Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

That's it, mine isn't shiny enough anymore I better build a new one

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Awesome Matt. I recently dropped coin on an SS Brew Bucket Mini and an electronic wireless hydrometer just because they're both cool. I haven't received the hydrometer yet but I like the bucket.

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spent more in one day on equipment than I have in my years of brewing

About to do that also... Ordering a custom single vessel 21 gal eBIAB setup

andrewmaixner wrote: About to do that also... Ordering a custom single vessel 21 gal eBIAB setup

What did you end up buying Andrew?

czubak wrote:

andrewmaixner wrote: About to do that also... Ordering a custom single vessel 21 gal eBIAB setup

What did you end up buying Andrew?

Currently waffling between a full-TC custom setup with the BrewersHardware 20Gal skinny kettle (somewhat similar to that one on HBT), or retrofitting my current cheep 15Gal kettle with a couple weldless fittings for electric and recirculation...
assembling a couple price comparisons currently, and the sticker shock is shocking. I could upgrade later without much sunk cost if I just retrofit my current stuff for eBIAB - kettle RIMS now, hence the waffling.
Either way, the immediate price is Pricy McPriceface

Sweet, but that's some serious cash outlay there, dude!

The downside is that we will expect nothing less that awesome beers from you (as if you weren't kicking it already!)

carrisr wrote:Awesome Matt. I recently dropped coin on an SS Brew Bucket Mini and an electronic wireless hydrometer

I saw a post about those drop-in wireless hydrometers. they look really awesome and handy

I expect to see the latest cool stuff at the vendors area at NHC in 2 weeks.

I thought about waiting to see what you found at NHC but once I had the green light to purchase from management I knew I better go before the light turned red. The Stout kettle was the first to fit all my requirements. New kettle needed to be good for 5, 10, and 15 gallon batches. Thermowell needed to be covered with 5 gallons of wort in the kettle (Brewers Hardware port too high), tangential inlet, all welded tri-clover fittings, butterfly valves, etched volume markings on interior, trub dam. This is the first kettle to check every box. Can't wait to brew on it. First beer will be a Baltic Porter.

ordered ... BrewersHardware full-TC eBIAB 21gal ...

Flow chart: http://i.imgur.com/VlHyBWa.png
based on this: https://www.brewershardware.com/20-Gall ... -Port.html
Inspired by this: http://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/images/6/8/ ... -66746.jpg ( http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=573718 )

Matt F wrote:I thought about waiting to see what you found at NHC but once I had the green light to purchase from management I knew I better go before the light turned red. The Stout kettle was the first to fit all my requirements. New kettle needed to be good for 5, 10, and 15 gallon batches. Thermowell needed to be covered with 5 gallons of wort in the kettle (Brewers Hardware port too high), tangential inlet, all welded tri-clover fittings, butterfly valves, etched volume markings on interior, trub dam. This is the first kettle to check every box. Can't wait to brew on it. First beer will be a Baltic Porter.

I'm contemplating how large to go with my next system, and am worried about the dead space in the larger kettles being too great as most of my batches are 5 gal with occasional 10.
The price difference between a 9 and 15 or 20 gallon are minimal. Tough choices

I wrestled with same dilemma. Kettle was not a problem as can do 5, 10, 15 fine. Mastun was my concern for same reasons of dead space. Since I can recirculate it is not a huge issue but still... I knew I wanted the Ss Brew Tech Mashtun so it was either 10 or 20 gallon. I knew 10 would be too small for me plus I really like the manometer on the 20 gallon. More reason to brew huge beers I guess!

whitedj wrote:

Matt F wrote:I thought about waiting to see what you found at NHC but once I had the green light to purchase from management I knew I better go before the light turned red. The Stout kettle was the first to fit all my requirements. New kettle needed to be good for 5, 10, and 15 gallon batches. Thermowell needed to be covered with 5 gallons of wort in the kettle (Brewers Hardware port too high), tangential inlet, all welded tri-clover fittings, butterfly valves, etched volume markings on interior, trub dam. This is the first kettle to check every box. Can't wait to brew on it. First beer will be a Baltic Porter.

I'm contemplating how large to go with my next system, and am worried about the dead space in the larger kettles being too great as most of my batches are 5 gal with occasional 10.
The price difference between a 9 and 15 or 20 gallon are minimal. Tough choices

Relevant to you then, is why I bought what I did: The kettles from BrewersHardware offer a lower diameter, with no diameter difference between their 15 vs 20 gal kettles.

Stout also offers this geometry, but they have a 5 month lead time for customization beyond what is listed on their site, because all of their welding is performed in china.

BH orders one basic design for this kettle, and then does all custom welding in California.

andrewmaixner wrote:BH orders one basic design for this kettle, and then does all custom welding in California.

I was going to go with the BH originally but they said the thermometer port would need about 7 gallons of wort to cover and stout was less than 5. This was key for me to go stout since I immersion chill and prefer that thermometer to work. When Stout introduced a flat bottom with trub dam, tangential inlet, and etched volume inside, they basically released exactly what was in my head. Perfect!

Matt F wrote:

andrewmaixner wrote:BH orders one basic design for this kettle, and then does all custom welding in California.

I was going to go with the BH originally but they said the thermometer port would need about 7 gallons of wort to cover and stout was less than 5. This was key for me to go stout since I immersion chill and prefer that thermometer to work. When Stout introduced a flat bottom with trub dam, tangential inlet, and etched volume inside, they basically released exactly what was in my head. Perfect!

Yes, that one was on my short list when I was talking with a guy from Stout. It looks really nice.

I got around the high temperature port issue by installing another TC port 90 degrees from the element port, with a long thermowell.