BZ's mini-microbrewery

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brewzone

BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Wed May 13, 2009 10:03 pm

After 2 years of brewing anything between 10 and 20 gallons at a time I've decided I want to do smaller batches like in the old days.

As there were no 33L Nordic pots around at the time I went for a 19L stockpot brewery.

I should be able to get a cornies worth out of it which suits Me atm.

The burner I'm using is 8.8kwh and as I was using 12.4kwh burners for a 100L batch this should be more than powerful enough.

There's no pump and I'm using an immersion chiller in 10MM copper.

I've made a mash and hop filter from some 1mm woven mesh and a couple of headlight stone guards.

They look mint.

I want to go back to basics for a while as I have very little time to do 20 gallon batch brews these days.

I can lift everything if needed and cleaning up afterwards will hopefully be a lot quicker.

I hope to have some brewday pics when I brew the first 19L batch in around a fortnight.


/BZ

subsub

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by subsub » Wed May 13, 2009 11:06 pm

Good luck with it BZ, looking forward to the pics :D

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mooj
Hollow Legs
Posts: 470
Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 10:57 pm
Location: Dorset

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by mooj » Thu May 14, 2009 5:58 pm

Hi Brewzone. I've got a 21 litre stockpot brewery and I enjoy doing the small brews, and, although it takes me nearly as long as a 10g brew, it is a lot easier. However I only end up with around 15 litres max - just interested if you have a cunning plan, or, are you not expecting a full corni?
A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure.

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Fri May 15, 2009 8:48 pm

mooj wrote:Hi Brewzone. I've got a 21 litre stockpot brewery and I enjoy doing the small brews, and, although it takes me nearly as long as a 10g brew, it is a lot easier. However I only end up with around 15 litres max - just interested if you have a cunning plan, or, are you not expecting a full corni?
I plan to collect around 24L and boil down to 19L or thereabouts.

Ok I'll have to collect the other 8L in another pot and slowly add to the boiler over the course of a 90m boil. The burner should ensure a rolling boil and hopefully plenty of evaporation.

/BZ

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mooj
Hollow Legs
Posts: 470
Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 10:57 pm
Location: Dorset

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by mooj » Sat May 16, 2009 9:29 am

Hmm. I thought you might be thinking of a post-boil dilution, I can't see how you'll get 19L otherwise when you consider displacements from the hops and chiller not to mention losses. Good luck anyway and enjoy. :)
A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure.

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Sat May 16, 2009 12:01 pm

mooj wrote:Hmm. I thought you might be thinking of a post-boil dilution, I can't see how you'll get 19L otherwise when you consider displacements from the hops and chiller not to mention losses. Good luck anyway and enjoy. :)
Yes I will be diluting pre fermentation and post boil.

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Thu May 21, 2009 10:37 pm

Well I've got round to putting the new mini brewery together.

Here's a few pics of it.

Will be posting some brewday pics soon.

BZ

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

arturobandini
Under the Table
Posts: 1212
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: North London

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by arturobandini » Thu May 21, 2009 10:58 pm

Woohoo! Top looking bit of kit BZ but wouldn't expect anything less.
Planning - Not for a long while

Fermenting - I'm Done

Bottle Maturing - Hobgoblin, Fullers ESB, American Stout, TOP, Fullers London Porter, Bandini Black IPA

Drinking - Still...Whiskey

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Thu May 21, 2009 11:01 pm

Chris-x1 wrote:That's a nice looking brewery BZ, not insulating the MT though ?

Evening Chris!

I'm toying with the idea of wood cladding for the Mashtun and HLT. Maybe a layer of the silver foil backed stuff too!

I'd have used 33L Nordic pots but there wasn't any for sale at the time :-(

I'm hoping to cater for 5 gallon brew lengths for those brewers with limited space over the coming months.

I'm really looking forward to brewing with it one day next week.

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Thu May 21, 2009 11:07 pm

arturobandini wrote:Woohoo! Top looking bit of kit BZ but wouldn't expect anything less.

Cheers Mate! :D

BZ

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Thu May 21, 2009 11:15 pm

It's at times like these that I wish I'd looked after Dads woodwork tools better when I was quite a bit Younger.

I'll have to go looking for some nice wood stain/varnish in the local DIY.

Brass banding might look nice too!

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Thu May 21, 2009 11:38 pm

Which brewery is the photo of?

I can seem My dremel kit getting some hammer very soon!

mac

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by mac » Fri May 22, 2009 12:39 am

brewzone wrote:I'm toying with the idea of wood cladding for the Mashtun and HLT. Maybe a layer of the silver foil backed stuff too!
Nice set up. Makes my badly stained Plastic look a right mess :(

I like the wood cladding idea, a lot easier on a straight sided pot too. If you are thinking of insulation, don't expect any thermal retention from silver foil though, it only works on radiated heat and is only used on the face of insulation to prevent interstitial condensation. :)

garwatts

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by garwatts » Fri May 22, 2009 9:09 am

Chris-x1 wrote:It certainly would

Image

although imo it looks better once it has dulled down a bit.
How did you get that in your shed Chris? :lol:

brewzone

Re: BZ's mini-microbrewery

Post by brewzone » Mon May 25, 2009 9:53 pm

I'm intending to sell this brewery once I've used it to test it!

If anyone one is interested I would accept £350.00 + delivery

Nothing wrong with it, I just want to start on the next project ASAP.

BZ

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