What & Where - New SS Allgrain Set-up

[BritishBelgianTwst]

Alright, I’ve been absent for a long while from the forum and after hitting 40 earlier this year I’ve started to change the way I look at my life, work and pleasure.

After a very successful result in my first brewing competition (albeit after a disastrous brew day), I finished 6th in an All Belgium & Holland comp run by Brouwland, I’ve decided that I want to spend more time brewing with an idea of upping the production in the future and maybe making it something other than a hobby.

SO, as I’ve been brewing in plastic and after having screwed up my boiler I need to get a proper set-up set up!

I was initially looking towards a Braumeister to be able to control as many variables as possible and perfection a couple of recipes before going for a 500 litre brew using a local brewery’s equipment, but I’ve decided if I want to have something that will still allow me to grow then I need to go SS.

I’m thinking SS HLT, SS MT and SS Boiler.
Not too bothered about RIMS or HERMS – my beers are generally all single temp mashes.

So what do you guys think? I’m looking at a 98 litre boiler, 70 litre HLT & 70 litre thermo MT.

Where could I get ones that are already drilled, elements fitted, etc without breaking the bank but whilst retaining some quality.

Thanks for your advice and comments.
Oh and I’m happy to buy in the UK and then ship to Belgium or even drive over to pick up if I have to so any UK suppliers are good too.

Paul

[barneey]

https://homebrewshop.be/en/

[BenB]

Shouldn't the HLT be bigger than the boiler? I use a 50L hlt which often is a bit marginal but my 50l boiler is more than enough even putting the risk of boil overs into the equation.

[BritishBelgianTwst]

https://homebrewshop.be/en/

Thanks for the link. I was thinking of getting the Braumeister from them incidentally.
With regards to the SS stuff, well they are all set up for gas rather than electric and 625 EUR for the MT that I'd like is a little more than I was hoping.

[BritishBelgianTwst]

Shouldn't the HLT be bigger than the boiler? I use a 50L hlt which often is a bit marginal but my 50l boiler is more than enough even putting the risk of boil overs into the equation.

I would have thought otherwise - the HLT needs to heat the mashing water - that goes into the MT leaving the HLT empty.
Once the mash is finished, the sparge water that was in the HLT is then transfered to the MT so if anything I'd probably need a bigger MT.
The wort is then transfered to the boiler - that includes the initial mashing water & sparging water less the absorbed stuff.

I've only brewed using my boiler as an HLT in the past so can't say for sure but would like a dedicated HLT now.

[Fastline]

There is less mucking about if the HLT is capable of holding the Mash volume and the sparge volume, more important with large volumes using electricity to heat,
small commercial brewers will rig up time clocks so the HLT has had time before they start to get up to temperature. so one less thing to wait for.

The mash tun doesn't hold complete mash volume and sparge water. The usual method with 3 vessel brewing is the Sparge water is added as the mash water is transferred to a lauter tun or straight to the Boiler.

I would expect the HLT to match the Boiler volume or there abouts.

Smaller batches would give you a quicker learner curve, unless you intend giving most of your beer away.

[Fastline]

Really what is going to size the kit is what is the typical batch size you would want to be making

[BritishBelgianTwst]

There is less mucking about if the HLT is capable of holding the Mash volume and the sparge volume, more important with large volumes using electricity to heat,
small commercial brewers will rig up time clocks so the HLT has had time before they start to get up to temperature. so one less thing to wait for.

The mash tun doesn't hold complete mash volume and sparge water. The usual method with 3 vessel brewing is the Sparge water is added as the mash water is transferred to a lauter tun or straight to the Boiler.

I would expect the HLT to match the Boiler volume or there abouts.

Smaller batches would give you a quicker learner curve, unless you intend giving most of your beer away.

Ok so same size HLT and Boiler and slightly smaller mash tun. Sounds good.
I'll be brewing with my brewers apprentice, a mate that has breewed with me once or twice and wants to get involved too so I reckon 50 litres will be the target volume.

[simon12]

UK suppliers that can do what you want include Angel home brew, Powell brewing and brewbuilder

[Jocky]

Personally I'd always go for a mash tun as the bigger vessel for when you want to do bigger beers.

[BritishBelgianTwst]

UK suppliers that can do what you want include Angel home brew, Powell brewing and brewbuilder

Super, thanks

[Fil]

Fwiw drilling and punching out valve and element holes in SS stock pots and thermopots, is not difficult, a dab of cutting grease at the drill point lets you do the job with cheap HSS jobber bits, and dinging, or even puncturing the skin with a sharp punch to mark and centre the drill point helps no end.

the cheapest pots are from the continent via an ebay.fr German seller, email them for prices delivered to you.
catering-portal.bergland@msg.afterbuy.de

[simon12]

If you decide to drill them yourself these guys in Italy do a cheap range of quality stanless vessels including with coned bottom for no dead space http://www.en.sansonestore.com/product/ ... ed-finish/ the bottoms are not thick enough to use on gas.

[sbond10]

Powell brewing do complete brew set ups to your specs with or without burners. But they offer an off the shelf 100 litre system if that's what your after

Another is bridgewater brewing

[orlando]

There is less mucking about if the HLT is capable of holding the Mash volume and the sparge volume,

True, but what if you want to brew a Stout? These require liquour alkalinity at different amounts for best results.

You can brew 50 litres of average strength beer using a 50l MT, 70l HLT and a 70l kettle. A 50l RIS is more of a stretch but then would you really want that much, bigger strength beers you might make do with 25l? I've lost count of how many people there has been on here that regret a 100l set up and end up downsizing. Brewbuilder is a good shout for supplying your needs.