Blichmann BrewEasy

[GuingesRock]

Now out, electric version with controller. This version does a 20 gal batch: http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Blichman ... ull-20.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Also gas version and other sizes: http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/BLICHMAN ... _s/222.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is what you need Keith for your big batches.

Interesting toy.

[jacinthebox]

Wow thats a heavy price...

[Keith]

That it is. But worth it?

[jacinthebox]

Worth is a personal thing. ..thats just alot of cash...

[Keith]

Yep. That it is. Can you even ferment in it?

[GuingesRock]

Yep. That it is. Can you even ferment in it?

Yes, you can ferment in anything. That's what I would do if I had one of those. Would need a built in immersion chiller which would double as a fermentation temp controller IMO.

[Keith]

yea, I like your built in immersion chiller. however I think I could get a much nicer system than that for the price they are asking.

[GuingesRock]

I was thinking about this for the Wayfarers as a pilot system. It looks great, but I think it would be better to just get a 55 gal Blichmann pot and a 30 gallon pot, and have them side by side instead of on top of each other. Both would have electric elements and would get one tower of power controller to control both. The new simple tower of power looks excellent, you can actually dial down the heat output of the elements with that, rather than just the temperature so you can boil as fast or as slow as you like (you can't do that on a Braumeister for example). With that setup you could knock out 20 gal batches no problem.

What I don't like about the BrewEasy idea is there are too many potential problems I think with re-circulating, including stuck sparges, having to readjust the float, getting the flow rates right for the pump and the drain. It would be a headache. I'd much rather heat the water in a 55 gal mash pot to strike temp, stir in the grain, give it an occasional stir then after 60 - 90 minutes pump the wort across to the 30 Blichmann pot for the boil.

As you say Keith, the pots don't have to be Blichmann. I really like the controller though, and Blichmann pots are really nice. Comparable setups are a lot more. I think BrewMAgic would end up costing around $8,000 - $10,000 with shipping and import and there's nothing special about it as far as I can make out. Seems like three keggles on a stand hooked up to a computer.

Anyone know any good pilot systems or mini-commercial systems that can make 40 or more gallons at a time?

[RubberToe]

Anyone know any good pilot systems or mini-commercial systems that can make 40 or more gallons at a time?

If I had that kind of money to throw around I'd build a custom system using Stout Tanks' gear. Actually I've been considdering this for a long time. For me I'd do a two vessel system using 25 or 30 gallon vessels but you could go bigger. I built my control panel and everything else myself. All I need to do is add a RIMS tube for the mash tun and maybe another PID. I think I could add the neccessary components to my own system for about $1500.

I love Stout's bottom drain mash tuns, they are sweet. Shane (Canuck) @ Hammond River Brewing has a setup like this I think.

[Jimmy]

So what is the benefit over a standard 2 vessel system? The only benefit I really see is that it's more compact. You're not saving on cleanup, your not saving on price, and I don't think you're really saving on brew time?

And I still can't understand why Blichmann continues to use weldless fittings on all of their equipment..

[GuingesRock]

I love Stout's bottom drain mash tuns, they are sweet. Shane (Canuck) @ Hammond River Brewing has a setup like this I think.

Nice stuff there: https://conical-fermenter.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks

[AllanMar]

And I still can't understand why Blichmann continues to use weldless fittings on all of their equipment..

^This
They've done such a good job convincing people that weldless is actually better though.....

I'm a big fan of the stout stuff, thats the way i'd go for that kind of money.

[GuingesRock]

One advantage of weldless is you can punch/drill as many holes as you like for as many fittings and modifications as you feel like doing. Also, on a kettle, weldless fittings like ball valves etc. are much closer to the pot, and more likely to be sanitized by the boil.

[Jimmy]

One advantage of weldless is you can punch/drill as many holes as you like for as many fittings and modifications as you feel like doing. Also, on a kettle, fittings like ball valves etc. are much closer to the pot, and more likely to be sanitized by the boil.

