- Joined
- Aug 19, 2012
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 15
After many fits and starts i've settled into a system that more matches my goals and objectives in brewing.
First, I wanted to be able to understand what was happening before, during and after brewing and fermenting so that I can improve and manage the systems better. So systems that record data as it goes.
Second, I wanted to be able to focus on the beer and the process rather than the mechanics. I don't need to figure out how to maintain temperatures, that problem has been solved many times over on these forums.
Third, I wanted a streamlined system with easy to clean components that are easy to access and maintain. Which is still a work in progress.
After trying a number of approaches (extract, BIAB, three vessel (well only once)) I landed on the Picobrew Zymatic for my hot side and BrewPi for fermentation control (thanks FuzzeWuzze for the brewpi instructions). 10 batches in i'm happy with what I'm seeing.
I know this is going to be a bit of a journey to optimize the system and dial in what I want it to do.
So to get started here's a picture of my system set up for a brew day today. As I sit here typing it's chugging away on a left hand milk stout clone. While a batch of BierMuncher's centennial blonde (with some Nelson Sauvin thrown in for good measure) is cold crashing in Fridge 1.
I'll add in more details as I go. I'm trying using a SS BrewTech Mini Brew Bucket instead of the keg on the PicoBrew and I think I like it so far! <EDIT:> I want to give some credit to the guys over at Stainless, they got the parts list for this conversion on their website.
First, I wanted to be able to understand what was happening before, during and after brewing and fermenting so that I can improve and manage the systems better. So systems that record data as it goes.
Second, I wanted to be able to focus on the beer and the process rather than the mechanics. I don't need to figure out how to maintain temperatures, that problem has been solved many times over on these forums.
Third, I wanted a streamlined system with easy to clean components that are easy to access and maintain. Which is still a work in progress.
After trying a number of approaches (extract, BIAB, three vessel (well only once)) I landed on the Picobrew Zymatic for my hot side and BrewPi for fermentation control (thanks FuzzeWuzze for the brewpi instructions). 10 batches in i'm happy with what I'm seeing.
I know this is going to be a bit of a journey to optimize the system and dial in what I want it to do.
So to get started here's a picture of my system set up for a brew day today. As I sit here typing it's chugging away on a left hand milk stout clone. While a batch of BierMuncher's centennial blonde (with some Nelson Sauvin thrown in for good measure) is cold crashing in Fridge 1.
I'll add in more details as I go. I'm trying using a SS BrewTech Mini Brew Bucket instead of the keg on the PicoBrew and I think I like it so far! <EDIT:> I want to give some credit to the guys over at Stainless, they got the parts list for this conversion on their website.