SERIOUS brewery upgrade

[Walker]

A few weeks ago, I scored this set-up for $75 thanks to Dude (it's missing the connection hardware from one cooler and the high temp tubing, but is otherwise complete):

Then, I got an early birthday gift from BOSTON this past weekend after he found a steal of a deal on some retired kegs:

And today, I found (and secured) the following set-up on craigslist for $125:

Kegging gear for the home brewer. This is everything you would need to keg your brew. 5 gal. Corny. keg, quick connects, all tubeing and lines, cobra tap, dual gauge regulator and 5# Co2 tank (1/2 full). Extras including silicone keg lubricant, keg refurb kits, and carbonation stone for quick carbonating

I am a turkey fryer away from All Grain Kegging Bliss.... and I've still got a $100 gift certificate from the guys at work that came as a "Get Well Soon" package when I had my medical issues in September.

WOOOHOOO!

 

[Ol' Grog]

Sweet. It will be awhile before I'm ready for AG.

 

[the_bird]

Nice!

You going to build a nice three-tier setup now? How about having Yuri build you a conical fermenter? Got your counterflow chiller built yet? I'm sure BrewPastor has some other toys for you to play with...

You still have a long ways to go, boy...

 

[Walker]

Nice!

You going to build a nice three-tier setup now? How about having Yuri build you a conical fermenter? Got your counterflow chiller built yet? I'm sure BrewPastor has some other toys for you to play with...

You still have a long ways to go, boy...

I've got plans for a brew rack. It might be a winter project.

I don't need no fancy schmancy conical fermenter. I don't mind racking.

I won't need a counter-flow chiller just yet. Maybe in when it starts to get warm next spring/summer, but with the ground water being as cold as it is, my immersion chiller should do just fine.

Brewpastor's toys scare me. If I ever get that serious about brewing, I would have to seriously consider a career change.

I will say one thing.... with the simultaneous switch to AG and kegging, I feel like a beginner again.

 

[Dude]

Looking good Walker!

Nice score on the kegging kit, its all down hill from there.

You should make some kind of temporary set up like Swami had, with the cheapo wally world shelving--it will get you by to brew without a full fledged stand. Just be careful lifting those vessels full of scalding hot water!

So when is the inaugural AG brew day? Is the Dude invited?

 

[the_bird]

I love mashing. All I've done is one partial (well, about 75%-mash, 25% extract), but it's so much more fun. Now, I need to hook up with a keg and a burner so I can go ALL grain myself.

Kegging - I just don't have room in the house for a second fridge, so that's going to have to wait a while.

 

[Brewiz]

A few weeks ago, I scored this set-up for $75 thanks to Dude (it's missing the connection hardware from one cooler and the high temp tubing, but is otherwise complete):

Then, I got an early birthday gift from BOSTON this past weekend after he found a steal of a deal on some retired kegs:

And today, I found (and secured) the following set-up on craigslist for $125:

I am a turkey fryer away from All Grain Kegging Bliss.... and I've still got a $100 gift certificate from the guys at work that came as a "Get Well Soon" package when I had my medical issues in September.

WOOOHOOO!

Looks like Christmas came early for you!!! Boy are you going to have fun....

 

[Cheesefood]

NiCE!!


Target had some 5 gallon coolers on sale. I was eyeballing them. Then yesterday, my wife asked what gear I wanted for X-Mas. I'm probably going to hit her up for some kegging gear (if my damned kegs ever arrive) and then work on the AG conversion.

 

[Brewpastor]

Walker, you had better be careful. That is how it starts, first a deal on a mash tun, then a deal on a keggle, then a few other pieces, next thing you know you will be jonesing for a beer gun.

You know they say homebrewing is an inexpensive way to make beer. Don't believe it. I could drink primo micro beer the rest of my life and still be ahead finacially!

Those toys are too cool, and a draft system as well. I can tell the quality of your postings is going to be suffering - pretty much "Drunken Ramblings and Mindless Mumbling" from here on out.

 

[the_bird]

I'd just caution on the five gallon coolers. I only had about eight pounds of grain in mine, and could see that I didn't have a ton of extra room. If you plan on doing anything of size, might as well buy a 10 gallon cooler to start with.

