20gal, new rig batch

[Libertytree]

We've got a new batch on the barbie! g'day Glass

Doing the 1st batch using the upgrades. It's a lil more work in the set up but overall it's pretty stress free. This is a new deal so I'm investing more time getting familiar with things but this is THE way to go, at least for volume brewing.

I'll post more specifics later but here's the new brew kitchen.

Attachment 5916

Now, to the brew.

put 13gals water in fermenter.
7.5gals boiling in cookpot.
12 lbs Pilsner LME
3.3 lbs Light LME
3.3 lbs Wheat LME
4oz's Columbus hops @ 60mins
4oz's Northern Brewer hops @ 20mins
10lbs sugar
90 grams Coopers Ale yeast

SG Hydrometer reading of 1.038, adjusted for 79 degrees temp.

[Glass]

looks good. Pleased to see the cook pot and burner setup. Did the burner come with that stand? I was contemplating if my car really needs to be in the garage or whether I should turn it into a brewery. Is the tub for chilling?

Nice one

[Libertytree]

looks good. Pleased to see the cook pot and burner setup. Did the burner come with that stand? I was contemplating if my car really needs to be in the garage or whether I should turn it into a brewery. Is the tub for chilling?

Nice one

Yeah, the burner, stand, the propane hose and regulator all come together., you just supply the propane. The tub is for chilling, water and frozen bottles are added together to get the temps down asap.

Thanks man. If it were my choice there would never be a car in the garage.

[Libertytree]

This is challenging, much more than I thought beforehand. Boiling and cooling 7.5 gals of liquid is a formidable task! The cold water that WAS in my tub could cook shrimp! I was going to get some ice but that would have been a waste of money. I'll let is cool and then throw in some ice packs so that it is handle-able, in 3gal portions.

[Glass]

I ended up having 2 x 10L (2.5Gal) buckets on stand by with some frozen bottles chilling water in them. I really needed about 20 gal of cold water. That was in addition to what was in the trough I sat it in. Most of the cooling came from adding the water to the heated wort than the surrounding water IMO.

I guess you're in a different boat because you can't add cold water directly in to the batch - at this stage - like you can with the kit. Would that be right?

[BrewTech]

This is challenging, much more than I thought beforehand. Boiling and cooling 7.5 gals of liquid is a formidable task! The cold water that WAS in my tub could cook shrimp! I was going to get some ice but that would have been a waste of money. I'll let is cool and then throw in some ice packs so that it is handle-able, in 3gal portions.

Don't wanna say I told ya so...



so I won't!

[Libertytree]

Don't wanna say I told ya so...



so I won't!

Like I said, little steps at a time. Cooling 2.5 gals is a LOT different than cooling 7.5 gals, I knew that going into this but it's more than what I thought and can afford, so i'm winging it. Every brew has its wacky, unforeseen moments but mine seem to push the limits of brewing and that's a good thing because if a fuck up like me can do it then anyone can

[Libertytree]

I ended up having 2 x 10L (2.5Gal) buckets on stand by with some frozen bottles chilling water in them. I really needed about 20 gal of cold water. That was in addition to what was in the trough I sat it in. Most of the cooling came from adding the water to the heated wort than the surrounding water IMO.

I guess you're in a different boat because you can't add cold water directly in to the batch - at this stage - like you can with the kit. Would that be right?

No, can't add cold water, wish I could but you've given me an idea! Maybe I can figure out how I could put bags of ice in the fermentor? I'll have to get a bag of ice and let it melt in my measured bucket, seeing how much cold water it yields.

[Libertytree]

Don't wanna say I told ya so...



so I won't!

There is definetly a wort chiller in my near future!

[BrewTech]

No, can't add cold water, wish I could but you've given me an idea! Maybe I can figure out how I could put bags of ice in the fermentor? I'll have to get a bag of ice and let it melt in my measured bucket, seeing how much cold water it yields.

Don't do that. Sounds like an excellent way to ruin all your hard work and patience.