Paulasaurus
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Height was based off my elf like stature. Glad it turned out great for both of us.
How bout some keg pictures!
How bout some keg pictures!
The life story of my brewery
- Thread starter Gridlocked
- Start date
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Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Man, I can't wait to build one of those things! I'm still using a turkey fryer on a PVC table for 5 gallon extract batches. I will be building one this summer.... mark my words! 
I'm trying like hell to get my line-up ready for the new keezer. I have a Centennial IPA and a Blood Orange Hefe fermenting, but need to squeeze in another batch or two ASAP to fill the pipeline.
I'm trying like hell to get my line-up ready for the new keezer. I have a Centennial IPA and a Blood Orange Hefe fermenting, but need to squeeze in another batch or two ASAP to fill the pipeline.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
I didn't get any more time to work on the Kegs this weekend. I didn't see the family at all on Saturday so I wanted to spend as much time as I could with them on Sunday. I really hope to get out there and complete them one at a time this weekend. Having all the parts and a pretty solid plan is really helpful.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Things are getting VERY close to complete enough to run a 10 gallon batch through the system!!! If any of you guys have questions about any of this stuff or what pieces or parts I used, just let me know. Just keep in mind I have not yet used any of this stuff so I don't really know weather any of it will work or not.
I already had a flare-tool so I went with flare fittings instead of compression fittings. I'm familiar with them and I think they look a little cleaner than compression fittings. I used 1/4" and 3/8" I.D. copper.
This is the boil kettle pick-up tube. I use an immersion chiller so I wanted to get the tube as low and to the outside as I could.
BK pick up tube with chiller in place
I will be re-circulating the wort post boil so that it cools faster and so that all of the hop material is pulled to the center of the keg. This 1/4" ID tube should do nicely.
Boil kettle from the outside
The fly-sparge ring. Just this morning I decided to put another hole into the MLT so that I can re-circulate the mash to keep the temperature even. I don't want to recirculate through the sparge ring as there will be bits of grain that will clog it. I used a center punch like this to mark where the hole was to be on the top of the ring. That made starting the drilling super easy.
And I got the thermometer, sight tube and spigot installed into the HLT. I started drilling before I knew what the heck I was doing which is the reason for the silicon tubing "nose" that's there temporarily. I'm pretty sure I'll put a second thermometer in that hole. Nothing wrong with having two temp readings for the strike/sparge water.
I already had a flare-tool so I went with flare fittings instead of compression fittings. I'm familiar with them and I think they look a little cleaner than compression fittings. I used 1/4" and 3/8" I.D. copper.
This is the boil kettle pick-up tube. I use an immersion chiller so I wanted to get the tube as low and to the outside as I could.
BK pick up tube with chiller in place
I will be re-circulating the wort post boil so that it cools faster and so that all of the hop material is pulled to the center of the keg. This 1/4" ID tube should do nicely.
Boil kettle from the outside
The fly-sparge ring. Just this morning I decided to put another hole into the MLT so that I can re-circulate the mash to keep the temperature even. I don't want to recirculate through the sparge ring as there will be bits of grain that will clog it. I used a center punch like this to mark where the hole was to be on the top of the ring. That made starting the drilling super easy.
And I got the thermometer, sight tube and spigot installed into the HLT. I started drilling before I knew what the heck I was doing which is the reason for the silicon tubing "nose" that's there temporarily. I'm pretty sure I'll put a second thermometer in that hole. Nothing wrong with having two temp readings for the strike/sparge water.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Your almost there....Good work Ted! This is going to be some really valuable information when I start converting my kegs and building the rig. Keep up the good work. 
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Thanks man! Yes, it is very exciting to be this close to test the system. I am really excited to get a bunch of PBW through the kegs and lines and test for leaks. That may even happen yet this weekend. Feel free to bounce any and all questions you have off of me, I'd be happy to help. Again, I'd suggest http://www.bargainfittings.com/ for the keg conversion needs.
And, if you don't want to source the steel parts, let me know and I can put a kit together for you and ship it to beautiful Ortonville. I'd be happy to let you learn from my mistakes.
And, if you don't want to source the steel parts, let me know and I can put a kit together for you and ship it to beautiful Ortonville. I'd be happy to let you learn from my mistakes.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
no problem! Now that I have all of the details and measurements, the steel parts would be pretty darn cheap.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
I know my basement looks nasty but it's really not as bad as it looks. It's the only place in the house with a consistent temp and it's a perfect 64 right now.
Left to Right:
Slutty Blonde American Ale, Janet's Brown that just went onto the dry hop this afternoon, Phuchented Contest IPA, Honey Brown Ale.