 

[Walker]

I'd just caution on the five gallon coolers. I only had about eight pounds of grain in mine, and could see that I didn't have a ton of extra room. If you plan on doing anything of size, might as well buy a 10 gallon cooler to start with.

No concern for me. Both of those orange coolers I have are 10 gallon jobs.

 

[Walker]

So when is the inaugural AG brew day? Is the Dude invited?

I'm not sure yet when I'll bust my AG cherry. I'm tempted to do it ASAP. I could probably borrow the burner from Jeff or Billy or Richard and go for it this weekend, but I really need to do some more homework before I jump into AG. I've only done a small amount of reading at this point.

I think I'll just devote my attention to the kegging in the short term. I've got a batch of Holy Grail that needs to be bottled (or kegged!) right now.

Regardless of when I go for amy first AG batch, you are definately invited down to share in the trials and tribulations.

-walker

 

[Cheesefood]

I'd just caution on the five gallon coolers. I only had about eight pounds of grain in mine, and could see that I didn't have a ton of extra room. If you plan on doing anything of size, might as well buy a 10 gallon cooler to start with.

So I've heard. I'm holding out for some 10 gallon bangers.

 

[sonvolt]

I'd just caution on the five gallon coolers. I only had about eight pounds of grain in mine, and could see that I didn't have a ton of extra room. If you plan on doing anything of size, might as well buy a 10 gallon cooler to start with.

Are you kidding? I have put up to 13-14 lbs of grain in my 5 gallon cooler/mash tun. They can hold much more than 8.

 

[rdwj]

I think I'll just devote my attention to the kegging in the short term. I've got a batch of Holy Grail that needs to be bottled (or kegged!) right now.

you'll have kegging mastered in a day - there is really nothing to it. How many taps are you starting with?

Nice score on the stuff - I'm jealous!!

 

[rdwj]

Kegging - I just don't have room in the house for a second fridge, so that's going to have to wait a while.

You can't get a mini-fridge in a corner somewhere? I can see not having room for a full size, but even college students in dorms have room for the little ones.

 

[Dude]

Are you kidding? I have put up to 13-14 lbs of grain in my 5 gallon cooler/mash tun. They can hold much more than 8.

That is about what mine maxed out as too. I think a 1.065 OG (5 gallons)was the limit.

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Damn Walker, that's awesome!

You need to setup a live vid stream so we can all watch your fist brew!

 

[olllllo]

Damn Walker, that's awesome!

You need to setup a live vid stream so we can all watch your fist brew!

Oooh. Watching a pot of water boil... on the Internets.
We'll give those Pr0n cams sites a run for the money.

Congrats Walker.

 

[Walker]

you'll have kegging mastered in a day - there is really nothing to it. How many taps are you starting with?

No kegerator yet, so it'll be cobra taps on the kegs. I'll pick up the second keg when the need comes (only have one batch going right now.)

I had found a kegerator for sale for a decent price, but it was white and had a single tap on a tower. I plan to have a kegerator in the dining room, and SWMBO wants it to match her wine cooler for aesthetic purposes. FINE WITH ME. I get to buy a new fridge and put a two-tap tower on it. I think I'll be getting the fridge before spring.

edit: full sized fridge in the garage for a fermentation chamber (can hold three carboys), chest freezer in the garage for storing ingredients and general kitchen freezer overflow, and a dorm fridge in the house for the kegs.

Damn Walker, that's awesome!

You need to setup a live vid stream so we can all watch your fist brew!

I, like Dude, have a laptop that will be mounted on the wall in the garage for brewing. I've got a USB webcam that will be plugged into it, too.

-walker

 

[the_bird]

Are you kidding? I have put up to 13-14 lbs of grain in my 5 gallon cooler/mash tun. They can hold much more than 8.

I know they'll hold more that eight, but I can see myself wanting to make some beers that are pushing fifteen or sixteen pounds (at least). I was probably two-thirds full.

 

[the_bird]

You can't get a mini-fridge in a corner somewhere? I can see not having room for a full size, but even college students in dorms have room for the little ones.

