Whats up with the three tier system?

[mattdee1]

I initially was all gung-ho to build a 3 tier thing, but after I got a few batches in I really started to question the value. Eventually, it started looking like its primary benefit was the opportunity to take pictures of it and post them on the internet.

I totally get the "moving heavy liquids" problem, but I routinely do 10gal batches with no structure or pumps and the heaviest lifting I do all day is to move the beer-filled buckets to my fermentation chamber.

 

[jrcrilly]

Yes, with fly sparging.. I think that segment of brewers is getting smaller and smaller.

I think I agree with you on that. I fly sparge because I always have done. That is likely the most common reason for most of those who do.

 

[passedpawn]

The mid 80s to mid 90s Buccaneers have the magical losing stuff to beat the Jags by miles!!

Hey!

 

[GPP33]

2 tier works great. You can always add a pump down the road and double up on the lower level so you don't need to lift your boil kettle.

 

[Ike]

For me, it's about space. A 3-tier would be great, but the house we're in ATM is so small the only way it'd happen would be to move the wife out (don't even get me started). SO, my brewing gear (along with just about everything else around here) has to be compact and easily stored. SO, 5 gallon BIAB it is.

I have fond memories of my previous place and its FOUR car garage. Misty water-colored memories...

 

[BrunDog]

I'll go ahead and represent the two vessel lovers out there. HLT's are so old school!

 

[MaryB]

3 tier, only water I lift is fill the HLT and once I build an RO system onto the stand I will run a fill hose up to the top kettle! Compact, it is 5' long and 2' wide. Top of the HLT is about 6 1/2 feet. I do 11 gallon batches and BIAB would get way to heavy for me to deal with. Simple, everything is gravity feed including filling the fermenters so all I lift is the 2 fermenting buckets that go in my pantry this time of year(it is 63f degrees back there).

 

[Jaxmickey]

well played! Im a patriots fan by birth jags fan by transplant. Im a sucker for a lovable loser. Watching the jags to the end is a big part of the fun, you can't make up the stuff they do to lose games...

I understand, been a Raiders fan since the late '70s. Have not had a winning season from 2002 to last year. 'Bout time to see a change.

To answer the OP, I've had a 3 tier since I started AG. I just built two tables out of scrap wood for the HLT and MT. the boil is on the floor with a riser to fill the fermenter. I made them so they fit inside of each other for storage. Works great for me.....work smarter, not harder.

 

[passedpawn]

I'm a 1-tier 3-keggle brewer, but I've always dreamed of a 2-tier system. I've just got to build a sturdy stand for my e-HLT.

 

[madscientist451]

You don't need a fancy rig to brew beer. Sure, some things are nice to have, but if you are on a tight budget you don't really need much.
Simple directions using Batch Sparge method, One Kettle, One Cooler (I add BIAB Bag to cooler) and one bucket:
--Heat the water on your kitchen stove in your brew kettle.
--Dump the hot water in your cooler, add the grain, stir, put lid on and forget about it for an hour.
--Heat sparge water in your kettle on the stove.
--When mashing is done, drain wort into bucket.
--Add Sparge water to cooler.
--Pour wort from bucket to brew kettle and start heating on stove or outside burner if you have one.
--Drain sparge from cooler to bucket and add to brew kettle.
The above method and "system" has limitations, but its cheap and works just fine. If you are boiling on the stove, you may have to limit batch size to 4 gallons or less, depending what your stove can boil. But 4 gallons of homebrew is better than none, so just go with it.
You can add extra steps like fly sparging, step mashing, decoction, some re-circulation by hand and other things if you want, or just keep it simple.
If you already have a kettle, all you need to add is a cooler, a valve, a BIAB bag and a bucket.

 

[Atlmustang]

If you are on a budget and have time limitations, then BIAB is best for you honestly. I have a great time doing all grain BIAB. I am 30 and I lift the bag up for like 30 seconds as the first big drain happens on the bad and I move it over to a pot and strainer to finish lautering. It's not bad at all and I don't need a hoist and it's not that heavy to hold for 30 seconds or so.

To do BIAB you need $15 for a bag. That's it. Doesn't get more budget friendly than that. To each his own, but I get everything done in one pot on my stovetop inside my sterile kitchen. Nothing more manly than hearing your friends ask if the beer in the keg is terrapin, sweetwater, etc.

 

[Redlantern]

I like my 3-tier system. I built it so the handles on my HLT are only a little over shoulder height. For 5 gallon batches, at most I use 4.5 gallons of sparge water, so that is only 36 lbs. Manageable at that height with little strain.

I have seen 3-tier set-ups with nothing more than folding saw horses with 2x4's and plywood for the table, two milk crates to hold up the HLT, and away you go. Pretty cheap setup and can be put anywhere there is room. Just make sure you bolt it together before brewing. That arrangement can be stored with minimal space and the milk crates can be used to carry the brewing equipment.

 

[BrunDog]

Here is the thing: you can make beer, or any alcoholic beverage for that matter, *really* easily using a minimum about of equipment. But, can you make it efficiently and consistently? Personally, the investment into better equipment and automation was worth it as it allows me to be more hands-off and focused on the science, make less mistakes, and make beer very consistently.

The last point is most critical to me. The consistency thing is not so much about making the same beer every time (I'm not a commercial brewer after all). It is about making small changes to fine tune a recipe or a style, and not wondering about the other variables which were loosy-goosey impacting the outcome. Yes, I think there is a fun factor in being surprised when tasting a beer for the first time, but I have also made some batches I didn't love, and now feel like the time and energy into a wasted batch (or even one which doesn't thrill me) is not worth it. And of course I have also had beers I have made which I loved and wanted to repeat dead-on, only to find it wasn't the same. A repeatable system makes consistency much more achievable, IMO.

 

[MaryB]

Being disabled(very bad back) I built my 3 tier system to involve a minimum of lifting. Worst is lifting the mash tun off so I can empty it and the handles are waist height so it is easy on my back. I slide it off, lower to the floor then transfer to 5 gallon buckets for my horse owning friend to pick up for feed.