New house - clearance from my wife for brew room - vent or steam condenser

[cbier60]

Just watched the entire the Beersmith video again; BTW, thanks for not pointing out the pertinent parts to watch. I see and hear nothing that disqualifies the condenser as an acceptable tool. A vigorous boil is maintained, and the volatiles are removed due to the vacuum created. Additionally, efficiency is improved, as pointed out by Charlie, due to the reduced pressure.

 

[BarryBrews]

I'm glad you are happy with the steam condenser. One last question, when you lift the kettle lid during the boil does water run off the lid? If the answer is yes, then I've made my point, if no, then I stand corrected and the steam condenser system is not distilling the nasties back into the boil. That's the crux of the matter, where the rubber meets the road type thing.

 

[Reneauj62]

You guys have been looking at this all wrong..... Why not kill two birds with one stone? So, while brewing, close up all the windows, vents, and doors. Then get a high output heater..... Now you have a brew room and a sauna that smells wonderful.....This would allow you to drink beer and lose weight at the same time...lol

 

[BarryBrews]

I like your thinking!

 

[Franktalk]

I'm glad you are happy with the steam condenser. One last question, when you lift the kettle lid during the boil does water run off the lid? If the answer is yes, then I've made my point, if no, then I stand corrected and the steam condenser system is not distilling the nasties back into the boil. That's the crux of the matter, where the rubber meets the road type thing.

I use a steam condenser, and I highly recommend one for all the reasons stated above. But, I'm curious what kind of "nasties" besides condensation of H2O run off the lid? There are multiple data points in this thread alone that suggests DMS is volatized and removed. So, what are you worried about?

 

[BarryBrews]

I use a steam condenser, and I highly recommend one for all the reasons stated above. But, I'm curious what kind of "nasties" besides condensation of H2O run off the lid? There are multiple data points in this thread alone that suggests DMS is volatized and removed. So, what are you worried about?

I've said my piece.

 

[jddevinn]

commercial breweries don't allow the steam to condense

If you want to debate with me, please read your own quoted sources first. The Brewing Science literature is about heat recovery in commercial breweries and has nothing to do with us home brewers

OK

 

[Franktalk]

I've said my piece.

The prosecution rests.

 

[cbier60]

when you lift the kettle lid during the boil does water run off the lid? If the answer is yes, then I've made my point, if no, then I stand corrected and the steam condenser system is not distilling the nasties back into the boil. That's the crux of the matter, where the rubber meets the road type thing.

I don't think that there is condensation on the lid, but when I open the lid, my goal is not to get burned by the steam that gets released, so I'm not examining the bottom of the lid. I can't sat definitively that there's none. However, I have created award-winning beers with BIAB and a boil condenser, two practices doubted by traditional brewers, including Pilsners which would be very susceptible to DMS, and there is none detectable. You're welcome to remain skeptical and certainly don't need to change your brewing practices, but don't present your opinion as Booyah facts.

 

[jddevinn]

If you are hitting target boil off rates, then the targeted amount of boil off is being removed from the wort. DMS and other "nasties" that leave at lower temperatures then boil can then be assumed to be removed at the same rate.

I do not know why their is insistence that somehow the wort gets removed, but "other" items do not. Expectantly when there are multiple homebrewers with empirical evidence, at least one study showing quantitative evidence, and commercial breweries using condensing setups for decades.

 

[Spartan1979]

I chose a steam condenser because I would have had to cut a couple of 6 inch holes through the brick veneer in the front of my house. I really didn't want to do that so I was glad to find a solution that didn't require that.

I have a 9 gpm nozzle in my system (I need to buy a 6 gpm). I estimated for a 90 minute boil that the cost of the water was about 23 cents. I'm getting more than 9 gpm due to my water pressure, but I can't remember how much more, but I also don't mind having lower temperature water going into my drain system. Water conservation is not a big issue with both the Missouri and the Mississippi rivers are close by.