With all the stuff kicking around for the kidling, not really. The kitchen in the house is pretty small, and the dining room isn't much bigger. At some point, I may have a setup in the basement, but for right now I don't have the wiring for it. I'm also going to be gutting the kitchen either in the spring or the following year, so I may be able to incorporate some room for a mini-fridge in the new design.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Oh, that's so sweet. Another big brew convert. He'll come around and need more toys soon... First the kegs and coolers, next the chiller, then a walk-in cooler... Pretty soon Walker-san's gonna have some big copper mash tuns and fermenters with glycol coolers - his neighbors are going to call the cops thinking he's got a mega meth lab in the backyard.

 

[Pirate Ale]

Walker,
what type temp controller do you have on the fermentation fridge you have?

 

[Walker]

Walker,
what type temp controller do you have on the fermentation fridge you have?

It's a Johnson & Walker. Johnson runs the temp controller that kicks on the compressor when things get too warm. Walker runs the temp controller on the inside of the fridge that kicks on a 60W lightbulb when it gets too cool (the garage is not well insulated.)

-walker

 

[Pirate Ale]

I am in eastern NC, and have the same type of non-insulated garage. I just got a spare fridge, and want to turn it into a fermentation fridge. Could you give me some further insight, or instructions, since I am a true brew noob? After a day like today at 46 deg F., my garage could actually lager, but who knows how long it will last,before the next heat wave.:fro:

 

[Walker]

I am in eastern NC, and have the same type of non-insulated garage. I just got a spare fridge, and want to turn it into a fermentation fridge. Could you give me some further insight, or instructions, since I am a true brew noob? After a day like today at 46 deg F., my garage could actually lager, but who knows how long it will last,before the next heat wave.:fro:

FOr cooling, just get a Johson or Ranco temperature controller. Almost every brewshop sells one or both of them. They cost about $50.

For heating, you can hack together something like this:

I just went to Home Depot and bought the cheapest furnace thermostat I could find that was capable of working with live level voltage (110V AC).

I cut up an old power cord for a PC. I connected the cord into one side of the thermostat and plugged it into the wall. On the other side of the thermostat, I put more of that cut up power cord hooked to a cheap ceramic light-bulb holder and dropped in a 60W incandescent bulb. Set the dial. If it gets too cold, the light turns on.

I prefer function to form, so zip-tying everything to a chunk of 2x4 was acceptable "packaging" for me.

I just put this whole thing into my fermentation fridge and set it at about 65 or so. Set it where ever you want, but make sure you don't have the fridge and the lightbulb constantly fighting each other. Only one of the two devices should ever be running at one time.

I think I spent about $20 on this (and that includes the price of a 60W lightbulb).

-walker

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

NiCE!!


Target had some 5 gallon coolers on sale. I was eyeballing them. Then yesterday, my wife asked what gear I wanted for X-Mas. I'm probably going to hit her up for some kegging gear (if my damned kegs ever arrive) and then work on the AG conversion.

Hey, where did you order your kegs from? I too am playing the waitining game on a shipment of four cornies.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Are you kidding? I have put up to 13-14 lbs of grain in my 5 gallon cooler/mash tun. They can hold much more than 8.

It's still not big enough. Trust me, you'll find that out.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

FOr cooling, just get a Johson or Ranco temperature controller. Almost every brewshop sells one or both of them. They cost about $50.

For heating, you can hack together something like this:

I just went to Home Depot and bought the cheapest furnace thermostat I could find that was capable of working with live level voltage (110V AC).

I cut up an old power cord for a PC. I connected the cord into one side of the thermostat and plugged it into the wall. On the other side of the thermostat, I put more of that cut up power cord hooked to a cheap ceramic light-bulb holder and dropped in a 60W incandescent bulb. Set the dial. If it gets too cold, the light turns on.

I prefer function to form, so zip-tying everything to a chunk of 2x4 was acceptable "packaging" for me.

I just put this whole thing into my fermentation fridge and set it at about 65 or so. Set it where ever you want, but make sure you don't have the fridge and the lightbulb constantly fighting each other. Only one of the two devices should ever be running at one time.

I think I spent about $20 on this (and that includes the price of a 60W lightbulb).

-walker

The electrician is biting his tongue........