Fantastic post the marvelous mechanical mouse organ is looking great.
Cheers Buddy
PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
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GARYSMIFF
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
befuggled
Fantastic post the marvelous mechanical mouse organ is looking great.
Cheers Buddy
Fantastic post the marvelous mechanical mouse organ is looking great.
Cheers Buddy -
pantsmachine
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Hawkeye broke free last night in search of a glass of red and a bag of kettle chips. Unlucky on the heater, any idea when you will get a brew on? I am hoping to break the seal before the end of the week. 
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befuggled
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Arrr, yet another "come clean" moment......
On the grounds of "If It Has To Have A Shakedown, It Might As Well Be Shook Proper", last week was a little busy....
Running more or less in "conventional mode" with a bit of re-circulation to set the grain bed and change a few things as you go on, I did two brews last Tuesday, two on Wednesday, two on Thursday, re-config on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Let me first say that the beauty of a fixed set-up is the only thing that makes this possible.
(Along with no kids, no other commitments for a week, wife actually doing the cooking for a change!)
Each night I got the copper on to boil, 20-30 mins to get rid of the chalk, pump up to HLT first thing in the morning.
Then early start, two kettle elements in the HLT quickly get it up to about 83C and it's in with the grains.
Later its mash number two while boiling number one etc...
I have a lot of notes to go through to try to find out why I am getting large variations in strike temp, mash temp and so on.
Efficiencies are all over the place; generally the weaker brews are less efficient than the stronger ones, the strong ones being seriously towards the top end - Ollossons Old Linguist target 1060, got about 1080! nice?)
At least I should also have some half reasonable beer for the New Year and now I can sit back and take my time to get it to work repeatably. (Although DL's Stella is on the list when I get a new cartridge heater and I am VERY tempted by your (pants) "Damn the Expense"! It will be that or Jubby's Outrageous, but the idea of waiting a whole year...!!!)
There have been lots of lessons learnt, but no complete disasters YET.
While staring at the sight tube on the HLT, I have THREE times opened the wrong valve and let in cold water - it is now wired shut.
I need to learn how to leave as much trub in the boiler as poss, preferably before the Stella. I have tried resting from 100C down to 70C, re-circ at 90C (too hot for the pump really), whirlpool re-circ from 80C all the way down to 25C etc etc.
Only once did I get a significant amount of trub with the hops, and that did not leave a clear "cone" as stated in some places.
More reading required...
I am happy, for the time being at least, with HLT and the mash tun and it's slotted copper pipe outlet/grain filter (although I have two sheets of perforated SS standing by).
I have tried three hop filters. Slotted copper pipe, tends to block. This one I knocked up while waiting for a mash:
With thanks to Garth for the idea, this uses #22 mesh as I am not yet planning to use pellets.
It worked very well, but sits in the centre of the boiler, no good for whirlpool cooling/draining.
Then the third, no pics at present, is 15mm cu pipe which goes all the way round the boiler, has about 90 1.6mm holes on the underside and was a pain in the bum to bend (OD about 45cm) with a bending spring!
I now have to read a lot more to fill the in gaps which I am currently just ignoring, and preparing to do the RIMS etc.
Then there's the software. I have a number of programmes sitting waiting to be loaded including ProMash.....
I have quite a lot of pics and might try to do a condensed brewday, but I really am spending far too long here as it is!
The footer also needs sorting out now that something is actually happening.
And I had to send an urgent email to Norm for some more cornies yesterday!
On the grounds of "If It Has To Have A Shakedown, It Might As Well Be Shook Proper", last week was a little busy....
Running more or less in "conventional mode" with a bit of re-circulation to set the grain bed and change a few things as you go on, I did two brews last Tuesday, two on Wednesday, two on Thursday, re-config on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Let me first say that the beauty of a fixed set-up is the only thing that makes this possible.
(Along with no kids, no other commitments for a week, wife actually doing the cooking for a change!)
Each night I got the copper on to boil, 20-30 mins to get rid of the chalk, pump up to HLT first thing in the morning.
Then early start, two kettle elements in the HLT quickly get it up to about 83C and it's in with the grains.
Later its mash number two while boiling number one etc...
I have a lot of notes to go through to try to find out why I am getting large variations in strike temp, mash temp and so on.
Efficiencies are all over the place; generally the weaker brews are less efficient than the stronger ones, the strong ones being seriously towards the top end - Ollossons Old Linguist target 1060, got about 1080! nice?)
At least I should also have some half reasonable beer for the New Year and now I can sit back and take my time to get it to work repeatably. (Although DL's Stella is on the list when I get a new cartridge heater and I am VERY tempted by your (pants) "Damn the Expense"! It will be that or Jubby's Outrageous, but the idea of waiting a whole year...!!!)