Left to Right:
Slutty Blonde American Ale, Janet's Brown that just went onto the dry hop this afternoon, Phuchented Contest IPA, Honey Brown Ale.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Can I "burrow" a couple of those to fill my pipeline??? 
The keezer is almost complete....got the first coat of poly on today. Then another tonight, tiling on Saturday, grouting on Sunday, and throwing it all together on Tuesday. Can't wait man!
Do you have a price list thrown together for the steel components of the single tier system that you made? Let me know if and when you do. Thanks!
The keezer is almost complete....got the first coat of poly on today. Then another tonight, tiling on Saturday, grouting on Sunday, and throwing it all together on Tuesday. Can't wait man!
Do you have a price list thrown together for the steel components of the single tier system that you made? Let me know if and when you do. Thanks!
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Yes. I will trade you ALL OF this beer for you kreezer. HA HA HA!
I'll see if I can crunch some numbers and I'll let you know.
I'll see if I can crunch some numbers and I'll let you know.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
You have my address....I'll wait for the shipment before I box up the keezer. Do you think that USPS would frown upon 20 gallons of home brew being shipped through the mail system? I updated pics of the keezer a while ago on my thread. Is you AG system and keggles 100%complete at this point?
Do you think that USPS would frown upon 20 gallons of home brew being shipped through the mail system? I updated pics of the keezer a while ago on my thread. Is you AG system and keggles 100%complete at this point?
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
HA HA! I'll wrap up the carboys in brown paper and see what happens. ha!
No, unfortunately I still have a few pieces and parts to purchase but it's damn close. I have a fitting to connect the MLT pick-up tube to the bulkhead, I need another weldless fitting put into the MLT for the mash re-circulation point and then I can test the pumps and everything.
No, unfortunately I still have a few pieces and parts to purchase but it's damn close. I have a fitting to connect the MLT pick-up tube to the bulkhead, I need another weldless fitting put into the MLT for the mash re-circulation point and then I can test the pumps and everything.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Keep up the good work...Can't wait to see the final product!
You should shoot a video of your first "fully operational" brew day with the new rig and post it on youtube. That coupled with your blue prints, cut sheets, materials, etc. and you may just end up a Vendor on HBT!
You should shoot a video of your first "fully operational" brew day with the new rig and post it on youtube. That coupled with your blue prints, cut sheets, materials, etc. and you may just end up a Vendor on HBT!
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
HA! I should - you're right.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Final fittings installed, two cycles of PBW run through the system and everything is ready to go! I need to make a few little changes and get a couple more fittings to make everything as I'd like it but it's functional. I also found out that I need to get a different brand of remote switches. One of the switches works great, the other turns both pumps on. I can turn pump 1 off after the 2nd switch turns it on but it's a pain in the ass. The only other thing that I'll want to do is to mark the volume graduations on the boil kettle dip tube.
The HLT is just about perfect. The pick-up tube sucks all but about a half-cup from the keg.
The MLT needs a bit of work. I have a mash-recirculation hole and the sparge ring. I wasn't thinking clearly when I drilled the hole for the recirculation fitting and it's directly in-line with the ring so I need to come up with a work-around for that. If I have to make a 2nd ring, I am going to put half of the holes into the top of the ring and the other half to the inside so that they all point toward the center of the keg. Also, I mis-located the hole for the MLT spigot - it's too high. I need to get a "taller" dip tube. I don't know where things went wrong there, I put a quarter-inch spacer under the tube, marked a hole and drilled. Oh well.
The boil kettle should be good. the pick up tube leaves about two pints of liquid in the keg and the recirculation tube works pretty good. I may have to point it more toward the bottom of the keg as I don't weather or not it would work with a 5 gallon batch. I thought it would put more of a spin on the water but we'll see how that works out once I have hop and hot break material to deal with.
I hope to run the first five gallon batch through it tomorrow - unless I get a fire under me and run to the LHBS to get another round of ingredients to go 10 gal.
I think I'm going to get a plastic oil-pan thing to catch the liquid when I disconnect the quick fittings. This system will create a much bigger mess than my old one.
This is the sparge ring when I had the valve on the pump most of the way open. When I dial it back, it slows down to a perfect trickle. I think I'm going to like this.
If any of you are doing this project, let me give you a few tips that I wish I would have had.
1. Don't use a regular angle grinder brush on stainless steel.
2. KNOW where you want the holes in the kegs before drilling them.
3. Put the thermometer on the right of the spigot on the HLT, above it on the MLT and to the LEFT of the spigot on the boil kettle.
4. Get two different brands of remote switches.
5. Set up the system to do 5 and 10 gallon batches - thermometer holes that are too high do you no good for smaller batches.
to be continued.