You can punch/drill holes for welded fittings as well - I had my original keggles punched and fittings welded where I wanted them (non triclover). It's not something the general homebrewer would be able to do on their own, but it's really not that expensive either.

As for sanitation, with a triclover fitting and proper valves, you don't have to worry about the boil sanitizing your valve - and ball valves will have shit in them no matter how much you clean them (unless you take them apart to clean each time).

I never realized how much of a benefit the triclover fittings, and easily disassembled valves were until I started using them. There's literally no "cleaning" required..I undo 2 triclover fittings on each valve (1 to remove from conical, and 1 to disassemble the valve), and throw it in a bucket of PBW, then transfer to a bucket of starsan. This process would be even easier if I had butterfly valves as they don't need to be disassembled. Because of this, I see the inside of every valve before it goes on the conical, and know that every inch of that valve has been in contact with starsan and is sanitized.

I'm not saying everyone needs triclover fittings - far from that. I just think that a company who specializes in brewing equipment would add welded triclover fittings to their equipment, especially given their pricing.

[mr x]

FWIW, the butterfly valves still have seals and areas where bad stuff can linger. There's not a valve on this planet that I would trust being sanitary without heat penetration.

I gotta get brewing, driving me crazy, and I still owe Leafman a keg of beer...

[Jimmy]

FWIW, the butterfly valves still have seals and areas where bad stuff can linger. There's not a valve on this planet that I would trust being sanitary without heat penetration.

I gotta get brewing, driving me crazy, and I still owe Leafman a keg of beer...

Agreed. I was speaking in terms of "trapped shit". There's a good chance that shit is built up inside a ball valve, no matter how much you run cleaner/boiling water through it. A butterfly at least has the surfaces exposed and are designed for CIP. FWIW, I generally recirculate my boiling wort through my valves during the brewing process.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[mr x]

Got any room out there for another Brewha system?

[Jimmy]

Got any room out there for another Brewha system?

Ha. I'm surprised Becky wasn't in here telling you to beat it already

[mr x]

pffffff, as long as I'm still breathing, there's a deal to be cut.

[GuingesRock]

A Brewnoser brewer I met at the university on Friday has his brewing setup in a shipping/trucking container 8' x 8' x 26'. I thought that was a great idea. Move house, or get kicked out by spouse for being obsessed with brewing/having drunken friends around too much etc., and take your brewery with you. They load on a tow truck. Might be a business idea ...turn key brewery dumped in your yard for 10 - 20 grand. You can pick them up for around $1,000. The refrigerated kind come insulated already but are more expensive.

modular commercial brewery even.

[RubberToe]

Shipping container, that's so awesome.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Had that thought myself many times, but it'd be too large a scale for me. Another thought was a bottling line in a container, bring it around to all the small micros/nanos in NB/NS to allow them to package.. Bring it around every 2-3 weeks or something, make a circuit of the maritimes.

[redoubt]

A Brewnoser brewer I met at the university on Friday has his brewing setup in a shipping/trucking container 8' x 8' x 26'. I thought that was a great idea. Move house, or get kicked out by spouse for being obsessed with brewing/having drunken friends around too much etc., and take your brewery with you. They load on a tow truck. Might be a business idea ...turn key brewery dumped in your yard for 10 - 20 grand. You can pick them up for around $1,000. The refrigerated kind come insulated already but are more expensive.

modular commercial brewery even.

Do you own the container for $1000, or is it like a rental thing? Why aren't we all using these as sheds/little garages/mancaves?

-Keely.

[RubberToe]

Had that thought myself many times, but it'd be too large a scale for me. Another thought was a bottling line in a container, bring it around to all the small micros/nanos in NB/NS to allow them to package.. Bring it around every 2-3 weeks or something, make a circuit of the maritimes.

I've had the same idea. It would make a cool little business.

[Jimmy]

You may be able to get a 20' container for $1000, but it would likely be pretty rough - the price for one in decent condition can be pretty reasonable though.

Don't forget about the cost of transport if looking to buy one of these.