Unboxing the Nano from CO Brewing

[akthor]

With everyone on here seeming to push the limits of grain bill capacity with every version they have I don't understand why you all didn't order a bigger system??? Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Saving $150 seems kinda shortsighted to me.

 

[LouBrew13]

With everyone on here seeming to push the limits of grain bill capacity with every version they have I don't understand why you all didn't order a bigger system??? Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Saving $150 seems kinda shortsighted to me.

I haven't used mine yet but I just received a 20 gallon unit. I plan on big grain bills with 5 gallon batches and more session strength beers I'll double the output. No sense in trying to kill my unit in an attempt to see what she can handle imo.

 

[cyclonebeer]

With everyone on here seeming to push the limits of grain bill capacity with every version they have I don't understand why you all didn't order a bigger system??? Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Saving $150 seems kinda shortsighted to me.

I think that's very true. When I brewed with my old 3v gravity rig, I almost always brewed 5 gal batches - and figured I'd do the same with the CBS rig, but wanted the flexibility to do an occasional 10 gal batch. I bought the 20 gal system and now usually brew 10 gal batches for tried and true recipes. For a 1 off brew, I'll keep it at a 5 gal limit. The 20 gal system works great for both.

I think that if you want to do a really big beer, regardless of your system, you're going to have to do some "work arounds". That's just part of the fun and challenge of home brewing. It's not a big deal to hold back some water in a cooler to sparge with if that's what you have to do.

 

[02RedWS6TA]

With everyone on here seeming to push the limits of grain bill capacity with every version they have I don't understand why you all didn't order a bigger system??? Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Saving $150 seems kinda shortsighted to me.

I bought the biggest one offered at the time. Should've probably pieced mine together to fit my needs better. In talks with spike and arbor fab to go to a custom 30 gallon kettle set up.

 

[akthor]

I bought the 1bbl pot and basket from CO. I couldn't afford the whole 1bbl system at once. Its taken me almost 2 yrs to get the system together. A stint in the hospital didn't help. But I'm planning on brewing on super bowl weekend for the 1st time!

 

[02RedWS6TA]

I bought the 1bbl pot and basket from CO. I couldn't afford the whole 1bbl system at once. Its taken me almost 2 yrs to get the system together. A stint in the hospital didn't help. But I'm planning on brewing on super bowl weekend for the 1st time!

Not to clutter this thread up but do you have a build thread?

 

[akthor]

Er I think a pic here or there. When I get everything final assembled I'll shoot some pics. Right now there are still parts everywhere.

Being a native New Englander I took a week off for the super bowl. Partly for the game but also for finally having everything getting it together and brewing.

 

[pretzelb]

Is anyone experiencing 3.5 hour mash days and 85% efficiency like the website claims ?

http://cobrewingsystems.com/complete-pro-level-nano-brewer-down-under-single-vessel-brewing-system/

Just brewed a barley wine yesterday and after I finally updated my spreadsheet to gather some statistics. My latest calculations for pre-boil efficiency (percentage of max) were:
69.87%
76.03%
74.35%
71.55%
79.69%

Looking at brew house efficiency where I compare starting gravity to potential max I see:
59.60%
66.26%
63.66%
67.87%
68.15%

Looking at duration, if I start at when I prep the yeast (which is my first step of the day) and look at when I finish the PBW bath (last step of day) I see:
6:30:00
7:00:00 (long mash)
5:30:00
5:45:00
5:30:00

But if I look at duration from mash start to fermenter fill then I see:
3:19:00
3:43:00
3:08:00
3:51:00
3:45:00

I'm surprised at the statistics for the last brew since I expected low numbers for the barley wine. For the percentages I'm probably not doing the calculation correctly as it's just a comparison against the max PPG. I'm slowly updating the spreadsheet so I might adjust the calculations later.

 

[Windsors]

I have been learning a lot from these posts. Thanks for sharing your good and bad.

Reading about the issues with scorching, I want switch out the 5500 W straight element that came with the CBS 20 gal Nano kettle and basket that I bought. I have had the kettle for awhile, but just now getting around to finishing my panel, table and fittings.

So I am looking at the 304 SS one that ebrew sells and the nickel-chromium stainless steel (804) alloy theelectricbrewery sells.

Questions:
1. which is better- 304ss vs 804 ? They both say they have SS bases.
2. Would 4500W be adequate for up to 10 gallon batches on boil ? The 4500W has less watts per SI than the 5500w.

Thanks, Bill

 

[jabba11]

Hi guys haven't been here for awhile thought Id check in and see what is what. As a guess now Im gonna say I have maybe 20 brew days on my system and have been happy with it so far. Im very interested in the brewtech manifold as getting the wort to recirc is pretty tough. I don't believe the scorching issues are element related at least in my opinion. I have had ONE scorch and it was on a wheat beer with almost 50% wheat. I did do a sac rest at 120 for 10 minutes and used a lot of rice hulls but my flow rate was imply too slow or there may have been a "hole" right over the element. At any rate I noticed an unsually large amount of material after whirlpooling. I never smelled the scorch and I don't think it ruined anything honestly. The issue arose im almost certain because of a combination of crush/flow rate. Crud simply filtered onto the element and burned on. I have done several wheat beers but did lower my crush (1.040) some last time and so I may need to adjust crush when I do a wheat beer.

