Newbies micro brewery

[Killick Greenie]

Hi Folks, having brewed a couple of kits I have now succumbed to the dark side. I've started putting together my first attempt at a brewerey (25 ltrs). I have had loads of great advice from this forum so thanks to you all and in particular Unclepumble. Here's some pics, don't hold back on the suggestions or criticism, I'm really interested in learning how to do this so any advice gratefully received.

Assuming I've got the phot bucket working this next picture shows the frame

Burco (sorry, HLT) with thermometer, I need to calibrate this apparently

This pump came from a guy called Norm on the tinternet

The essex fitting nearly drove me to insanity when trying to stop the leak, a large spanner and some swearing did the trick

I'm thinking this will do for a sparger, but I'm open to suggestions

And finally... here's my pride and joy, nearly finished and I can't wait to flash it up and have a go

:

 

[prolix]

very nice indeed : :thumb: :clap:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Nice build, looks great...Good luck with your maiden brew! :thumb:

BB

 

[evanvine]

Doesn't look like you need a deal of help, well done!

 

[snail59]

Nice Build. Puts my hummble efforts to shame

 

[unclepumble]

I have had loads of great advice from this forum so thanks to you all and in particular Unclepumble.

Thanks for the heads up glad to be of service.

Looks good to me so far well thought out frame and build.

Your sparger looks good for the job, however you may want to put a balance valve in between the inlet and outlet pipes of your pump, so you can control the outlet flow from the pump to the sparge manifold more accurately, (the pump will growl less when restricted if you do that, I take it you already know that you only ever restrict the outlet pipework of a pump to control flow) you would probably be also better with a H shape manifold which fits inside, the top of the mash tun, with 4x45degree 15mm fittings on the end, that way if you decide to recirculate the mash in a rims or herms type system in the future, you have a mash return manifold already made.

Now you also have me a bit jelous with the mashmaster thermometers me want one :)

UP

 

[Mr_Zee]

Good work that man!!!

I am very impressed, this is exactly the system I am looking to build this year. So far I have the Igloo drink container and an old keg and I'm working on the rest.

Question 1. What is your make of pump?

Question 2. Is there any chance you could share the dimensions of your framework? This is the next stage of my build and it looks perfect.

Question 3. Have you brewed with it yet?

Regards.

 

[Vossy1]

Looking good KG :clap:

Question 1. What is your make of pump?

It's the same as this one, be quick if you want one they're seriously cheap

 

[Cussword]

:thumb: That looks really great :drink:

 

[Killick Greenie]

very nice indeed : :thumb: :clap:

Thank you, I wish I could claim it as my idea, the original thinking was on having a bacon butty whilst figuring out the frame size :geek:

 

[Killick Greenie]

Nice build, looks great...Good luck with your maiden brew! :thumb:

BB

Thanks, I'm still undecided on what the maiden brew should be, any suggestions?

 

[Killick Greenie]

I have had loads of great advice from this forum so thanks to you all and in particular Unclepumble.

Thanks for the heads up glad to be of service.

Looks good to me so far well thought out frame and build.

Your sparger looks good for the job, however you may want to put a balance valve in between the inlet and outlet pipes of your pump, so you can control the outlet flow from the pump to the sparge manifold more accurately, (the pump will growl less when restricted if you do that, I take it you already know that you only ever restrict the outlet pipework of a pump to control flow) you would probably be also better with a H shape manifold which fits inside, the top of the mash tun, with 4x45degree 15mm fittings on the end, that way if you decide to recirculate the mash in a rims or herms type system in the future, you have a mash return manifold already made.

Now you also have me a bit jelous with the mashmaster thermometers me want one :)



UP

I have a valve on the outlet of the HLT which then allows gravity feed into the pump, there is a valve on the outlet of the pump which I was thinking would be ok to control output into the mash tun or for sparging, but it sounds like you are proposing an even more cunning device which is going to keep my border collies from growling back at the pump. Daft question, but which path must I follow to find the balance valve? I like the idea of the H shape, this one is a bit unwieldy and I've got visions of it hovering, is there a link to some pics on the forum I can follow? HERMs, to me at this point in my brewing career is probably on the outer limits of the solar system. I'll be very happy to extract enough out of the grain to afford me a decent pint for starters. That being said I was brewing kits a couple of months ago and somehow I've ended up here :!:

 

[Mephistopholes]

Looks like a great setup and something that could be quite easy to transfer to herms without too much more investment.

just wondering. i take it the burco on the left is te HLT and the orange thermo is the mash. why do you need to pump water from the hlt back into the hlt. i could understand it going direct to the MT but i guess i'm missing something.