The HLT is just about perfect. The pick-up tube sucks all but about a half-cup from the keg.
The MLT needs a bit of work. I have a mash-recirculation hole and the sparge ring. I wasn't thinking clearly when I drilled the hole for the recirculation fitting and it's directly in-line with the ring so I need to come up with a work-around for that. If I have to make a 2nd ring, I am going to put half of the holes into the top of the ring and the other half to the inside so that they all point toward the center of the keg. Also, I mis-located the hole for the MLT spigot - it's too high. I need to get a "taller" dip tube. I don't know where things went wrong there, I put a quarter-inch spacer under the tube, marked a hole and drilled. Oh well.
The boil kettle should be good. the pick up tube leaves about two pints of liquid in the keg and the recirculation tube works pretty good. I may have to point it more toward the bottom of the keg as I don't weather or not it would work with a 5 gallon batch. I thought it would put more of a spin on the water but we'll see how that works out once I have hop and hot break material to deal with.
I hope to run the first five gallon batch through it tomorrow - unless I get a fire under me and run to the LHBS to get another round of ingredients to go 10 gal.
I think I'm going to get a plastic oil-pan thing to catch the liquid when I disconnect the quick fittings. This system will create a much bigger mess than my old one.
This is the sparge ring when I had the valve on the pump most of the way open. When I dial it back, it slows down to a perfect trickle. I think I'm going to like this.
If any of you are doing this project, let me give you a few tips that I wish I would have had.
1. Don't use a regular angle grinder brush on stainless steel.
2. KNOW where you want the holes in the kegs before drilling them.
3. Put the thermometer on the right of the spigot on the HLT, above it on the MLT and to the LEFT of the spigot on the boil kettle.
4. Get two different brands of remote switches.
5. Set up the system to do 5 and 10 gallon batches - thermometer holes that are too high do you no good for smaller batches.
to be continued.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Congrats Ted! Looks like we are both finishing our projects around the same time. I say that you go for the gusto and run a 10 gallon batch for her first fully operational maiden voyage!
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
I made a few of the final touches last night. It gets a little more complete every day.
Because I had an extra hole in the HLT, I decided to add a 2nd thermometer. I figured it would be good to be able to check the two against each other for a spot-on reading as well as one at the bottom of the keg and in the middle.
I will take some better pics of the MLT and add them soon, but I'm going to "plug" a hole that I didn't put in the right place. I added a lower hole and fitting last night for my mash-circulation spot and where I'll pump the runnings so the sparge ring doesn't get clogged.
And I found a home for my HTB.com sticker.
Because I had an extra hole in the HLT, I decided to add a 2nd thermometer. I figured it would be good to be able to check the two against each other for a spot-on reading as well as one at the bottom of the keg and in the middle.
I will take some better pics of the MLT and add them soon, but I'm going to "plug" a hole that I didn't put in the right place. I added a lower hole and fitting last night for my mash-circulation spot and where I'll pump the runnings so the sparge ring doesn't get clogged.
And I found a home for my HTB.com sticker.
Paulasaurus
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
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- 354
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Nice. Bet you can cook up some delicious chili in that!
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
damn straight!
Jaysus
Well-Known Member
awesome!
trevor_b
Well-Known Member
Nice work!
ChadS99SVT
Well-Known Member
:rockin:very nice looking stand.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Well, the ingredients for the inaugural 10 gallon run through the new system with all the pumps and crap has been ordered. I don't know yet how I'm going to document it, but I'll do something. Maybe pics, maybe time-laps on the phone, I don't know. Cross your fingers for me. I'll probably have a stuck mash, a stuck boil kettle, a huge leak, a sight glass boil over and a fire.
What's the batch, you ask? Starry Alignment ~4 (No Amarillo) A recipe of my own creation through the alignment of the cosmos.
Which is an American style IPA, 1.073 / Color: 11.3, IBU: 77.8 / 11oz pellets +3oz in a three-stage dry hop.
What's the batch, you ask? Starry Alignment ~4 (No Amarillo) A recipe of my own creation through the alignment of the cosmos.
Which is an American style IPA, 1.073 / Color: 11.3, IBU: 77.8 / 11oz pellets +3oz in a three-stage dry hop.
Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
Sounds like a great IPA!!! Good luck on the first 10 gallon run. Make a youtube video, so we all can see the process. Thanks for the cut sheet, I am faxing it to my dad today for the materials. Hopefully he can get me the stock for cheap....or free . Good luck Ted and thanks for all of your advice along the way with my keezer and soundproofing for my basement.
