Unboxing the Nano from CO Brewing

[cyclonebeer]

Big filters

Curious how well those big filters work. Watched the videos and they seem to have potential. At what point in the process are you running wort through the filters? I could see them working well when transferring wort to fermenter to filter out break and trub. Once you get your process dialed in, you'll have to give us a full report.

Nice rig by the way. If one of those showed up on my doorstep, my wife would shoot me.

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Curious how well those big filters work. Watched the videos and they seem to have potential. At what point in the process are you running wort through the filters? I could see them working well when transferring wort to fermenter to filter out break and trub. Once you get your process dialed in, you'll have to give us a full report.

Nice rig by the way. If one of those showed up on my doorstep, my wife would shoot me.

I run it through the filters during the mash so if I do drop some grain it won't plug up the mash manifold (I had a basket spill over on the first brew and no plugging) and I filter before it goes in the plate chiller to catch the hop debris.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I was thinking of running one during the mash and then prior to the chiller when transferring to the conical also. I have to wait until my nano is delivered to figure out how i want to plumb it.

 

[02RedWS6TA]

I was thinking of running one during the mash and then prior to the chiller when transferring to the conical also. I have to wait until my nano is delivered to figure out how i want to plumb it.

Yep, exactly how I use mine.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I just got the tracking numbers from Tim. Looks like i will have a Nano 20 soon!

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Well The Nano arrived today!!!










Missing a clamp and the pulley set up but everything else looks great. The shelf above the sink is where the Penguin Chiller will go.

 

[TexasWine]

Well The Nano arrived today!!!










Missing a clamp and the pulley set up but everything else looks great. The shelf above the sink is where the Penguin Chiller will go.

Nice brew rig, however it's your ice machine that I am envious of.

 

[jready]

Nice setup!

 

[wyowolf]

wow, thats huge!... I got the basic one, so far no issues, I did plug it once when I was continuously recirc...but that one is way bigger...

 

[jabba11]

That floor tooo .....ohhhhh

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

That floor tooo .....ohhhhh

The wife said I went overboard......LOL....Fed Ex just delivered the Penguin chiller but I am out on a trip until Saturday.....

 

[jahlinux]

Well The Nano arrived today!!!



Missing a clamp and the pulley set up but everything else looks great. The shelf above the sink is where the Penguin Chiller will go.

Are you adding an exhaust fan?

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Are you adding an exhaust fan?

Not initially. The room has two windows and a double door that opens to the outside. I have a fan in one of the windows. Hopefilully that will be sufficient .

 

[jahlinux]

Not initially. The room has two windows and a double door that opens to the outside. I have a fan in one of the windows. Hopefilully that will be sufficient .

I’m in the process of getting electric and plumbing installed so I can move my 25 gal Down Under into the basement. I’ll need an exhaust fan, still researching what will work.

 

[jahlinux]

Brewed an 11 gal batch yesterday. Finally after 5 brews I hit my OG! My brewhouse efficiency is still really low at 65%. Not sure what is making it so low. Just started reading this forum from the beginning hoping to get some ideas.

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Brewed an 11 gal batch yesterday. Finally after 5 brews I hit my OG! My brewhouse efficiency is still really low at 65%. Not sure what is making it so low. Just started reading this forum from the beginning hoping to get some ideas.

What is your crush? Are you stirring during the mash? Dropping your crush will up efficiency but there's definitely a fine line, stirring every 20 minutes will also help.

For those interested in the touch screen aspect I walk through some things here. Don't mind the fumbling I can't read so no directions

 

[Horseflesh]

Nice, didn't realize you had the touchscreen too. I am glad I got it but the software is definitely unrefined.

 

[jahlinux]

What is your crush? Are you stirring during the mash? Dropping your crush will up efficiency but there's definitely a fine line, stirring every 20 minutes will also help.

I had been crushing at .045. This last batch I changed it to .042. I use an Ss Mash Manifold but I don’t stir during the mash. Use a pound of rice hulls in every batch. Debating on switching back to the stock recirc arm. All my batches have been in the upper 60s for efficiency. I guess it really doesn’t matter as long as I can consistently hit my numbers.

 

[Horseflesh]

With the Ss manifold I have not been able to detect a difference in mash efficiency between stirring frequently versus not at all. I could be wrong but my impression is that recirculating with the manifold homogenizes the mash well, with other efficiency issues maybe stemming from crush, pH, and lautering.