 

[wildseedgrrrl]

For a simple brew - single infusion, no mashout, no hopstand - I can fill the fermenter in 3.5 hrs. and get started on cleanup.

I regularly get 82% - 85% efficiency (post mash). I do stir the mash alot and I squeeze or press the grain bed with a 5 gal bucket lid during the drain. That speeds up the draining a bit and helps me collect a bit more wort.

I've been getting between 79-82% efficiency depending on the grind . I've been pretty happy with it. Previous systems I never got over 70%. I let it drain until it hits boil then I set the mashtun aside and whatever else I collect I dump in before the end of the boil.

This system was the best decision I made last year when I decided to upgrade. My brew days are about 3.5 hours without clean up. Usually I plan back to back brew days and so I'd fill the kettle up with pbw and run it through the system drain and give it a hot rinse and get it set up to dry ready for water in the morning.

 

[jready]

I've been getting between 79-82% efficiency depending on the grind . I've been pretty happy with it. Previous systems I never got over 70%. I let it drain until it hits boil then I set the mashtun aside and whatever else I collect I dump in before the end of the boil.



This system was the best decision I made last year when I decided to upgrade. My brew days are about 3.5 hours without clean up. Usually I plan back to back brew days and so I'd fill the kettle up with pbw and run it through the system drain and give it a hot rinse and get it set up to dry ready for water in the morning.

Wow! That is great! I don't know that I am getting that high of efficiency and my brew days seem about an hour longer but I love mine too! Only "wish I had added" is a whirlpool port.

 

[wildseedgrrrl]

@jready

I spent 6 months with fluctuating efficiency and water absorbtion. I had to take a step back. It was really helpful to read everyone's posts because it looked like we were all finding our way with this system. The advice folks have had in this thread has been a lifesaver.

Finally, I got it narrowed down to grind. I started going a lot finer than I had previously, and I've been running the pump and slowly recirculating the water as i was slowly adding the grain and that seems to have helped. I also have been experimenting with mash thickness.



I took off the sight glass and put in the whirlpool arm.

 

[jready]

@jready

I spent 6 months with fluctuating efficiency and water absorbtion. I had to take a step back. It was really helpful to read everyone's posts because it looked like we were all finding our way with this system. The advice folks have had in this thread has been a lifesaver.

Finally, I got it narrowed down to grind. I started going a lot finer than I had previously, and I've been running the pump and slowly recirculating the water as i was slowly adding the grain and that seems to have helped. I also have been experimenting with mash thickness.



I took off the sight glass and put in the whirlpool arm.

Sheer genius! This message just made the sun come out here in Nashville!! Coincidence I think not. Can you tell me more about how you modified the site glass? I hate that damn thing anyway!!

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Sheer genius! This message just made the sun come out here in Nashville!! Coincidence I think not. Can you tell me more about how you modified the site glass? I hate that damn thing anyway!!

Just throw the sight glass away and use the port for the whirlpool. A place like norcal brewing can probably weld you up a whirlpool arm to a triclover, then you'll just need another triclover valve. Or I'm sure Tim would be willing to do it also.

 

[jready]

Just throw the sight glass away and use the port for the whirlpool. A place like norcal brewing can probably weld you up a whirlpool arm to a triclover, then you'll just need another triclover valve. Or I'm sure Tim would be willing to do it also.

I think I figured it out Colorado brewing systems sells the whirlpool piece. I thought I had an extra valve but I didn't so gotta get that. I've got a farmhouse mashing right now. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1486936304.152384.jpg

 

[LouBrew13]

Well today was my inaugural brew day. 10 gallons of pale ale and 10 gallons of a Belgian pale. Only hiccup was I needed to throttle back the pump on the first batch. Hit my numbers on the nose so I'm loving this baby!

Cheers

View attachment 1486940186255.jpg

 

[akthor]

I see the Whirlpool arm for sale on the site. Does it fit between the basket and the kettle?

http://cobrewingsystems.com/whirlpo...fitting-with-clamp-and-gasket-1/#ProductTabs2

 

[jready]

Well today was my inaugural brew day. 10 gallons of pale ale and 10 gallons of a Belgian pale. Only hiccup was I needed to throttle back the pump on the first batch. Hit my numbers on the nose so I'm loving this baby!

Cheers

Cheers and congrats!! This was my smoothest yet! Love this system.

 

[molson]

Well today was my inaugural brew day. 10 gallons of pale ale and 10 gallons of a Belgian pale. Only hiccup was I needed to throttle back the pump on the first batch. Hit my numbers on the nose so I'm loving this baby!

