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-MG- · Post by **-MG-** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:57 am

Hi All,

I have been brewing for a few years now mostly with extract kits. I decided as a xmas gift to myself (with approval of wife), to build a brewery in my basement very similar to what Kal has at theelectricbrewery website . In fact, I'm almost following his guidelines precisely.

I've just started with the kettles and heat elements and working on some dry wall in the room as well as my ventilation!

It's quite the project, but very enjoyable and should turn out great! I look forward to getting involved with the club more and learning from everyone.

Martin Golobic

Steven P · Post by **Steven P** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:02 am

Hello Martin,

Thanks for posting and welcome. I hope to see you at the next meeting!

Steven Prochaska

tompb · Post by **tompb** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:44 am

Welcome to the forum Martin. It sounds like quite a fun and ambitious project. Hope to meet you at some of the meetings.

-MG- · Post by **-MG-** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:14 am

Thanks!

Just curious, anyone have any luck with acquiring used Sanke 1/2 BBL kegs in the area or have a source?

DrPaulsen · Post by **DrPaulsen** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:25 am

Marion Iron.

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rl ... d=0CAkQ_BI

I bought 2 of my 3 kegs there (MLT & HLT) and have had good luck. If you call ahead, they might set one aside for you. Plan to bring cash.

Here's a shot of the most recent incarnation of my electric brewery. You can't see the kegs real well because of the insulation, so I guess you'll have to trust me that they're in good shape.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33275630@N ... 123075865/

Have you brewed with electricity before?

Matt F · Post by **Matt F** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:28 am

Welcome and hope to meet you at an upcoming meeting.

DrPaulsen is the man when it comes to electric brewing. I believe he has a Phd in Electrical Engineering. He know his stuff and then some. Makes good beer too.

I have an electric HLT and used a weldless fitting for the element. Works great and makes for a great HERMS setup.

hoboscratch · Post by **hoboscratch** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:53 am

I got a keg from there this summer for a scant 40 or 45 bucks.

On Dec 23, 2011, at 11:25 AM, DrPaulsen <brew-meetings@crbeernuts.org (brew-meetings@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

Marion Iron.

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=marion+iron&fb=1&gl=us&hq=marion+iron&hnear=0x87e45f7aa02f4251:0x55ee60432ce6ddc0,Cedar+Rapids,+IA&cid=0,0,15330470697454599523&ei=Grn0TqGKFqbC2wXu-MWkAg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CAkQ_BI

I bought 2 of my 3 kegs there (MLT & HLT) and have had good luck. If you call ahead, they might set one aside for you. Plan to bring cash.

Here's a shot of the most recent incarnation of my electric brewery. You can't see the kegs real well because of the insulation, so I guess you'll have to trust me that they're in good shape.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33275630@N08/6392580357/in/set-72157628123075865/

Have you brewed with electricity before?

Post generated using Mail2Forum (http://www.mail2forum.com)

-MG- · Post by **-MG-** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:07 pm

Haven't brewed with electriciy before. Kal's instructions are some of the best around and things seem very simple with his writeups!

I'll give those guys a call right now! Thanks again for the reference.

prieff · Post by **prieff** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:07 pm

Lucky duck on the electric setup. I have been looking at the same thing. I really don't like how theelectricbrewery guy seals and mounts the elements. If there was a better way without welding I would have probably done it already.

I would like to come take a look once you get going.

I really like the idea of being able to drain from the bottom of the keg dome as Dr Paulson does.

My only other recommendation is to do some all grain before building an elaborate system. I have 2 modified Bayou burners and a 10 gallon rubbermaid with a ss braid. All grav fed and lifted etc for 10 gallon batches. I use my 10 gallon Megapot for the HLT and a converted sanke for the boil. 60' copper immersion chiller. Works ok but I am glad I didn't try building an ideal setup right out of the gate. I think I know exactly what I want now, and even then that will change.

You are welcome to come join me sometime on an all grain.

Paul

prieff · Post by **prieff** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:17 pm

Also,

FWIW... I tend not to be on the side of the "legally" obtained sanke's. I think the deposit is about $30 and a bud guy told me long ago when the deposit was $12 that it pretty much covered the cost for the brewery. SS has risen in price a lot since then, so I am guessing the $30 deposit is close to what it cost them now... since they buy on contract in the 10s or 100s of thousands. Legal ones are usually beat to sh*t and they got their original investment out of them from the scrap yard.

The big 3 are cut-throat and try to stamp out all competition. Hard to shed a tear for them.

They only real downside to an ill-gotten keg is that is full of yellow water and costs about $100!!!!

As an aside.... I watched the PBS prohibition special. I thought I was pretty cool. Tons of pictures from American history. I didn't seen any light colored beer in anyones glass either.... hmmm... I wonder who shoved light tasteless beer down America's throat??? Big 3?

All that said, I would NEVER steal a keg in any way. Especially if it had something other than Miller, Bud, or Coors stamped on the side....

Paul

DrPaulsen · Post by **DrPaulsen** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:15 pm

FYI -- I plan to brew next week and will be inviting any interested folks out to see my electric brewery in action. Since my system pre-dates Kal's, I started in a different place than TheElectricBrewery.com, but have ended up with a fairly similar setup. It might be worth your while to poke around and ask a few questions before tearing into the project (i.e. feel free to learn from my mistakes).

Also, I put together a set of slides for a Tech Meeting last January on Brewing with Electricity. I think the file attached in the fourth entry in the following link (*rev1.pdf) is the most recent version.

http://www.crbeernuts.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=1039

Otherwise, good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

-MG- · Post by **-MG-** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:10 pm

DrPaulsen wrote:FYI -- I plan to brew next week and will be inviting any interested folks out to see my electric brewery in action. Since my system pre-dates Kal's, I started in a different place than TheElectricBrewery.com, but have ended up with a fairly similar setup. It might be worth your while to poke around and ask a few questions before tearing into the project (i.e. feel free to learn from my mistakes).

Also, I put together a set of slides for a Tech Meeting last January on Brewing with Electricity. I think the file attached in the fourth entry in the following link (*rev1.pdf) is the most recent version.

http://www.crbeernuts.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=1039

Otherwise, good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

I would absolutely be interested. I already have dove into it so I'm in it for the long haul, and looking at what you have setup I can see the general flow is almost the same as Kal's setup and what I will do. It will be a great learning experience to observe how your setup operates as well to learn some more basics! Let me know what your plans are and I'll see what I can do to make it.