. Good luck Ted and thanks for all of your advice along the way with my keezer and soundproofing for my basement.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Thanks man! The ingredients delivered today so now I'm really chomping at the bit to use the thing. I suppose I can open a YouTube account and film the process and show you jokers how everything works.
Paulasaurus
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
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Do it! If I could make it by for the session you'd be guaranteed a fire of some sort. Can't wait to see it up and running! Mine isn't nearly as exciting to watch without pump noises and hoses.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
Well, I did it. I'll add more about the session later but here is the video of my dumb ass making the first 10 gallon batch.
You MUST read my disclaimer before watching any of these videos: I am not a trained professional so please try this at home. I don't own any video editing software so this video is as natural as it gets. Since I don't own software, I could not splice all of the clips together so it is a series of 23 different little videos There is the use of adult language. The nudity in video "07" has been covered up by one of those little on-screen text bubble things but you should shield your children's eyes anyway it is not pretty. No animals were injured in the making of these videos. The dog punch at the end was extremely soft indicated by the wagging of the tail after the punch. The flood didn't cause any major damage that I have found yet. This brew day took a lot longer than I'm sure it will in the future as I get used to using (and cleaning) all this new fancy-pants-crap like pumps and hoses and when I don't have kitchen floods to clean up. Suggestions are welcome, so feel free - If you don't like my videos and think I'm a complete moron that's fine too, I really don't care.
Video clip 1 of 23
Here's the link to my channel to see the rest of them. I'm a newbie on YouTube, so I hope this works.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperTedMaximus?feature=mhum
You MUST read my disclaimer before watching any of these videos: I am not a trained professional so please try this at home. I don't own any video editing software so this video is as natural as it gets. Since I don't own software, I could not splice all of the clips together so it is a series of 23 different little videos There is the use of adult language. The nudity in video "07" has been covered up by one of those little on-screen text bubble things but you should shield your children's eyes anyway it is not pretty. No animals were injured in the making of these videos. The dog punch at the end was extremely soft indicated by the wagging of the tail after the punch. The flood didn't cause any major damage that I have found yet. This brew day took a lot longer than I'm sure it will in the future as I get used to using (and cleaning) all this new fancy-pants-crap like pumps and hoses and when I don't have kitchen floods to clean up. Suggestions are welcome, so feel free - If you don't like my videos and think I'm a complete moron that's fine too, I really don't care.
Video clip 1 of 23
Here's the link to my channel to see the rest of them. I'm a newbie on YouTube, so I hope this works.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperTedMaximus?feature=mhum
Last edited by a moderator:
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
I did a bit of work last night. I had plans to do this eventually as I really like the 10g Gott cooler for the MLT. I'll know weather it works soon as I'll be running the second batch through the system tonight. I hope it goes better than the first.
I installed a thermal insulation around the MLT to help hold a constant temperature for the whole mash. Since I'm direct firing the tun I needed an insulation that could handle that so I grabbed some 1/4" cotton with an aluminized Mylar (foil) on the front and double wrapped it. Most of the tun has two layers. I poked holes for the ball valve and thermometer and the seam for the bottom layer is in the back. The second layer is a few inches short as I didn't want to mess around going over the ball valve and thermometer twice.
I should be ale to continue to direct fire the keg with a low flames the cotton is class A/1 fire rated and I sealed the ends with regular foil-tape. Depending on how tonight goes, I may make a top piece to set over the lid to insulate the top - maybe not. I will probably see how this goes first. Reviews to come, but I have a bunch of product left over and would be willing to send some to others if it works. I used two pieces that are roughly 51" x 16" and I would make my money back if I charged $10.00 for two pieces.
I installed a thermal insulation around the MLT to help hold a constant temperature for the whole mash. Since I'm direct firing the tun I needed an insulation that could handle that so I grabbed some 1/4" cotton with an aluminized Mylar (foil) on the front and double wrapped it. Most of the tun has two layers. I poked holes for the ball valve and thermometer and the seam for the bottom layer is in the back. The second layer is a few inches short as I didn't want to mess around going over the ball valve and thermometer twice.
I should be ale to continue to direct fire the keg with a low flames the cotton is class A/1 fire rated and I sealed the ends with regular foil-tape. Depending on how tonight goes, I may make a top piece to set over the lid to insulate the top - maybe not. I will probably see how this goes first. Reviews to come, but I have a bunch of product left over and would be willing to send some to others if it works. I used two pieces that are roughly 51" x 16" and I would make my money back if I charged $10.00 for two pieces.
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Gridlocked
Well-Known Member
The insulated direct fire MLT worked absolutely great. I lost 2-3 degrees in 60 minutes and was able to preheat the vessel as well as raise the mash out temperature and it cause no ill effects. SWEET.
