New equipment and/or upgrades discussion

[SirDickButts]

anyone using a hopback?

 

[Phischy1]

anyone using a hopback?

Pro or Homebrew, this thread crosses the line. I have the blichmann hopback.

 

[SirDickButts]

Pro or Homebrew, this thread crosses the line. I have the blichmann hopback.

homebrew. my friend is gonna build one for our HERMS.
just wanted to know is there any noticeable difference in using one vs whirpooling/steeps

 

[Snarf1]

Pro or Homebrew, this thread crosses the line. I have the blichmann hopback.

I'm pretty sure it's a homebrew thread. We just found some lonely pros who crave validation.

 

[SirDickButts]

I'm pretty sure it's a homebrew thread. We just found some lonely pros who crave validation.

 

[Phischy1]

Well it acts as another filter. I use an immersion chiller and have been told by recirculating through it and back to the BK I'm flashinges off the oils. that it works best going from BK to HB to plate chiller to FV.

The bigger issue is I buy hops in 1lbs increments. a pound of leaf hops eats up a ton of space and LHBS may not carry the hops you want in leaf. The reason I don't use it often is BC I don't like plate chillers (and I picked up a 2nd one) and dealing with whole leaf blows for storage

 

[user 307594]

I'm pretty sure it's a homebrew thread. We just found some lonely pros who crave validation.

 

[Phischy1]

The blichmann holds 3oz. which is good for a 5 gal batch. I wish it held more for a 10 gal. so size yours depending on the batch sizes you intend to use it with the most.

 

[SirDickButts]

Well it acts as another filter. I use an immersion chiller and have been told by recirculating through it and back to the BK I'm flashinges off the oils. that it works best going from BK to HB to plate chiller to FV.

The bigger issue is I buy hops in 1lbs increments. a pound of leaf hops eats up a ton of space and LHBS may not carry the hops you want in leaf. The reason I don't use it often is BC I don't like plate chillers (and I picked up a 2nd one) and dealing with whole leaf blows for storage

The blichmann holds 3oz. which is good for a 5 gal batch. I wish it held more for a 10 gal. so size yours depending on the batch sizes you intend to use it with the most.

i figured it would act as another filter. i bought this counterflow chiller from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D50LO8/?tag=talkbecom09-20

we're gonna run the HB before the CFC like your stated.
we were also thinking of using an immersion pre-chiller for the CFC as well...
and...we're gonna build the HB with a 1L stainless pot.

 

[Phischy1]

Bought a 37 gallon corny keg to be my garage brewing RO reservoir. don't have an RO system yet for it. I pick the keg up on Sat.

 

[Phischy1]

And I finally got it in. Now to start modifying it.

 

[smithj21541]

And I finally got it in. Now to start modifying it.

Is that a thirty gallon corny? I thought those were just an urban legend.

 

[smithj21541]

Bought a 37 gallon corny keg to be my garage brewing RO reservoir. don't have an RO system yet for it. I pick the keg up on Sat.

Missed the previous post.
Nice work!

 

[Phischy1]

Missed the previous post.
Nice work!

I love collecting, and using, oddities. I have a 2 gallon corny as well, still looking for a 1 gallon. I did see one but the brewing budget was depleted at the time. I have 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 10 and now 37. But the 37 is just too big to be used for beer, too big to ferment in, too big as a brite. Full it'll weigh 370+ lbs. So I'm going to use it as my RO reservoir. Now I have to buy an RO system.

 

[smithj21541]

I love collecting, and using, oddities. I have a 2 gallon corny as well, still looking for a 1 gallon. I did see one but the brewing budget was depleted at the time. I have 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 10 and now 37. But the 37 is just too big to be used for beer, too big to ferment in, too big as a brite. Full it'll weigh 370+ lbs. So I'm going to use it as my RO reservoir. Now I have to buy an RO system.

I have a 1.5 gl corny that I do not really use. Would you like it?

 

[smithj21541]

I love collecting, and using, oddities. I have a 2 gallon corny as well, still looking for a 1 gallon. I did see one but the brewing budget was depleted at the time. I have 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 10 and now 37. But the 37 is just too big to be used for beer, too big to ferment in, too big as a brite. Full it'll weigh 370+ lbs. So I'm going to use it as my RO reservoir. Now I have to buy an RO system.

I use mainly 2.5, and 3gl cornies for my brewing. I'm the only beer drinker in my house and 90% of my beer friends homebrew as well so It takes me a long time to go through 5gl so I moved to most of my batches being 3gl or so.

