I started brewing beer 25 years ago with my best friend in the basement of his parents house. It turned out good, I mean really really good. In fact I have been making homebrew beer ever since. My methods were based solely from Charlie Papazian's book, since there was no other book.
Recently I have been obsessed (to call it mildly) with brewing automation, RIMS and HERMS, and the Brutus 10. Spending hours on-line looking at and reading about everones brewery builds and automation systems. I was totally in awe.
The other day I had an epiphany. Nobody, used these things 25 years ago. It was a double bucket mash tun and than the insulated picnic cooler became all the rage. I still have my original double bucket and I have made some fantastic beers with it. Even double decoction mashes to replicate my favour Munich Helles. So why now am I so obsessed with automation.
Making beer is a simple thing. Heat some water, add the crushed grain, sparge and than boil. I think the importance and nessessity of using RIMS and HERMS is overblown. You do not need all that fancy expense stuff in the age of fully modified malts, or even before then. My local brew pub does bother with it. All you need is an insulated mash tun. Nothing more. I do see the merrits of a temp controlled HLT so you can do other things while it is heating and not worry about it. And a pump to recirculate the wort to make it clear before sparging, but not for temperature control.
I have taken a step back and things look more clear to me.
Recently I have been obsessed (to call it mildly) with brewing automation, RIMS and HERMS, and the Brutus 10. Spending hours on-line looking at and reading about everones brewery builds and automation systems. I was totally in awe.
The other day I had an epiphany. Nobody, used these things 25 years ago. It was a double bucket mash tun and than the insulated picnic cooler became all the rage. I still have my original double bucket and I have made some fantastic beers with it. Even double decoction mashes to replicate my favour Munich Helles. So why now am I so obsessed with automation.
Making beer is a simple thing. Heat some water, add the crushed grain, sparge and than boil. I think the importance and nessessity of using RIMS and HERMS is overblown. You do not need all that fancy expense stuff in the age of fully modified malts, or even before then. My local brew pub does bother with it. All you need is an insulated mash tun. Nothing more. I do see the merrits of a temp controlled HLT so you can do other things while it is heating and not worry about it. And a pump to recirculate the wort to make it clear before sparging, but not for temperature control.
I have taken a step back and things look more clear to me.