[Jimmy K]

My wife, Lori, and I built our own brewing system last summer. It builds on the system and techniques that we have learned - which was a 10G rubbermaid cooler mash tun, 7.5G kettle, and batch sparging. Previously, we were constantly lifting buckets, kettles, and mash tuns full of liquid several times during a brew session. Everyone loves a new gadget, but we also wanted our brewing to remain hands-on as much as possible while removing grunt work.

So looking to use the techniques we were used to, not wanting to buy a pump, and wanting to be able to get it out under my garage door left us with one option - build a '2.5 tier' brew system. The mash tun sits on a winch operated lift so that all liquid movement is done by gravity.  I believe its the first of its kind. I've seen kettles and hot liquor tanks that raise, but not mash tuns (I didn't to an exhaustive search though).



There are many more pictures of the build and first brew here, with captions explaining how it works.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jimmy.Kroon/BrewensteinABrewingMonster

Enjoy!

[bo]

Nice job!!!

I like the florescent green pipes.

[euge]

Very nice! The tun lift is a great idea! And the hop-strainer- might have to try that.

I love gravity, though a pump is invaluable.

[bluesman]

Props Jim!

It's a beauty. 

[Jimmy K]

Very nice! The tun lift is a great idea! And the hop-strainer- might have to try that.

I love gravity, though a pump is invaluable.

In the end, a pump would probably have been cheaper and easier, though less fun.

The hop strainer is a stainless braid stuck on a stainless hose barb fitting and secured with a stainless hose clamp.

[rbowers]

Really nice.

[roguenationpatriot]

Well done sir, very good design. I need to make something similar, but it would have to work in a basement.  I think of using a water hearter coil instead of burners.

[Jimmy K]

One improvement I'd love to make would be thermostatically controlled electric elements in my hot liquor tank. I'd love to be able to wake up, fill the tank, set temp and flick a switch. Then go have coffee knowing hot water would be ready when I am.

[bo]

One improvement I'd love to make would be thermostatically controlled electric elements in my hot liquor tank. I'd love to be able to wake up, fill the tank, set temp and flick a switch. Then go have coffee knowing hot water would be ready when I am.

Do it, you'll be glad you did.

[morticaixavier]

One improvement I'd love to make would be thermostatically controlled electric elements in my hot liquor tank. I'd love to be able to wake up, fill the tank, set temp and flick a switch. Then go have coffee knowing hot water would be ready when I am.

even better add a timer then you can fill up the night before, set the timer and know there will be hot water when you get up in the morning.

[roguenationpatriot]

What would say total cost would be for this set up with the temperature control added on?

[bo]

You can buy controllers on Ebay that come from China and they're in the $25 range. Couple that with a 25A SSR/heatsink  and you're under $50, unassembled in a case. You'll still need a probe to go with it. Not sure what those go for these days.

[beersk]

You can buy controllers on Ebay that come from China and they're in the $25 range. Couple that with a 25A SSR/heatsink  and you're under $50, unassembled in a case. You'll still need a probe to go with it. Not sure what those go for these days.

Yes, but they're made in China by some poor little kid.

Super rad setup, Jimmy.  I'd like to get a braided hose for my mashtun instead of using the bazooka screen.  It's not really practical for my kettle since I brew 3 gallon batches and use a 6 1/2 gallon kettle.  It's easy enough to lift and dump into the fermenter keeping most of the hops at the bottom.