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Author Topic: Looking to upgrade  (Read 2448 times)

Offline wdbrewman

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Looking to upgrade
« on: April 03, 2017, 05:00:49 pm »
Hey just curious on any 10 gallon equipment that is preferred out there since I'm only doing 1 gallon batches at the moment and want to up the game and get really into brewing and was curious about any good quality 10 gallon setups. Thanks

Offline natebrews

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2017, 05:19:33 pm »
Are you looking to do 10 gallon batches, or a setup that can do 10 gallons of liquid (for 5-6 gallon batches)? 
Risk of failure should be no deterrent to trying.

Offline wdbrewman

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2017, 05:28:45 pm »
looking to have a net of 10 gallon batches

Offline Stevie

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2017, 06:55:25 pm »
Tons of variables. How much do you want to spend? Gas or electric? Batch sparge, BIAB, or three vessel?

Offline wdbrewman

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2017, 07:07:12 pm »
I'm open to all variations and budget isn't really an issue, i'm more of an all grain type guy

Offline Stevie

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Looking to upgrade
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2017, 08:02:47 pm »

Offline pkrone

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2017, 08:34:03 pm »
I've had a BrewMagic system for 12 years and love it.   The entry fee has gone up significantly since I got mine, however.
I like beer.  I like to make beer.   I don't like to argue about beer or making beer.

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2017, 09:11:45 am »
I'm open to all variations and budget isn't really an issue, i'm more of an all grain type guy

Famous last words  8)
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

Offline chumley

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2017, 09:56:11 am »
I am cheap.  My cheap set up is this with for a boil kettle and heating up strike water:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSGL82Y/ref=asc_df_B00BSGL82Y4923785/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00BSGL82Y&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167140576504&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2805664501782737842&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021299&hvtargid=pla-272684515126

I mash in a Coleman Extreme cooler with a sure screen.  I have two propane burners, and a second 7.5 gallon kettle for heating up sparge water, decoctions, etc.  I brew on a stand, but a pump certainly could be an improvement (did I say I was cheap?).

I chill with a Hydra immersion copper chiller. That's about it.

Offline Alewyfe

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2017, 11:05:41 am »
Lots of great stuff out there, but just remember the more kettles, hoses and connections, the longer it takes you to prep to brew and last, but worst of all, the longer it takes to get everything cleaned up and put away.
How gear centric are you? How much space you have is another consideration. Sometimes simpler is better if you're not one to futz with equipment.

Diane
Roseburg, Oregon
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Online denny

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2017, 11:08:52 am »
Lots of great stuff out there, but just remember the more kettles, hoses and connections, the longer it takes you to prep to brew and last, but worst of all, the longer it takes to get everything cleaned up and put away.
How gear centric are you? How much space you have is another consideration. Sometimes simpler is better if you're not one to futz with equipment.

That's been my point of view for the last 20 years.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline coolman26

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2017, 12:50:39 pm »
Lots of great stuff out there, but just remember the more kettles, hoses and connections, the longer it takes you to prep to brew and last, but worst of all, the longer it takes to get everything cleaned up and put away.
How gear centric are you? How much space you have is another consideration. Sometimes simpler is better if you're not one to futz with equipment.
Couldn't have said it better myself. That said, Stevie was right up my alley. I'd love total control w that Spike Electrobling brewing inside. Back to reality though. I'm a cooler mashing, exterior brewing, NG 3 tier man myself.


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Jeff B

Offline SilverZero

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2017, 04:46:42 pm »
I have 3 20-gallon Concord pots, two of them have 5500w electric elements. 2 Chugger pumps. A homemade counterflow heater/chiller in place of a traditional HERMS coil and separate chiller. Hot and cold water plumbed to the brew area. Built a control panel very similar to the famous electric brewery website lays out. I like the setup, but I would make a couple of changes.

I would skip the false bottom in my MLT and go straight for the brew bag (there are a couple of good ones for sale, but I made my own from polyester curtain panels for 3 bucks and an hour of sewing). Cleaning 30lbs of grain is a million times easier when you can pull it all out at once and carry it to the compost bin, plus I get an efficiency bump by squeezing the bag a bit (or just draining it).

I'd also make sure I had a sink nearby. I haven't done this yet and it sucks having nowhere to drain liquid without buckets or carrying the whole pot somewhere.

Lastly, I'd either put the HERMS coil in the HLT like most people do, or use a large cooler (again, with a bag). It's just a bit more efficient and faster to maintain temps compared to what I did, I think.

It sounds complex, but my system is about as easy as I can imagine for 10-12 gallon batches. I ferment in a Sanke and drain directly into it in the fermentation chamber. I don't lift liquid at any point. Building is just as fun as brewing for me (to a point) so I'd be happy to talk about other ideas.

That said, I'm really loving my 1-gallon brewing right now. Quick and easy!

Offline JJeffers09

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2017, 09:36:31 pm »
I'm open to all variations and budget isn't really an issue, i'm more of an all grain type guy

Famous last words  8)

RIGHT!!
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Offline el_capitan

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Re: Looking to upgrade
« Reply #14 on: April 04, 2017, 10:10:59 pm »
The ultimate upgrade includes a catwalk and a brewing monkey.   ;)