Moving from three vessels to one

[dean_wales]

Hi guys,

I know that you all have experience using systems such as Speidels Braumeister, the Grainfather and such, or even building your own versions like Baarney's bread maker!

I am seriously considering ditching my 50L/50L/100L three vessel keg based system as I am finding that a 25L or 50L batch lasts me so long these days that I'm annoyed by the huge amount of gear and/or it is overkill. I am enticed by the idea of having just one, self contained vessel that is possibly partially automated.

I suppose what I need to know is:
- Should I be doing this?!
- What are the batch sizes achievable in these systems... I'd like the ability to do both 25L and 50L even though 50L batches are rare occurrences.
- Should I buy or make? I am handy with the brewery DIY but don't mind a ready made solution.
- What, if any, are the drawbacks to brewing in this way? Full volume mashes etc.

Thanks,

Dean.

[Matt12398]

The answer to your first question is yes. Now stop asking questions and go and buy one.

[themadhippy]

use one of the 50l kegs for your grain bag inside the 100ll boiler add a pump and a modified stc 1000 or something aurdino,job done

[dean_wales]

Thanks guys. Although the single vessel concept is appealing I am sure there must be downsides otherwise we wouldn't all be filling our sheds with faffy three (or more!) vessel systems!? The mash itself if quite different to the traditional way.

@themadhippy - I hadnt thought of that. I would have most, if not all of the bits required to do such a build. I have almost no idea how these systems work and/or where to start of designing one, so would be apprehensive about having a go unless I was fairly sure it would work. I can't find links to any other similar projects.

Dean.

[Mr. Dripping]

Some of my thoughts after purchasing a 20L Braumeister recently.
Small footprint is excellent, only one vessel to carry from the shed, cleaning is a breeze, I can get on with other stuff without having to watch it too closely, repeatable and more consistent brews (hopefully), fits in with my family and home better, smaller brew volumes which will hopefully mean I brew more variety a little more regularly.
All in all I am very happy.
What I don't like........I am having problems hitting my desired brewlength and gravity. Hopefully I can iron this out with a bit more use as I've only done 2 brews so far.
Limited on max volume and wort strength, but there are ways round this.

[Aleman]

I've actually done exactly what you have proposed. In my case I've scaled back to a 20L Braumeister. I still have reservations however, but I would much rather be brewing beer that looking at my breweries and getting fecking annoyed at all that kit sat there and I'm not able to use it.

Downsides, You have to be creative to brew strong beers . . . perhaps not so creative with a 50L Braumeister. . . but then that's a much heavier unit to be throwing about to clean etc.

I still think 3V will ultimately produce a better quality wort . . . but for regular drinking beers are you going to notice??

Just remember if you are going down the build yourself a 1V system, you want a minimal amount of space around the side and underneath the inner pot,

P.S. What Mr Dripping Said

[dean_wales]

Thanks Aleman,

In all honesty I tend to brew few classic English ales. I always need one on hand but do enjoy more the experimentation and great savings V supermarket prices of brewing strong belgian ales, farmhouse ales with a high % of unmalted grains, outrageous hoppy american beers and all sorts of odd fruit beers. Are these reasons not to go down this route or are they instead factors I just need to consider when looking for a unit to buy or build.

It seems at least like you guys are suggesting a 50L unit would be needed?

For reference if I took the suggestion above I would be putting one of these (albeit with handles/rims probably ground off):

Inside one of these, which already has 2x3Kw elements in the base:


How on earth you go about the rest of the build I have no idea!

Dean.

[aamcle]

This might be of intererst http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/83760 ... n-upgrade/


Atb. Aamcle

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Thanks guys. Although the single vessel concept is appealing I am sure there must be downsides otherwise we wouldn't all be filling our sheds with faffy three (or more!) vessel systems!? The mash itself if quite different to the traditional way.

Dean.

The BIAB brewers have had a lot of stigma thrown against them for using inferior or cheaper equipment/setups.

There are some differences, but at its core 3v systems is large brewing scaled down, and single vessel systems, including Biab is brewing deconstructed.

Try using your kettle with a large voile sheet and mash and boil in it. See how you get on.

[Matt12398]

Unless I'm missing something, my 50 litre BM has the same issues to overcome as the 20 litre one as its all a scaling factor.

There are limitations to these systems but they are outweighed by the positives of owning one. I bought the 50 litre from advice of others but for me if I was doing it again I think the 20 litre would have been better because it is a lump to move about for cleaning.

[alexlark]

I'm quite happy doing 20l BIAB batches in my 33l pot. Any bigger and i get fed up with the same beer. Plus sides are the equipment is cheap as! And absolutely minimal clean up after a brew!

[aamcle]

I'm BIABing happily with a 40 litre Buffalo (with 2 elements), recirculating with a cheap pump to control temperature and alow step mashing.
I'm fortunate that I can have a permanent location in the garage, so I have a hoist for the bag it's so easy!
Sadly no running water or drainage.


Atb. Aamcle

[Kyle_T]

As a recent recipient of a Braumeister, it has been the best investment I have made for brewing. Yes it is a glorified BIAB system but the workmanship is much better than my DIY skills will equate to and cleaning it is a doddle! People have a variety of ways for doing high gravity beers and other things like sparging/no sparging.

My favourite part is the mash profiles, being able to set up to 10 and save them for future means I can lay out all my most common mash steps and just select which one I want for that brew and put it into automatic brewing. Job done I can go and do something else before the mash ends.

Brilliant.