I'm not real happy with my HERMS process flow and considering switching to RIMS. I'd like your advice.
Rig:
I've got a good 3-vessle set of Keggles & dual pumps. my HLT has a HERMS coil installed and a 120v electric heater w/ PID control. I run the boil kettle with a gas burner and don't run a heater on my MLT. I brew 5&10 gallon batches.
Current HERMS Process:
1) Heat HLT to strike temp, say 165f
2) transfer strike liquor to MLT
3) run HERMS to get MLT to strike temp. just a few minutes to account for transfer loss.
4) stop HERMS, mash in, stir, let settle 5 minutes. Usually I nail mash temp pretty well.
5) Top-off HLT to drop temp to mash-temp, say 155f
6) slowly restart HERMS and run for the duration of MASH
7) pause HERMS, ramp HLT to spurge temp, say 170f, about 15min.
8) Sparge
Notes:
The HERMS process works well enough, especially since I can run HLT & HERMS on one 120v circuit. but I don't like f-in around with step 5 & 7.
I have another 120v circuit and am thinking that adding a separate RIMS tube. Specifically this $300 kit at BrewHardware.com . What are your thoughts on this specific product?
After adding a RIMS tube & PID controller on a separate 120v circuit, I envision the following RIMS process:
1) Heat HLT to strike temp, say 165f (I like this as I usually do this the n)
2) transfer strike liquor to MLT
3) run RIMS to get MLT to strike temp. just a few minutes to account for transfer loss.
4) stop RIMS, mash in, stir, let settle 5 minutes.
5) ramp HLT to sparge temp, say 170f.
6) slowly restart RIMS and run for the duration of MASH
7) Sparge
Notes:
I like pre-heating the HLT the night before, so while I could just use RIMS to heat the strike liquor, I expect to keep using the HLT for strike liquor.
Am I missing any RIMS process steps/opportunities here?
For the RIMS config, I'm expecting to mount it to the side of my MLT keggle, add a ball valve to to the RIMS inlet side to facilitate easy hose changes (between mash pump output & water pump outlet).
Any tips on RIMS connections or layout?
Cheers!
Odin
Lead Monkey
BeachMonkey.beer
Rig:
I've got a good 3-vessle set of Keggles & dual pumps. my HLT has a HERMS coil installed and a 120v electric heater w/ PID control. I run the boil kettle with a gas burner and don't run a heater on my MLT. I brew 5&10 gallon batches.
Current HERMS Process:
1) Heat HLT to strike temp, say 165f
2) transfer strike liquor to MLT
3) run HERMS to get MLT to strike temp. just a few minutes to account for transfer loss.
4) stop HERMS, mash in, stir, let settle 5 minutes. Usually I nail mash temp pretty well.
5) Top-off HLT to drop temp to mash-temp, say 155f
6) slowly restart HERMS and run for the duration of MASH
7) pause HERMS, ramp HLT to spurge temp, say 170f, about 15min.
8) Sparge
Notes:
The HERMS process works well enough, especially since I can run HLT & HERMS on one 120v circuit. but I don't like f-in around with step 5 & 7.
I have another 120v circuit and am thinking that adding a separate RIMS tube. Specifically this $300 kit at BrewHardware.com . What are your thoughts on this specific product?
After adding a RIMS tube & PID controller on a separate 120v circuit, I envision the following RIMS process:
1) Heat HLT to strike temp, say 165f (I like this as I usually do this the n)
2) transfer strike liquor to MLT
3) run RIMS to get MLT to strike temp. just a few minutes to account for transfer loss.
4) stop RIMS, mash in, stir, let settle 5 minutes.
5) ramp HLT to sparge temp, say 170f.
6) slowly restart RIMS and run for the duration of MASH
7) Sparge
Notes:
I like pre-heating the HLT the night before, so while I could just use RIMS to heat the strike liquor, I expect to keep using the HLT for strike liquor.
Am I missing any RIMS process steps/opportunities here?
For the RIMS config, I'm expecting to mount it to the side of my MLT keggle, add a ball valve to to the RIMS inlet side to facilitate easy hose changes (between mash pump output & water pump outlet).
Any tips on RIMS connections or layout?
Cheers!
Odin
Lead Monkey
BeachMonkey.beer