Calling on the Hawkes Bay brewing fraternity!

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Permalink Reply by Daniel on October 28, 2015 at 1:42pm

I'm doing all grain 20L batches in the shed.  Recently moved from chilli bin mash tun to a keg with heat exchanger controlled by a PID.  Working out some teething issues that I should post up a thread about.  Just did a larger 25L (34L boil) APA on labour day thats bubbling away now.

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Permalink Reply by Max Ballbagz on October 28, 2015 at 6:13pm

Sounds like a good set up! The mash tun heat exchanger sounds interesting as it is something that I have thought about building myself.

I hear ya on the teething issues front, I'm 3 brews into my 3 keg system with electric HLT, insulated mash tun and gas BK, only running one pump at present but looking to introduce a second.

My mash tun seems to hold temp within a few degrees without the need for applying additional heat however I'd like it to be more precise!

Did you have any pics of your set up? As I wouldn't mind researching an electronic heat exchange option!

Cheers

Daniel

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Permalink Reply by Daniel on October 28, 2015 at 8:46pm

Don't have any pics yet, i'll take some tomorrow and make a thread for some input.

Its based on this though https://byo.com/mead/item/2799-build-a-heated-mash-tun-projects

I'm currently using 2 50L kegs. 1 is the mash tun with the copper heat exchanger coil on top of a false bottom with a dip tube running from a tap. The exchanger fits to the wall of the keg with compression fittings rather than through a half lid like the link. I've got taps off that. 2nd keg doubles as HLT/BK. Gas burner heats up strike water. Put that in the mash tun and then keep the HLT hotter than the desired temp in the MT. MT has a temp probe linked to a PID which turns on a pump to pump water from the HLT through the coil and back.  When its within temp it cuts the pump. After mashing the HLT is used for a BK.

Bit of a blurb but the pics in the link will explain the gist of it. I've got another keg so i can separate HLT and BK but it has some holes in the bottom somehow.  I need to get some one to stainless weld it up. Then get a second burner.  It's way overkill really but I didn't have a car project to fill my time with so built this.

Anyway sorry to hijack the thread

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Permalink Reply by Max Ballbagz on October 28, 2015 at 10:14pm

All good, it's great to hear about other peoples set ups as you can certainly learn a lot!

Who do you use to source your grain/hops etc?

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Permalink Reply by David Grant on October 29, 2015 at 8:49am

there are two other Hawkes Bay groups on RealBeer for a start and there is also the HB Amateur Winemakers and Brewers Club details at wine-and-beer-hb.org.nz. They cater to kit, malt and grain brewers as well as all the other fermenters and distillers. Monthly tastings. See their notice each week Napier/Hastings Mail. Don't be shy!

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