There have been lots of lessons learnt, but no complete disasters YET.
While staring at the sight tube on the HLT, I have THREE times opened the wrong valve and let in cold water - it is now wired shut.
I need to learn how to leave as much trub in the boiler as poss, preferably before the Stella. I have tried resting from 100C down to 70C, re-circ at 90C (too hot for the pump really), whirlpool re-circ from 80C all the way down to 25C etc etc.
Only once did I get a significant amount of trub with the hops, and that did not leave a clear "cone" as stated in some places.
More reading required...
I am happy, for the time being at least, with HLT and the mash tun and it's slotted copper pipe outlet/grain filter (although I have two sheets of perforated SS standing by).
I have tried three hop filters. Slotted copper pipe, tends to block. This one I knocked up while waiting for a mash:
With thanks to Garth for the idea, this uses #22 mesh as I am not yet planning to use pellets.
It worked very well, but sits in the centre of the boiler, no good for whirlpool cooling/draining.
Then the third, no pics at present, is 15mm cu pipe which goes all the way round the boiler, has about 90 1.6mm holes on the underside and was a pain in the bum to bend (OD about 45cm) with a bending spring!
I now have to read a lot more to fill the in gaps which I am currently just ignoring, and preparing to do the RIMS etc.
Then there's the software. I have a number of programmes sitting waiting to be loaded including ProMash.....
I have quite a lot of pics and might try to do a condensed brewday, but I really am spending far too long here as it is!
The footer also needs sorting out now that something is actually happening.
And I had to send an urgent email to Norm for some more cornies yesterday!
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adm
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Looking good!
Just a couple of observations for you:
1) Seeing as you're obviously a project oriented type of bloke, you might want to consider adding a timer circuit to your HLT. That way, you can set it the night before and wake up to hot liquor at your exact temperature. Saves a bit of waiting. (electromechanical timers from Baxi boilers can be had for under a tenner on eBay - I'd stay away from the "plug in" types as they aren't designed to handle the current of an immersion element)
2) Are you preheating your mash tun prior to adding the strike water? If you throw a couple of kettle fulls of boiling water into it about 20 minutes prior to doughing in, it will make sure that the thermal mass of the tun is almost zero and your initial mash temperature should be a lot more consistent.
Just a couple of observations for you:
1) Seeing as you're obviously a project oriented type of bloke, you might want to consider adding a timer circuit to your HLT. That way, you can set it the night before and wake up to hot liquor at your exact temperature. Saves a bit of waiting. (electromechanical timers from Baxi boilers can be had for under a tenner on eBay - I'd stay away from the "plug in" types as they aren't designed to handle the current of an immersion element)
2) Are you preheating your mash tun prior to adding the strike water? If you throw a couple of kettle fulls of boiling water into it about 20 minutes prior to doughing in, it will make sure that the thermal mass of the tun is almost zero and your initial mash temperature should be a lot more consistent.
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befuggled
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Two good ideas, thanks adm!
I have got some plug in types which were originally used for room heaters, if I just turn on one of the two kettle elements, they should take 10Amps - I will check the rating, otherwise it's eBay as you suggest.
The boiling water in the mash tun is another good one, I will have to re-check how much is left in the tun after draining out the remainder from the boiled kettles. It should be repeatable and I might be able to allow for it by reducing the Mash Liquor.
It would be much more efficient to do 50L batches, but I would rather go for a wider range of 25L for the time being.
I have got some plug in types which were originally used for room heaters, if I just turn on one of the two kettle elements, they should take 10Amps - I will check the rating, otherwise it's eBay as you suggest.
The boiling water in the mash tun is another good one, I will have to re-check how much is left in the tun after draining out the remainder from the boiled kettles. It should be repeatable and I might be able to allow for it by reducing the Mash Liquor.
It would be much more efficient to do 50L batches, but I would rather go for a wider range of 25L for the time being.
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Dark-Brahma
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Inspirational Stuff ! Ta!
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befuggled
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budget!
Sorry about the silence, I have been a bit busy trying to mix brewing with work!
Work is usually start/stop, long hours/weekends/nothing - so brewing is much the same.
I hit 26 brews before xmas and much of that has now gone.
I have learned a massive amount, mainly from you lot here and quite a lot from experimentation.
I now get repeatable mash start temperatures, reasonably repeatable efficiencies and understand more about losses etc.
I am extremely lucky to be able to shut the door on the brewairy and not have to clear it all away - cleaning up is relatively quick and easy and it is all there ready for the next brew. Other like pdtnc, Pantsmachine and Garysmiff (to name a few) must feel the same
.
