What exactly is electric Brewing?

[Vaureywwc]

Sorry if this is off topic but,
Is induction brewing the only method of electric brewing? I was told it was a very precise method and I can get/make decent equipment for around $100. I have a 60qt 300 series stainless steel pot so is this a viable option?

 

[geoffm33]

Induction brewing is brewing on an induction cooktop. Those run from $150'ish and up depending on wattage/etc. And they require an induction ready kettle, aluminum and some stainless steel pots will not work.

Have a look here for info on a 3500W induction cooktop:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/will-cheap-3500-watt-induction-burner-work-301722/

What you are likely referring to is using hot water heating elements. These can be built DIY for very cheap. Where the cost comes into play is how to temperature control those heating elements.

Here is a post that has a few informative links:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/120v-electric-brewing-383717/#post4822197

 

[LandoLincoln]

Electric brewing is where you want to make beer in your basement but you don't want to save a lot of time and money by running natural gas lines.

But seriously...

No, induction is not the only type. Far more popular than induction is by adding a water heating element to a pot.

Lots and lots of people plan on starting electric brewing by spending just a small amount of money on a very simple system. Most of those people end up spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a really neato electric brewing rig after they're done researching all of the available bells and whistles an electric brewing rig has to offer.

Electric brewing is more precise than cooking with propane or natural gas, in theory.

 

[mikescooling]

I started a build thinking the brewery would be back up and running for about 300-400$ I over spent, by like a lot and I'm not finished. The E-brewery is freakin great. You punch in the temp you want in the PID control and it keeps that temp. When I'm about to come to a boil, a light turns on telling me it's going to happen. The 5300W water heater element I run cost to brew 15 gallons is about 3$. It is a fun,easy and safe way to brew. But ya gotta pay to play

 

[Vaureywwc]

Induction brewing is brewing on an induction cooktop. Those run from $150'ish and up depending on wattage/etc. And they require an induction ready kettle, aluminum and some stainless steel pots will not work.

Have a look here for info on a 3500W induction cooktop:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/will-cheap-3500-watt-induction-burner-work-301722/

What you are likely referring to is using hot water heating elements. These can be built DIY for very cheap. Where the cost comes into play is how to temperature control those heating elements.

Here is a post that has a few informative links:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/120v-electric-brewing-383717/#post4822197

Thank you, that is just the information I needed for this!

Electric brewing is where you want to make beer in your basement but you don't want to save a lot of time and money by running natural gas lines.

But seriously...

No, induction is not the only type. Far more popular than induction is by adding a water heating element to a pot.

Lots and lots of people plan on starting electric brewing by spending just a small amount of money on a very simple system. Most of those people end up spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a really neato electric brewing rig after they're done researching all of the available bells and whistles an electric brewing rig has to offer.

Electric brewing is more precise than cooking with propane or natural gas, in theory.

My problem with propane is my burner. It is very difficult to hit a specific degree range. I am in the market for a new burner that is why I am looking at electric. Winters here are not kind, and until my shop is built I have to pretty much rely on brewing outdoors.

So there entails my problem. Though I do believe propane is a cheaper way to go my shop won't be built until Summer 2015 and not being able to brew for 3 months just seems incredibly sad!

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Vaureywwc]

I started a build thinking the brewery would be back up and running for about 300-400$ I over spent, by like a lot and I'm not finished. The E-brewery is freakin great. You punch in the temp you want in the PID control and it keeps that temp. When I'm about to come to a boil, a light turns on telling me it's going to happen. The 5300W water heater element I run cost to brew 15 gallons is about 3$. It is a fun,easy and safe way to brew. But ya gotta pay to play

That's exactly what I was looking for I understand completely that the price would be fairly steep. Now you say the "run cost" is $3. Now are you saying the electric bill jumps $3 when you go to make a batch?

 

[geoffm33]

That's exactly what I was looking for I understand completely that the price would be fairly steep. Now you say the "run cost" is $3. Now are you saying the electric bill jumps $3 when you go to make a batch?

Have a look at this thread here:

Electrical Costs for a Normal Brew Day

The OP ran some analysis from his electric bill since he is able to see an hourly breakdown of electricity usage. Pretty interesting.

