draining except for the smallest amount within 5 minutes after it started draining. When we lifted it out of the kettle and put it on the floor there was hardly any drops left over. Felt so much less wasteful than having a mash tun with a false bottom that we always fought to get the boil volume to the correct amount.
4.) Spike kettle, fittings, sight glass were so much fun to operate and worked perfectly throughout the process. The ability to use the pick up tubes for constant whirlpool and then to drain the kettle to the lip getting almost all the liquid out while leaving the trub and hops behind is very satisfying.
5.) Tri-clamp fittings to take everything apart for a full cleaning is awesome. We always wonder what little bits got left behind in the fittings and now there is almost nowhere for the creepy crawlies or gunk to hide.
6.) Ease of operation was so much easier and safer than having to lift a boiling kettle of wort and carry across the room over an uneven surface as we did previously. Much easier and safer which is really good considering that we "might" have a couple of drinks during the process which makes the boiling liquid even less fun.
There really is not a long list of things that I want to change other than the small adjustment to the grain basket and then it will work flawlessly and make it easier to brew beer on a more regular basis. We are going to flip the thermocouple with the element on the next run so there will be less chance that we could drop something on that small cord and cause damage to it.
Links to instagram post for videos:
First Mash:
Hop Mountain:
