Brewery Upgrade

Discussions about brewing equipment / design.
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tompb
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Brewery Upgrade

Post by tompb »

Every year I do a brewery upprade with my government windfall. Any thoughts on what to get for a couple hundred bucks? I have a stand, pump, chiller, mill, temp controller, a frig is already in the plans. What's on your wish list? This money won't last long.
Runamok Brewing

Jesus must have been a yeast. Who else could turn water into wine?
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JimF
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Brewery Upgrade

Post by JimF »

http://conical-fermenter.com/about/attachment/7-3-gal-w-tw2/


From: tompb [mailto:brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org]
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 5:04 PM
To: brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org
Subject: Brewery Upgrade



Every year I do a brewery upprade with my government windfall. Any thoughts on what to get for a couple hundred bucks? I have a stand, pump, chiller, mill, temp controller, a frig is already in the plans. What's on your wish list? This money won't last long.




Runamok Brewing

Jesus must have been a yeast. Who else could turn water into wine?

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Jim Fuller
Bird In The Hand Brewery

Life is good, when the beer is too...
hoboscratch
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Post by hoboscratch »

Hop torpedo!
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Matt F
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Post by Matt F »

If you don't already have some, get all silcone tubing for brewing hoses. The stuff is one of my favorite upgrades I have made to my brewery. Quick disconnects are really nice too. Adding a quick disconnect to my sink has been awesome for cleaning hoses and filling kettles. Small upgrades but make a big difference.
Matt Franklin
Slappy Brewing North

On Tap:
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Strata Hazy IPA
Dr. Lee Orval
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DrPaulsen
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Post by DrPaulsen »

Go Electric.
brownbeard
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Post by brownbeard »

Hot brewing assistant.
You can't get with this with a bad hip - Matt
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JimF
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Brewery Upgrade

Post by JimF »

With only a couple of hundred to spend, I think this would only be a very short term upgrade. On Feb 11, 2011 8:48 AM, "brownbeard" <brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org (brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:> Hot brewing assistant.
------------------------
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Jim Fuller
Bird In The Hand Brewery

Life is good, when the beer is too...
semanticdm
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Re: Brewery Upgrade

Post by semanticdm »

Ah, you acquire said brewing assistant with money the first time only.

T. Powersox
JimF wrote:With only a couple of hundred to spend, I think this would only be a very short term upgrade. On Feb 11, 2011 8:48 AM, "brownbeard" <brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org (brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:> Hot brewing assistant.
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Matt F
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Post by Matt F »

If you are not kegging yet, I would have that at the top of my list.
Matt Franklin
Slappy Brewing North

On Tap:
American IPA
Strata Hazy IPA
Dr. Lee Orval
American Strong Ale
Friend of the Devil Belgian Golden Strong
Imperial Stout
BrewHound
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Post by BrewHound »

I don't think Tom's bonus will be big enough for a hot brewing assistant.
brownbeard
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Post by brownbeard »

Matt F wrote:If you are not kegging yet, I would have that at the top of my list.
Oh yeah. In all seriousness, this should be the #3 upgrade in your brewery.

#1. Full boil
#2. All grain
#3. Kegging

Numbers 1 and 2 could very well go hand in hand.
You can't get with this with a bad hip - Matt
tompb
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Re: Brewery Upgrade

Post by tompb »

I start the ferment with about 12 gallons so a conical would be about $600.

I'm not that much into hop's so a hop torpedo is low on the list.

I bought some semi-quick connects http://store.proflowdynamics.com/module ... el_C68.cfm
But the silicone tubing might be nice.

Electric might be high on the list. I might have to sit down with you sometime Lee.

According to the gazette a "hot" brewing assistant can be had awfully cheap http://thegazette.com/2011/02/09/call-t ... n-charges/

I started kegging before I went all grain. Best upgrade I've made yet.

Keep um coming!
Runamok Brewing

Jesus must have been a yeast. Who else could turn water into wine?
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Matt F
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Post by Matt F »

I can't emphasize enough how nice the silcone tubing has been. Safe for liquid up to 500 F which should be sufficient. The biggest plus is it is very flexible even when cold but will not collapse with the March pump most people use. It is also transluscent so you can see where the liquid is at. You can check mine out if you like. Think I may be hosting in March.
Matt Franklin
Slappy Brewing North

On Tap:
American IPA
Strata Hazy IPA
Dr. Lee Orval
American Strong Ale
Friend of the Devil Belgian Golden Strong
Imperial Stout
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carrisr
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Post by carrisr »

Silicon tubing is nice. I'm even using it in my modest setup. So maybe new tubing and QC's would be a good combo if you've got a nice rig.

I think if I had a couple hundred to spend though I'd look at a decent pH meter and a really good thermometer like the thermapen if you don't already have them. I really like my thermapen and the pH meter is probably next on my list.

From there my next step will probably be getting started on electric.
Randy Carris
Randy All the Time Brewing
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