Build Idea

[dshar]

So I'm thinking of upgrading from my current set up which consists of an 18l stock pot which i use for both mashing (biab with blankets / sleeping bag insulation) and for boiling. Then siphon into a glass carboy FV.

Was looking at the ss brew tech conical bottom steel brew bucket and thought about using it as a one vessel system by putting in a heating element/thermometer/sight glass, mashing in the bucket (biab) with blankets etc as insulation, then boil with hops etc, put the copper coil cooler in to cool to room temperature, aerate (not sure how exactly), pitch yeast and your done. Use the tap to bottle when ready.

Is there any reason this wouldn't work? Seems to me it would cut down on a lot of sanitising since the boil would achieve this already. No siphoning, no bottling buckets, additional vessels etc. brew days could be quicker with less bits to clean.

Any thoughts appreciated,

Cheers

http://www.ssbrewtech.com/products/brewbucket

[Fil]

What sort of volume do u want to brew its a US brewsite so 6.95 US gallons = 26l
and change not 31l if 6.95 real gallons

[dshar]

My current fv is 23l, so 26l would be an improvement, wouldn't need to up size any more than that. Is my suggestion utter bonkers??

[Fil]

wouldnt say bonkers, but after some of the things ive started building if i did it wouldnt be very valid..

but if the volume is fine for u why not.. its not the cheapest option and i feel duty bound to point out a 40l buffalo boiler would be cheaper as a base vessel, and its got an element already fitted and an extra 14l capacity



fermenting in the boil kettle tho? then again if u bag or cage hops and pull them without debris then the trub in the kettle will be break material and when worried about that in my FV a wiser brewer than me told me not to fear break material in the fv it can supply nutrients and raw materials to the yeast??

Will the conical trap and reach of the racking arm cater for full break trub in the fv, but even if u cover the racking arm with trub and yeast you can always syphon out the finished beer..

any element exposed to calcium in the water will get a coating of stone if not cleaned straight after the boil when softer and removable with a kitchen scrubby.

Also what do u do when you want to brew and your kit is full of fermenting beer?

Perhaps fermenting in a plastic bucket isnt that big a deal

but other than that it should make a grand mid volume single vessel biab solution. please post pics n details if u go ahead..

[dshar]

Thanks for the feedback Fil. Ye- the only bit i was concerned about was having the heating element in the fv and you confirmed that. Suppose it would either reduce the life of the element if i cant get the stone off it..
Will have a look at the buffalo too, what i like about this one was the conical bottom tho.. Volumen wise i dont really need much more and also i tend to do one beer at a time so having the boiler/fv full shouldnt be a problem. still considering my options with the set up but will certainly post up if i go thru with it.
Cheers

[dshar]

So i gave up on this idea for a while and instead tried to use my glass acid carbuoy into a conical by turning it upside down. Unfortunately it cracked before i got to use it (luckily withhout taking my arm off!).

So back to the brew bucket, im now a proud owner and want to turn it into the one vessel system described above.
To avoid having the heating element in the fv the whole time, i thought to put in a vertical element and remove it before sealing the vessel for fermentation (maybe by having it in a spare steel lid...). Any problem with having a few inches of the element not immersed??? Dont think it will be a problem but thought id better check with the collective knowledge..

I also read that the max temp of an immersion heater should be 60-70c. Can it still be used to boil with no problems?

On another note, with leaving the break material in the fv, any other views on that? Good , bad, no difference?

Cheers all

[Belter]

26L is final volume right? Are you allowing for boil off, losses to hops/grain etc. is your final volume not going to be like 15L? I guess you'd have to mash big then liquor back?

[dshar]

Yeah, thats the idea, 'mash big' and dilute with sparge and extra water. I use a 18l stockpot at the moment and do the same, seems to work ok...

[dshar]

Any thoughts on the vertical immersion element, max temp and break material in FV guys? Would like to get started with the build this weekend. Cheers