Kudos on the thermometer as well :mrgreen:

 

[Killick Greenie]

Good work that man!!!

I am very impressed, this is exactly the system I am looking to build this year. So far I have the Igloo drink container and an old keg and I'm working on the rest.

Question 1. What is your make of pump?

Question 2. Is there any chance you could share the dimensions of your framework? This is the next stage of my build and it looks perfect.

Question 3. Have you brewed with it yet?

Regards.

Thanks

1. Totton and Vossy1's link will take you to one that that is a lot cheaper than I paid (£55)

2. I will share the details with you no problem. Basically I started out on the floor with the FV and worked my way up to a comfortable working height. I've still got to fit some castors on the frame which will raise it by another 10cm and thereby place those lovely shiny dials at a suitably gucci level.

3. I haven't brewed yet, my cunning plan is to calibrate the thermometer and do a leak test, I've also got to mod the boiler in order to by pass the thermostat otherwise I dont think its going to produce a rolling boil. Nobody would want to do this of course, because its flippin dangerous and elf n safety rules would preclude any larking about with electrickery unless you got some council clerk in who'd carried out a two week course on wiggly amps to sign it off in triplicate whilst proffering a bill for two hundred quid; and no doubt a plague of locusts will eat all me brassicas before the white fly do, if I did actually do it. I would not recommend it because it has really bad ju ju and bad things may accrue. That should be a suitable caveat regarding the modification of boilers

If you pm me I'll rough up the measurements for you, it's mainly 25mm box section 2mm thick and mig welded.
:

 

[Killick Greenie]

Looks like a great setup and something that could be quite easy to transfer to herms without too much more investment.

just wondering. i take it the burco on the left is te HLT and the orange thermo is the mash. why do you need to pump water from the hlt back into the hlt. i could understand it going direct to the MT but i guess i'm missing something.

Kudos on the thermometer as well :mrgreen:

Thanks

The output of the pump will end up in the MT and the Burco on the left is the HLT. I basically brought the pipe from the pump outlet up to a nice working height where I could operate the valve. I have a standard diswasher connector on the top of the outlet and I am planning to use flexible SS hose to connect to the sparger and a simple end for filling the MT. I had thought of splitting the pipe in order to have the two separate but a pint of St Peter's was calling! I might end up doing that if changing the ends becomes a pain.

 

[unclepumble]

I think what they were getting at is that if you had put the HLT higher up than the MT you could have used gravity, the pump is only really a benefit when you want a single tier system, or if you are recirculating the mash.
k.

Recircing the mash is much easier than you think, you have done most of the hard work.

UP

 

[Killick Greenie]

I think what they were getting at is that if you had put the HLT higher up than the MT you could have used gravity, the pump is only really a benefit when you want a single tier system, or if you are recirculating the mash.
k.

Recircing the mash is much easier than you think, you have done most of the hard work.

UP

Ahh, right. I did consider building it higher in order to use gravity but having a low slung center of gravity (being a short a**) and 25 ltr of hot water above me made me realise that I could use both reasons, to justify buying the pump, with the local chancellor of the exchequer The added benefit is that should I figure out the whole recirculation thing I can build on this system :whistle: But you are right, it would have been far easier and cost effective to use good old gravity.

 

[Lurch]

balance valve

Recommend such a beast squire?

 

[Vossy1]

Looking good K G :thumb:

 

[unclepumble]

balance valve

Recommend such a beast squire?

I am assuming you are asking what to use as one?

Therefore a balance valve is a gate valve of the same bore as the pipework you are using, This is fitted between the suction and delivery side of the pump, but before the restriction valve on the delivery side of the pump, therefore if you are restricting the delivery enough to make the pump noisy, if you open the balance valve a little the liquid will recirculate around the pump rather than straining the motor Simples!

& it looks like this setup

UP