some recommendations for my ag setup

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:34 pm

Im in mid build of my ag setup and im looking for a few recommendations for my latest order.
A run down of my plans before the questions

50l stainless hlt, twin 2.4kw elements, 3 piece tap,thermometer, sight glass
38.5l thermos pot mash tun converted to bottom drain, false bottom, 3 piece tap kit, thermometer
50l stianless boiler, Twin elements, 3 Piece tap, some kind of hop strainer (recommendations )

a stainless conical for fermenting
Some kind of getting system (most likely crusader kegs)

Im not looking for the cheapest kit im looking to make the best quality beer i can and for the kit to last.

Now to the questions:
1) I can get both regular and stainless kettle elements, the stainless are twice the price of the standard is it worth the outlay or not ?
2) Im wondering if my mash tun will be big enough, Although most beers i want to brew will be 4-6% there will be the occasional stronger brew. Will this size mash have the capacity to do a 5gal 10% beer ?
3) Ive seen a few sparging hoses recently, has anyone tryed one or should i stick to the normal spare arm method ?

http://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/en/sparg ... -hose.html

Thats all for the moment but im sure i`l think of some more

gobuchul · Post by **gobuchul** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:46 pm

My old mash tun was 30 litre capacity and it could take about 9kg of grain. It was pretty full though! So you should be alright with 9 - 10kg in 38 litres.

Can't help with your other queries, sorry.

Jocky · Post by **Jocky** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:47 pm

Assuming 70% brewhouse efficiency (not mash efficiency - this is the whole end to end process) and an average mash thickness (2.5l/kg) I think you would get 23 litres of 1.090 beer out of that, with about 3-4 litres spare space for stirring.

Using a thicker mash should mean you'd be able to get up to closer to 1.100, but it will be tight. Of course you might not want to drink 23 litres of 10% beer, so dropping down to say 18 litres also helps.

Jocky · Post by **Jocky** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:49 pm

I should add - if you are going to have a false bottom in your mash tun, that will also take up a few litres of space.

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 4:14 pm

With a bottom drain and domed false bottom surely there's next to no dead space ?

Copperbucket · Post by **Copperbucket** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 4:50 pm

I had a google around and developed a home made copper pipe sparge system, which beats my other (bought) sparge arm hands down in my opinion.
It's more efficient, spreads evenly and It works out cheaper than the sparge arm. I think it looks quite pretty too.

Picture:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ABellamySh ... 2698332944

Hogarth · Post by **Hogarth** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:09 pm

Secia, what size batches are you planning to do in general? If five gallons, your equipment is a bit on the large size, and if ten gallons, it's too small.

Jocky · Post by **Jocky** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:45 pm

Secla wrote:With a bottom drain and domed false bottom surely there's next to no dead space ?

Minimal dead space but it will make your mash sit higher.

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:02 pm

Hogarth wrote:Secia, what size batches are you planning to do in general? If five gallons, your equipment is a bit on the large size, and if ten gallons, it's too small.

5 gallon
What part do you think is to large ?
Allowing for grain absorption/dead space/boil off 50l hlt seems about right giving a bit of headspace

Only thing that maybe slightly over maybe the boiler ?

Hogarth · Post by **Hogarth** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:13 pm

Secla wrote:
Hogarth wrote:Secia, what size batches are you planning to do in general? If five gallons, your equipment is a bit on the large size, and if ten gallons, it's too small.
5 gallon
What part do you think is to large ?
Allowing for grain absorption/dead space/boil off 50l hlt seems about right giving a bit of headspace

Only thing that maybe slightly over maybe the boiler ?

Yeah, the boiler's a bit big. Doesn't matter, of course, it's just more to wash. (I like a smaller boiler so I can put it into the sink.) As for the HLT, remember you don't need 50 litres all at once. You can heat up the mash water first, and then heat up the sparge water during the mash. I use a 25 litre HLT for a 5-gallon brew.

None of this matters though, unless space or cost are issues. Good luck with the build!

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:31 pm

So should I increase to a 50l mash ?
Price is negligible

DethApostle · Post by **DethApostle** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 1:52 pm

I have a MT that size and use 40l Buffalo's as HLT and Copper.
The only time I ever filled the MT was brewing a Russian Imperial Stout, and in hindsight I should have just brewed a smaller batch and not stuck to 23l as standard! For the vast majority of the brews there is no issue with space in the MT even with the false bottom in place.
My upgrades will be 50l HLT/Copper's because ultimately I only want a small increase in volume so I get a full corny and 12 bottles out of a brew!

Anyhoo... a 50l MT will be way to big for a 50l HLT/Copper in my opinion. I'd only buy this if you plan/suspect you are going to increase your HLT and Copper in the future.

DA

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:53 pm

So my initial 50/38/50 should work out fine then

When it comes to sparging, what's the best method without having the hlt above head height to gravity feed it ?

DethApostle · Post by **DethApostle** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 6:27 pm

I batch sparge with a bucket (until I get a new hlt with a sight glass and another pump!)

DA

Secla · Post by **Secla** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:02 pm

Would a pump not create to much pressure to sparge with ?

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