 

[castermmt]

One of the best places to learn about electric brewing is theelectricbrewery.com you will be amazed at what you can build.
You can look at my link as well. I can brew indoors when it's 20 below zero outside, wearing my flip-flops. Castermmt

 

[Vaureywwc]

Have a look at this thread here:

Electrical Costs for a Normal Brew Day

The OP ran some analysis from his electric bill since he is able to see an hourly breakdown of electricity usage. Pretty interesting.

That's an amazing difference.. I had no idea the difference would have been that significant, but then again I always wasn't putting into place the cost of propane.

One of the best places to learn about electric brewing is theelectricbrewery.com you will be amazed at what you can build.
You can look at my link as well. I can brew indoors when it's 20 below zero outside, wearing my flip-flops. Castermmt

I've been looking at that this, this whole afternoon. I will definitely have to look more into building one of these or buying one instead of buying a new burner.

 

[castermmt]

Kal makes a very compelling argument for building it right, so you can focus on the brewing of great beer. One of my favorite sayings I picked up on the site is; "Only the Rich can afford to build things cheap" or something to that affect.
Go for it, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Yooper]

I brewed today, a 10 gallon batch of IPA.

I'm 100% electric, and my brewery is set up in my laundry room.

You can brew indoors- but you have to make allowances for steam and moisture. Some people use things like range hoods, but I either open a door and place a fan so that the moisture goes outside, or use the moisture in my house with a fan blowing the other way.

I live in a pretty darn dry climate. In the winter, the humidity level inside my house is around 30%. This would not work in a humid climate, and a range hood or other ventilation would be necessary.

 

[kal]

One of my favorite sayings I picked up on the site is; "Only the Rich can afford to build things cheap" or something to that affect.

My grandfather thought me that life lesson. The actual expression is "Only the rich can afford to buy cheap things" but yours is close!

The idea is that if you buy cheap you end up replacing it 10+ times and it ends up costing more in the long run (not to mention that you might have had sub-par performance all along).

That expression has stuck with me for a long time....

Good luck!

Kal

 

[naomi12]

Electric brewing is much easier and time consuming in my opinion. Well i will try it soon

 

[Setesh]

Lots and lots of people plan on starting electric brewing by spending just a small amount of money on a very simple system. Most of those people end up spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a really neato electric brewing rig after they're done researching all of the available bells and whistles an electric brewing rig has to offer.

Testify!!!

 

[KPSquared]

I'm planning "cheap and simple" but I'm well over $500 so far. Oh well, what's a hobby without excessive spending and broken budgets?

 

[milldoggy]

Love my kal clone, will never go back to propane. I like I can heat my strike and mash and spend that time with my family. Even though a brew day takes 6-8 hours, three of them is spent with the family or doing other things, can't do that with a flame

 

[jrgtr42]

I'm planning on moving fairly soon, and one of my requirements is a brew space.
I'm thinking I want to go induction. I was talking to a guy last week who uses induction burners, and he said that even the iggest ones that can use 110volt (1800watt) are fairly useless for boiling more than 2 or 3 gallons.
Therefore, I'm going to plan on using 3000 - 3500 watt ones. This will require having 220volt outlets installed, unless I am using the laundry room, and plug and unplug the machines.
I'm planning on being reasonably frugal, but not super cheap.

 

[Roadie]

Another vote here for a Kal type brewery.


Almost Famous Brewing Company

 

[Setesh]

And yet another vote for the Kal brewery. I made his panel kit and have been using his element kits for a while now. I love the automation and control that it brings and never ever want to go back. I cheaped out and used keggles instead of Blichmann pots. They are CIP which I LOVE but it makes it hard to do 10 gallon batches so if I had it to do over I would go with the Blichmanns.

 

[Roadie]

And yet another vote for the Kal brewery. I made his panel kit and have been using his element kits for a while now. I love the automation and control that it brings and never ever want to go back. I cheaped out and used keggles instead of Blichmann pots. They are CIP which I LOVE but it makes it hard to do 10 gallon batches so if I had it to do over I would go with the Blichmanns.

I went with Stout 20 gallon kettles and agree it's much easier to brew 10g that 5g but the system rocks.


Almost Famous Brewing Company