 

[SirDickButts]

I need some small cornies for one offs...

 

[smithj21541]

I need some small cornies for one offs...

I got mine through www.homebrewing.org I haven't looked at what sizes they are offering lately though. I only have the one 1.5 and the rest are 2.5-3 that I use for my regular rotation.

edit: spelling

 

[Phischy1]

I have a 1.5 gl corny that I do not really use. Would you like it?

Pm me pic of it?

 

[Phischy1]

I use mainly 2.5, and 3gl cornies for my brewing. I'm the only beer drinker in my house and 90% of my beer friends homebrew as well so It takes me a long time to go through 5gl so I moved to most of my batches being 3gl or so.

I brew for my dad and myself. He has 2 taps, I have 9. It's a balancing act of keeping light beers fresh and bigger beers that have a longer shelf life. And when people come over.I ask them to bring a growler so I can send beer with them.

 

[smithj21541]

Pm me pic of it?

Done.

 

[Snarf1]

I really need to get a 2.5 gallon corny and start doing the 3 gallon BIAB IPAs I've been talking about for a year now.

 

[FTowne1]

I really need to get a 2.5 gallon corny and start doing the 3 gallon BIAB IPAs I've been talking about for a year now.

Every time I make a 5 gallon batch of IPA I end up not wanting to drink anymore of it after about 3 gallons worth.

 

[Phischy1]

I really need to get a 2.5 gallon corny and start doing the 3 gallon BIAB IPAs I've been talking about for a year now.

Always keep an eye on Craigslist. When I first moved to Houston I picked up 7 pin lock kegs for $20ea. And then 3 months later 4 three gal pin lock kegs for $30ea. Now i intend to do all my sours in pins. Good stuff can be found, just have to keep an eye out.

 

[smithj21541]

Always keep an eye on Craigslist. When I first moved to Houston I picked up 7 pin lock kegs for $20ea. And then 3 months later 4 three gal pin lock kegs for $30ea. Now i intend to do all my sours in pins. Good stuff can be found, just have to keep an eye out.

Great minds think alike! I bought a killer deal Pin lock to do the exact same thing.

 

[Snarf1]

Every time I make a 5 gallon batch of IPA I end up not wanting to drink anymore of it after about 3 gallons worth.

I don't have a kegerator anymore, but could put a little corny in the fridge with a picnic tap. Primary in 5 gal, push to 5g corny with cut dip tube at like 90% of expected attenuation & dry hop 1st time, push to serving corny and dry hop 2nd time / carb. Also want make a floating dip tube for it.

 

[Phischy1]

And another project done today. 2 years ago I built a big support brew cart for when I brewed elsewhere. Now at my house I need something smaller. So I built a new board, a lot of cutting on table saw and jigsaw to fit into the plastic cart. Them moved over the waterproof switch and plug.

Cord plugs to wall and outlets are hot, switch controls the pump. This was my first March pump bought 2nd hand. I'm going to use it to drain my RO tank to fill my kettles.

Never throw anything out.

Eventually I want to mount my mill to this but it'll need to be direct drive and currently it's belt driven. Another project for a later time.

My current mill:

 

[Phischy1]

Another small project finished. Glycol reservoir. 2 sump pumps, had leftover and old silicone tubing. Yellowed due to idophor.

Worm clamps on the return line ends to keep them sunk. Not sure if they'd float or not.

Had to cure the ends off, drill a hole at diameter of the wire, then rewire it back up.

90 degree upper left are the returns. This weekend will get more work done.

 

[WesM631]

Very nice Phischy

I've been debating on picking up a SS Brewtech Conical or BrewBucket. I think the brewbucket would suffice but dat conical tho. Things start to get pricey when you add the FTSS heating/cooling and various accessories.

 

[Phischy1]

Most people have a dedicated used upright freezer for their conicals. That's what I did for years. If you're only going to have 1 that's the route I'd take. Need a frost free (so you can remove the shelves) Craigslist special. Much cheaper than their system. Plus you still have to have a way to keep the fluid cold.

That box is 45 gallons. And I have an idea for cooling manifolds on the return if it won't hold temp. I may put a weldless bulkhead through it as well with an analog thermometer. I think I have spare parts lying around.

Next is wrapping the conicals in copper on the cylinder, heater on the cone, and insulating. That's sunday.