With a crush of .045 (double milled) my mash efficiency is roughly 75% after 60 minutes... But increases to ~78% at 90 minutes.

For anyone battling efficiency issues I encourage monitoring conversion efficiency during the mash. It's really easy and you may see something interesting. I just did it and posted here:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...tor-conversion-efficiency-in-the-mash.639269/

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

What is your crush? Are you stirring during the mash? Dropping your crush will up efficiency but there's definitely a fine line, stirring every 20 minutes will also help.

For those interested in the touch screen aspect I walk through some things here. Don't mind the fumbling I can't read so no directions

Does your system alarm when it reaches a set temp or just for the timed events?

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I want to make sure I am not out in left field with my Beer smith numbers. I downloaded the equipment profile. Is 1.81 a good number for boil off? Also, for a 5 gallons in the keg, what are you guys using for batch size, trub, and bottle/fermentation loss? I know it depends on the beer type but I am just trying to ballpark.

I am getting close....



Thanks,

Scott

 

[Horseflesh]

I also have the touchscreen and do 5 gal batches. My entire Beersmith profile is posted earlier in the thread. Can't find now, on mobile.

You can boil off less than 1.8 gal, I do 1.6 gal by switching to 55% power at 207F. It's probably possible to boil off even less but I want to keep the mash loose.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I also have the touchscreen and do 5 gal batches. My entire Beersmith profile is posted earlier in the thread. Can't find now, on mobile.

You can boil off less than 1.8 gal, I do 1.6 gal by switching to 55% power at 207F. It's probably possible to boil off even less but I want to keep the mash loose.

I also have the touchscreen and do 5 gal batches. My entire Beersmith profile is posted earlier in the thread. Can't find now, on mobile.

You can boil off less than 1.8 gal, I do 1.6 gal by switching to 55% power at 207F. It's probably possible to boil off even less but I want to keep the mash loose.

I found the post.....Thanks!

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

For you guys that are holding back a gallon or two for a final sparge, could I do that with the ss recirc manifold or do I need to get a sparge arm or just dump it?

Also is the Nano 20 suppose to come with a lid?

 

[Horseflesh]

Currently I am not holding back mash water, but I do have my profile set up so I come up about a half-gallon short after the mash. I do a tap water pour-over sparge to make up the difference. At that point the basket is hoisted and draining. I remove the Ss manifold so I can sprinkle water on the mash, and then press with a pot lid as the final step.

My system did come with a lid, but I haven't really needed it yet.

Speaking of sparging... how are y'all doing it, and are you happy with the results? I am considering increasing my mash water volume so I can hold back a quantity of mineral-treated water, but that does involve some extra work compared to just going to the tap. Any more than a half gallon or so tap water and I'd worry about my mineral PPMs getting more off target than I'd like, though...

 

[jready]

For you guys that are holding back a gallon or two for a final sparge, could I do that with the ss recirc manifold or do I need to get a sparge arm or just dump it?

Also is the Nano 20 suppose to come with a lid?

It should have a lid. I use mine when I whirlpool and for kettle sours. As far as sparging, I usually hold back two gallons of water on ten gallon batches. I heat it in a big pot on the stove and just pour it in slowly after raising the basket.

 

[jahlinux]

Has anyone considered using a condensation hood? Colorado Brewing Systems makes them and Tim said you don't need a fan. If they work it would be nice not having to run a fan during the boil.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I saw that. I am curious too......I suppose you boil the entire time with the lid. Would be nice......following.....

 

[gromitdj]

Has anyone considered using a condensation hood? Colorado Brewing Systems makes them and Tim said you don't need a fan. If they work it would be nice not having to run a fan during the boil.

@BrunDog has been developing one for his system (not a CO Brewing System) in this thread: Boil kettle condenser - no overhead ventilation needed

 

[BrunDog]

Someone call my name?!?

That type of design @jahlinux posted above is passive and works well as long as you have a large enough vertical duct to carry the heat out. But if the heat cannot carry, a vent may not be enough. If the heat cannot escape and the tube is not cool enough to condense the liquid out, the heat will be trapped and the steam will not be pulled out enough. In my design, I use a water sprayer to provide the cooling locally. Obviously this is not as simple as the passive system but it assures the heat is pulled out and the steam condenses.