New Brewery Build - Goosegog

[goosegog]

Cool, many thanks for the link Timmo. I'll watch them all
Cheers, Ferg & Andrea

[Normski]

Hi goosegog
Very pretty. When are you going to start brewing.

[Talisman]

Its quite funny reading this Topic actually (and in no way am i taking the mikey here)

My brewery has been up and running a couple of years, and works perfectly fine... but ive found it can be potentially dangerous.

Now my setup is in no way anywhere near at any height of thread owners original design.

You can see a couple of pics here.
http://www.blacklabale.co.uk/microbuild.html

But i end up on step ladders to see into the HLT, even further up for the Mash Tun, and stood on a beer crate to play with the Boiler and Fermenter.

Ive just been in the garage tonight looking at a re build and making it more workable. I actually came un here looking for some brewery setup designs (hence why this topic caught my eye) that may help me out.

Quiet a few times ive nearly toppled over on the steps when stirring/emptying the Mash tun. As you have never brewed before you will be supprised at the weight of all the grain when emptying and cleaning. You will want to get as much access as possible to stir/empty/clean.

I too reading this was going to suggest you visit someone making a brew just to ask and get a feel for it (shame your not more local to me im brewing on Saturday or Sunday this week, you could have been my helper for the day lol) it really is worth its weight in gold to see how others do it. Not only do you get ideas but you will want to change your setup, i do everytime i see pics on here, still lots i want to change now or add too.

You may or maynot change your current design before brewin, but ill guarantee you will later on, Because it never stops lol

I think after you have invested this much into the shiny so far and havent tasted your own ale yet then as soon as you do your gonna be as hook as we all are.

And as to your question of a cask and a Hand Pull Beer Engine, well this can be done still with Cornies. The benifit is its longer lasting when you use it. Crack a cask direct to hand pull, you need to sup it all withing a few days.

use a cornie and low pressure CO2 (i use between 5-10psi) to a cask breather and then to the hand pul you can drink as much as you like or as little and it will last ages.

That is how i pull mine and it pulls a lovely pint, and no its not gassey mate

Tally

[goosegog]

Gents, I'm back with a new setup. Many thanks for the advice. Taking it in and also attending a brew day at The Home Brew Shop in Aldershot, I understood how much access is required to the MT so, I moved it to the floor, the HLT down a level and I'm going to get a pump. The MT will be 6" off the floor to allow the pump to prime. I have a MashMaster ChillOut cooler now and have wired it all in this week (Power comes from a dedicated circuit breaker on its own ring to these industrial splash-proof plugs and sockets)

Having done lots of research here, I currently believe we're going to brew for a firkin and handpull for parties and big BBQs (three days, no problem!), bottles to give away and those easy kegs looks like useful things too

Cheers for all your feedback and help. Plumbing and drainage next step...
Fergus







Cascade, Columbus, Citra & Amarillo!

[monkeyboy]

jeez. that's some setup and some investment - both financial and in build time. I hope you enjoy it after this!

[JabbA]

Looking good there Furgus, be sure to take loads of pics of your first brewday and post a write-up!

Cheers,
Jame

[newelley]

great build, wish I had the room to setup something permanent like this.

Looking at all those hops is making my mouth water - yum

newelley

[Eadweard]

Looks amazing. Nice to meet you two at the home brew shop.

[goosegog]

Many thanks for the feedback, guys. My previous (ongoing) hobby was motorbikes (Honda Monkey Bikes) but I've been at that for a decade so I sold a couple which more than covers this new hobby. I've been getting quite passionate about ale, seeking-out beer festivals, pubs, breweries and scheduled a trip to sunny California in search of the hop! I can only imagine I, along with my partner in crime, Andrea, relish the task of learning the skills required to craft the precise beer we're insatiably seeking! Your help and enthusiasm is very much appreciated
Cheers, Fergus

[goosegog]

Yesterday saw our first attempt, stumbling tentatively into the world of brewing!

HLT filled up on Friday night in order to get an early start on Saturday and catch the tail end of Economy7


Cleaning and sterilising


Up to temperature and venting nicely out the window


Fermenter sterilised, brewery building in the background






Into the copper


100 grams of Cascade going in


Later.... another 100 grams. Wow this smells so good!


Checking the temperature after the cooler


50 litre brew - 2 packets of Safale S-04 in some wort


Carefully down the side. Is this correct?


Now... 20 hours later, shouldn't this bad boy be bubbling?


Cheers and fingers crossed!

[Spud395]

Nice pic's man well done.
You dont all ways get bubbles when you want to, its a pain.
When draining your cooled wort into your FV it's a good idea to splash it about to airate the wort.
This helps the yeast in it's growth phase!

[goosegog]

When draining your cooled wort into your FV it's a good idea to splash it about to airate the wort.
This helps the yeast in it's growth phase!

Darn, I cocked-up here. It's when transferring to secondary fermentation you don't want to aerate isn't it. Do I need to take corrective steps? It didn't all make it down the side, some was dribbled in from that height

Cheers, Fergus

[Eadweard]

It is good to aerate your wort before pitching to help the yeast grow. But having said that the manufacturers of dried yeasts claim it's not necessary as their yeasts are in such good nick from how they've grown them that they don't need it.

[Spud395]

If the ferment still has not started, I'd take it that the yeast is still multipling and would only benifit from more oxygen!

[goosegog]

What shall I do?