I have largely, but not entirely, standardised on RIMS with batch sparging, the results seems to be much more predictable.
Then whirlpool recirculation through the CF cooler in the hope of maximising the hop flavour/aroma. 90C to 25C takes about 30 minutes.
I am getting a reasonable "cone" of hops and trub, and crystal clear wort after waiting another 30 minutes.
Having nearly run out, I have done 3x 46L and 2x 25L in the last few days in the hope that things will last a bit longer!
The third 46L, Progress2, loosely based on Ollosson's Gemma, is currently mashing with RIMS.
Due to running out of PM, this has some lager malt in as well, and like Graham's Pendle Witches Brew, has Crystal Malt, Torrified Wheat and sugar.
After all, Progress are supposed to be similar to Fuggles and the PWB was superb!
One of the most significant changes/additions has been an RO unit
There are very mixed opinions here, but after having to dispose of a massive pile of empty Asda water bottles, I give in.
The test I have done show fairly insignificant residuals, close enough to zero to use Graham's Water Calculator with all noughts.
The results speak for themselves. I have received a lot of very positive opinions from friends and family.
Most are as happy coming here, or getting a hand out, as going down the pub...(perhaps it has something to do with it being free??
)
There is a lot of waste, but even at this time of year the fish pond needs some topping up and the extra salts etc will have little effect on 120,000L and may even stabilise their ph against rain water!
(They get the CF cooling water as well, but I am thinking of recirculating that later in the year...).
The only other changes were to add some extra drain valves and pipework, particularly for the mash tun. It was a major p-i-t-a getting this clean on a two brew day!
I hope to stick up a brewday or two in the next few months now that the majority of the techniques have settled down.
Thanks again for all the help and advice, I am sure to have some more questions soon!
Work is usually start/stop, long hours/weekends/nothing - so brewing is much the same.
I hit 26 brews before xmas and much of that has now gone.
I have learned a massive amount, mainly from you lot here and quite a lot from experimentation.
I now get repeatable mash start temperatures, reasonably repeatable efficiencies and understand more about losses etc.
I am extremely lucky to be able to shut the door on the brewairy and not have to clear it all away - cleaning up is relatively quick and easy and it is all there ready for the next brew. Other like pdtnc, Pantsmachine and Garysmiff (to name a few) must feel the same
.I have largely, but not entirely, standardised on RIMS with batch sparging, the results seems to be much more predictable.
Then whirlpool recirculation through the CF cooler in the hope of maximising the hop flavour/aroma. 90C to 25C takes about 30 minutes.
I am getting a reasonable "cone" of hops and trub, and crystal clear wort after waiting another 30 minutes.
Having nearly run out, I have done 3x 46L and 2x 25L in the last few days in the hope that things will last a bit longer!
The third 46L, Progress2, loosely based on Ollosson's Gemma, is currently mashing with RIMS.
Due to running out of PM, this has some lager malt in as well, and like Graham's Pendle Witches Brew, has Crystal Malt, Torrified Wheat and sugar.
After all, Progress are supposed to be similar to Fuggles and the PWB was superb!
One of the most significant changes/additions has been an RO unit
There are very mixed opinions here, but after having to dispose of a massive pile of empty Asda water bottles, I give in.
The test I have done show fairly insignificant residuals, close enough to zero to use Graham's Water Calculator with all noughts.
The results speak for themselves. I have received a lot of very positive opinions from friends and family.
Most are as happy coming here, or getting a hand out, as going down the pub...(perhaps it has something to do with it being free??
)There is a lot of waste, but even at this time of year the fish pond needs some topping up and the extra salts etc will have little effect on 120,000L and may even stabilise their ph against rain water!
(They get the CF cooling water as well, but I am thinking of recirculating that later in the year...).
The only other changes were to add some extra drain valves and pipework, particularly for the mash tun. It was a major p-i-t-a getting this clean on a two brew day!
I hope to stick up a brewday or two in the next few months now that the majority of the techniques have settled down.
Thanks again for all the help and advice, I am sure to have some more questions soon!
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WishboneBrewery
- CBA Prizewinner 2010
- Posts: 7874
- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:06 pm
- Location: Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: PPB groans into life - needs understanding wife, no budg
I just had to find this post...
Dexian rather than wood, I think I hate that stuff due to constructing/de-constructing in a former employment! I remember trapped fingers and annoyance!
Just spotted ADM's comment about the Baxi timer, something I should look into as its in my plan.
Dexian rather than wood, I think I hate that stuff due to constructing/de-constructing in a former employment! I remember trapped fingers and annoyance!
Just spotted ADM's comment about the Baxi timer, something I should look into as its in my plan.