Inaugural brew on shiny new brewery

[Seveneer]

Well I worked like a Trojan yesterday rigging up my new stainless brewery. Still some work to do but, as it's now useable, I spent most of today brewing a fairly simple bitter. About 10 gallons of it!

The mash went well with the uninsulated stainless mash tun. I might have to lag it when the weather gets cold but it's fine right now.

I pumped the mash liquor under the grist through a copper slotted exit manifold that I knocked up on Friday night. I thought this would be a good way of avoiding the grist compacting into the slots even before I started recirculating.

The mash temperature was maintained at 68 for an hour or more by recirculating, via a pump, through a home made heat exhanger. The new manifold worked well and was able to supply the recirculation pump for over an hour without the hint of a stuck mash.

The only issue I have is the efficiency seems a bit low. I ended up having to collect 60l and boiling for 2 hours to get the 50l I wanted at the correct gravity. I reckon I probably sparged too quick so I'll try longer next time.

I'm afraid there are no pictures as I was too busy making sure all the joins were tight and the electric were doing as expected. I'll take some next time.

ATB,
/Phil.

[Andy]

Superb Phil, nice one.

[DRB]

I wonder if it'll taste better comming out of shiny things.

[DRB]

[Seveneer]

I doubt the beer will taste any different from beer brewed in plastic but all my plastic stuff started to fail on me at the same time (and that's the second lot too). Rather than replace it all again which would have cost me about 150 quid I bit the bullet and went stainless. Yes it cost a bit more but it'll last a lifetime.

They're also 75l rather than 30l so I can brew twice as much

[BlightyBrewer]

Nice one Phil. Looking forward to the pics.

[Seveneer]

BB,

I'll tryto get some photos tomorrow, but pics of it in action will have to wait a couple of weeks as both fermenters are now full.

/Phil.

[mysterio]

Heavily jealous here, Phil, hoped you enjoyed brewing with your new brewery

[Seveneer]

Yeah I enjoyed it. I know you don't need all of this equipment to brew beer but I did enjoy not having to lift anything.

Here's a picture of it as it stands with the two fermenters of beer I brewed today.



/Phil.

[DRB]

Looks like you've got another shiney thing to the right of the pic seveneer,whats the make.

[Andy]

I think his forum name might give it away

[Frothy]

Great Stuff Seveneer - love the HERMS how are you controlling the temp of the mash? I've got all the bits but nothing to controll with. I may have asked you this before but I can't remember. So you'l be stepping up to "multi step mashing" with different rest next yah?

Matt

[DRB]

I might be a bit stupid here,but is sveneer a make of a car then

[Seveneer]

The car's a Caterham Seven. I built it about 4 and a half years ago. My other shiny thing is out of shot, my BMW R1100S bike. I guess I just love my toys

Frothy, I use a PID controller I got from some bloke in America off ebay. I've got 3 of them so will use another to control the HLT temperature. The thing I found hardest about building the HERMS is actually sourcing the tubing. I want some silicone tube with an ID of 1/2" but I can't find any so I'm making do with a smaller bore reinforced PVC instead. what tubing are you planning to use?

I've thought of multi step mashing but I don't think the core temperature of the mash could be raised quickly enough. I'll try it and see.

[Andy]

I want some silicone tube with an ID of 1/2" but I can't find any so I'm making do with a smaller bore reinforced PVC instead.

Check out the silicone hose at http://www.tym.co.uk/prices&specs.htm

1/2" == 12.7mm