Cheers

What was your efficiency, I'm only getting around 60%, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

 

[LouBrew13]

What was your efficiency, I'm only getting around 60%, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

My recipes are calculated at 75% and my gravity samples were above that. I mashed in with the pump slowly recirculating and stirred well and left it alone. First batch pumped over the rim of the basket and I shut it down and let it equalize then started slowing it down. After that I did use a smaller lid to squeeze the grains and poured a half gallon of water on them to rinse. If that's the key I'm sticking with it.

 

[RollE2k]

My recipes are calculated at 75% and my gravity samples were above that. I mashed in with the pump slowly recirculating and stirred well and left it alone. First batch pumped over the rim of the basket and I shut it down and let it equalize then started slowing it down. After that I did use a smaller lid to squeeze the grains and poured a half gallon of water on them to rinse. If that's the key I'm sticking with it.

What amount of water and total grains? and also, do you use rice hulls or malt conditioning?

I have a system built with same design inner basket as these, and i have stuck-mash problem, as many others here..
I have already been thinking about ordering a mesh-sided basket, but would be happy if i don't have too (to much other things to put money into!)... Still only have two brews on it, so i will have to brew some more, and try with rice hulls and/or conditioning the malt..

Also i don't have the whirlpool recirculation, but rather a Ultimate sparge arm, which i'm re-circulating through... so that gives another difference.

 

[molson]

I've been using 1/2 to a pound of rice hulls and haven't had an issue with stuck sparge. I also have the solid side inner basket. The only issue I've had is low efficiency. I'm thinking about trying to crush finer next time, just hoping that it doesn't cause a stuck sparge.

 

[jready]

BTW just another plug for Tim. I emailed him about converting site glass into whirlpool over the weekend I asked him to check my order make sure I got what I needed. He responded Monday morning and updated my order with the pieces I had missed! Great service!

 

[jabba11]

High guys thought Id pop in to talk about the SS brewtech manifold. I went ahead and ordered one. Today I did an IPA that had about 18 pounds of grain and included some rice and a pound of flaked wheat. That's a pretty big grain bill for what I typically do. I ALWAYS use rice hulls. I always have and I used about 4 ounces. I used the manifold and all I can say is that first tests indicate that it is a much better option than the tube that comes with the Nano. Bed temperatures reached stability faster and were right on target. I hit my numbers exactly coming in at about 76% efficiency with 12 gallons going into the fermenter. I ran it full open. There seemed to be some back pressure compared to the tube involved which I though was interesting but the flow rate was still significant. I used to just slip the hoses over the barb ends but had to put on clamps to hold them with the manifold in use because of the pressure. Anyway I was excited about how well it worked with almost no "drawdown" at all. When I pulled the grains I didn't notice any holes or anything etc so Ill assume the grain was flowing through the bed. It was a 35 buck experiment but at this point I do recommend. Ill wait to see how well it works with a wheat beer to give ya the final word though.

 

[Horseflesh]

Thanks a bunch for the report. I brewed yesterday and the whole time was daydreaming about that thing. I got about 72% efficiency but I also did a fair bit of poking and stirring. I don't much care about maximizing efficiency, but I do want consistency and less fiddling around. If I could walk away from the mash entirely (after it's homogenized) and get anywhere in the 70s I'd be a happy camper.

I had a scare early in the brew day when the provided Topsflo pump would not start! I had to drain the kettle (preserving my modified water) and pull the pump out for inspection. After taking it apart and reassembling, it fired right up. Not sure what the problem was.

I was glad this happened though because I learned something... the pump is intended to be take apart over and over. I had always cleaned it fully assembled and was worried about getting water in the electronics, and as such didn't probably clean it so well.

Well, the moving parts are 100% isolated and easily detach from the motor housing. You can pull the metal part off and soak it in PBW, or disassemble it entirely and remove the impeller. It was a piece of cake, and all the fasteners use threaded metal sockets, so you won't wear them out with repeated reassembly. I was pleasantly surprised.

This may be obvious to y'all but this is the first brew pump I have owned and I was gunshy about disassembly. The manual showed the process, but it wasn't until I tried it that I realized it was no big deal.

 

[jabba11]

Mine gets airlocked occasionally. To clear it I do one of a couple of thing. One I simply shut it off and wait a second then turn it back on that fixes it about 75% of the time. Two, I close the valve turn on the pump then open the valve back full. that also clears it often. if none of that works Ill take off the end hold the hose about the kettle open the valve and blow backwards through it close the valve reconnect and open the valve and turn the pump on. I took mine apart once too to check if it was clean etc. Ill never take it apart again unless it has a problem casue even after maybe 20 brew days it was still shiny like new inside. That said I clean in place and run my cleaner and lots of clear water through it at the end of a brew day.

 

[wildseedgrrrl]

I've been eyeballing this for a bit. I wondered how it would work out. Do you have the 15 gallon kettle?

 

[jabba11]

I have 20 gallon it worked just fine in it

 

[pretzelb]

I have 20 gallon it worked just fine in it

I'm also using it on the 20g kettle. The temp control seems improved but I'm not sure if it improves sugar extraction. Only minor issue is the barb size is small and requires a hose clamp.