NEW SYSTEM/First Brew

[WBC]

That is high dollar for sure. I could not justify the $$$$$$.$$ oxygenator unless I was running a brew pub. For a 15 gallon batch you would only need a 3 minute oxygenation to reach the required oxygen/wort saturation. I have to admit though, If I had the $$$$ I would have that too as a show and tell toy on my system. I have already planned to machine and weld up an inline (in a length of hi-temp hose) stainless assembly for oxygenation and yeast injection as I pump to the fermenter. I have a nice shop built on my property as I am a retired tool and die maker. My Blichmann 27 gallon fermenter is a joy to use and this will be the final improvement to the system. For my last project I want to make a small dedicated yeast propagation vessel.

 

[Saccharomyces]

That's an awesome idea. . .although I have no experience doing this. I don't have a webcam either, but they're relatively cheap. Hmmm. . . .

Install the webcam drivers, plug it in, and go to mogulus.com. Setup an account (5 minutes, you have to pick stuff like your channel name) and launch your channel. It will find your webcam automatically. It really is that easy. It took me 15 minutes of prep to setup my first brewcast.

 

[Biermann]

That is high dollar for sure. I could not justify the $$$$$$.$$ oxygenator unless I was running a brew pub. For a 15 gallon batch you would only need a 3 minute oxygenation to reach the required oxygen/wort saturation. I have to admit though, If I had the $$$$ I would have that too as a show and tell toy on my system. I have already planned to machine and weld up an inline (in a length of hi-temp hose) stainless assembly for oxygenation and yeast injection as I pump to the fermenter. I have a nice shop built on my property as I am a retired tool and die maker. My Blichmann 27 gallon fermenter is a joy to use and this will be the final improvement to the system. For my last project I want to make a small dedicated yeast propagation vessel.

Yeah, the inline oxygenator came with the "pro" option on the system when my ex-wife ordered it. I didn't purposely select it, although it is a pretty cool toy.

 

[Saccharomyces]

Yeah, the inline oxygenator came with the "pro" option on the system when my ex-wife ordered it. I didn't purposely select it, although it is a pretty cool toy.

No kidding. That thing is sexy.

 

[Biermann]

Mashed in on my "Freedom's Bitter--Alimony ESB" As promised, will follow is a play-by-play. So far, hit mash temps (overshot a little--was shooting for 152).

Below are pics in action. . . 1/2 hour left to mash. . .

Mash temp on left, HLT temp on right. The left Ranco controls the HERMS pump, the right one controls a pilot on the HLT.

HERMS set up.

All systems go

 

[Orfy]

Amazing.
Soooo far from what I use.

Enjoy.

 

[Biermann]

BTW, here is the recipe-- of course, it is an ESB style beer. . . "Freedom's Bitter Alimony Ale ESB." thought it had a good ring to it giving my situation.

IRV Freedom's Bitter ESB

A ProMash Recipe Report

BJCP Style and Style Guidelines
-------------------------------

08-C English Pale Ale, Extra Special/Strong Bitter

Min OG: 1.048 Max OG: 1.072
Min IBU: 30 Max IBU: 60
Min Clr: 6 Max Clr: 18 Color in SRM, Lovibond

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 20.00 Wort Size (Gal): 20.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 41.00
Anticipated OG: 1.054 Plato: 13.26
Anticipated SRM: 10.5
Anticipated IBU: 41.3
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70 %
Wort Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Pre-Boil Amounts
----------------

Evaporation Rate: 9.00 Percent Per Hour
Pre-Boil Wort Size: 21.98 Gal
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.049 SG 12.12 Plato


Color Formula Used: Morey
Hop IBU Formula Used: Rager


Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
87.8 36.00 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row) Great Britain 1.038 3
6.1 2.50 lbs. Crystal 80L 1.033 80
3.7 1.50 lbs. CaraVienne Malt Belgium 1.034 22
2.4 1.00 lbs. Cara-Pils Dextrine Malt 1.033 2

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.50 oz. Magnum Whole 13.00 35.7 60 min.
3.00 oz. Fuggle Whole 5.00 5.5 20 min.
2.00 oz. Goldings - E.K. Whole 4.75 0.0 0 min.


Yeast: S-04
-----







Mash Schedule
-------------

Mash Type: Single Step

Grain Lbs: 41.00
Water Qts: 0.00 - Before Additional Infusions
Water Gal: 0.00 - Before Additional Infusions

Qts Water Per Lbs Grain: 0.00 - Before Additional Infusions

Saccharification Rest Temp : 152 Time: 60
Mash-out Rest Temp : 170 Time: 10
Sparge Temp : 170 Time: 60




All temperature measurements are degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[Biermann]

So far so good. . . Temps being maintained well by temp controls. . .This is by far the easiest brew day I've ever had. The automation is awesome.

Below is the Wort circulating through the HERMS hoses.

 

[Biermann]

Sparge setup. . .automated sparge. . .

 

[oswegan]

I hope you're thirsy.

 

[Biermann]

Oh. . . I'm drinking. . have to make room for all that new beer!!

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

That looks awesome Biermann! I am glad it went as smooth as it looks.

 

[Biermann]

pump up to boil kettle.

Boil

 

[Chello]

so how does this automated system control for boil overs?

 

[Biermann]

so how does this automated system control for boil overs?

It doesn't. . .That is something you have to watch for, and turn down the heat if needed. .

 

[Biermann]

Ok. . .this thread has turned into a blog. . .

Oh well. . .final entry:

OG 1.052--just shy of my mark--hit 70%, which isn't too bad on a first time brew with a new system. Everything else worked great. The automation is wonderful. I'm sure as I get used to it, and the process, it will be even better. Now 20+ gallons of beer is sitting in the fermenter waiting to begin fermentation. . . .

 

[Bob]

Just saw something I'd recommend changing in this image:

It's in the wrong place. You want the thermometer in the liquid stream, not the aerated stream. It can't get a good reading amongst all those bubbles.

Matter of fact, I think that whole setup could use some tweaking. Using the above image as a guide, I'd have the bitter wort coming in from the far right. I'd have the thermometer where the wort-in is now, and the sight glass all the way on the output. I'd move the other T to where the sight glass is now, and put the aeration stone in that T. Of course, that depends on the thermometer's length of stem and how exactly the aerator is designed.

If that's not clear, I'll try and doodle it for you. Nice system, though, dude! It's shiny!

Bob

 

[Biermann]

I used the aerator as I received it. . .although I like your idea. the length of the stone and the internal tube limits its rearrangement some, but I see what you are saying. I will try to play around with it and post some pics. . .

Some doodling may help too. . .I'm a little confused

 

[Parva]

Biermann, nice pics and nice brewery you have there! Having gone through a divorce after 19 years of marriage I'm well aware of the pain, it was the divorce that drove me on to all-grain brewing ironically. So she did me at least one favour anyway.

 

[Biermann]

Biermann, nice pics and nice brewery you have there! Having gone through a divorce after 19 years of marriage I'm well aware of the pain, it was the divorce that drove me on to all-grain brewing ironically. So she did me at least one favour anyway.

Strange how things like that happen, isn't it? The brew day was very cathartic--and the beer will be even more so. I am planning on a "de-anniversary" party to drink the beer (my anniversary was Dec. 18th). So, the irony is as follows: She buys me the brewery. . . then she files for divorce--We get divorced, I brew my first beer, and have a party with the beer from the brew system she bought me to decommemorate my anniversary. Kinda convoluted, I know, but it works.