Small batch system

[Kev888]

I'm going to be making a modest system for small batches, partly for testing things and partly for fitting in unplanned brews (without having to empty the kitchen for the big system). My chosen volume is around 10L, since this seems a compact size yet enough to sensibly split (e.g. into 2x 5L for testing different yeast or hops), and also enough to be worthwhile for just drinking.

It will be slow progress, but I won a used Burco Cygnet so thought I'd start a thread. I'd initially intended a stock pot, but my kitchen hob isn't good enough, and by the time a quality element (or induction hob) were added the total cost would be in the same ball-park as a 2nd hand boiler:


In the future, this could be converted to a mini-grainfather style thing, but for now the plan is for simple full-volume BIAB. With relatively little wort to show for a brew, I want it to be as quick and convenient as possible.


TBH things have got off to a slightly unexpected start. I estimated a kettle/pot of about 23L would be right (the 10L target is kegged, there will be a little more wort in the FV). This one was advertised as 27L so a little generous, but beggars and choosers and all that. It transpires the total is actually about 30L, so getting quite a bit bigger than really wanted. However I'm not unhappy, it is in superb condition and the footprint is still quite small so not much lost, plus it is more more flexible; it should just about manage 20L in a sparged process should I ever want.

The first step will be to replace most of the wiring and remove the controls, to avoid it cutting out with wort. I shall need to think about insulating it during the mash and decide what to do WRT hop filters and taps etc- so as not to interfere should I later want to add a grain pipe instead of a bag. I'm also not sure if the power would be excessive for the boil; the kitchen wallpaper doesn't need steaming off, so some testing may be needed there.

[Paddington]

Kev, I appreciate what you say about your hob, but I have a really simple 10l set up based around two 14l stockpots. One is insulated with camping mat and I added a simple a ball tap (isolation valve). That is my MT. I use a bag to act as filter, batch sparge, then empty the grain bag and the MT is easy to clean out. The second stockpot is completely untouched and works OK on my oven top. I then just empty it through a colander at the end of the boil into the FV.

Really simple and works great.

[Kev888]

Yes, always other possibilities and it is good to point that out, so thanks. This has simply been my choice, according to my own circumstances.

You can possibly see my current flat's hob peeking into view in the first picture; it is on a cooker from probably the 60s/70s that was compact and low power even for the time. If I had a better one then a pot or pots would have been a very sensible option. Probably better in fact, since they could be sat directly in the sink for cooling; I will need to transfer to another pot or the FV beforehand.

[Paddington]

Wow, I see what you mean. That ring makes me quite nostalgic! That oven might be worth a few bob... I love doing small brews, it's massively less stressful.

[aamcle]

A BIAB bag makes a fine hop spider, if you leave the tea tray/false bottom/bag support in during the boil you won't burn the bag.

At the end of the boil just lift out the bag let it drain a bit and your good to go without.an hop bits getting into the rest of the system.

I used an old sleeping bag as insulation when I had a Burco that size.


Atb. Aamcle

[Kev888]

Thinking along similar lines, thanks! I'm quite keen on a duvet (or sleeping bag or similar) since it could be pack inside when storing.

Ditto for the mesh bag, though for hops I'll likely want to do some testing too. I've always liked whole hops to be loose, to form their filter bed after the boil - that may still work with a large enough bag, but there might also be a fair bit of hot break escaping below it; not sure.

[Kev888]

Knowing that this has the potential to be a pot-in-pot system, I started keeping an eye open for a cheap inner vessel to come up; against all odds, I got this bit of 10" diameter flue pipe almost immediately:


Its taller than the kettle, so can be trimmed to whatever length I need:


It would ideally be a tad larger diameter, but there isn't too much space outside it:


So think I shall now just make a grain pipe instead of going through a grain bag stage. Possibly still just used for a simple infusion initially, but with recirculation in the future.

This has also got me thinking: I had intended to make a heated, pumped underback to add occasional RIMS to my bigger system. But I've realised that with a tiny bit of creative design, his boiler could double up for doing that as well. It means I can then use the parts (pump, PID etc) that I'd already put by for the underback, and so end up with a vaguely grainfather type of system yet still keep spending very minimal.