2012: System Review
15 January 2012
This year I am making a big effort to upgrade and invest in my brewing setup. My key goal is flexibility, both in terms of general operation and scale; I plan on biggie sizing up to 10 gal batches during the spring/summer months to compensate for my thirsty friends. Recently I have brought on several new pieces of steel and miscellanea to help with this ‘expansion’:
- Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger: Duda Diesel 40-Plate
- Brew Pump: Chugger SS Pump
- Hopback/Filter: Blichmann Hop Rocket
- Camlock fittings, high temperature hose, whirlpool bulkhead: via BargainFittings.com
- 2 kegs cut/holed into keggles
- Floor Burner: Blichmann Burner
System porn pictures will soon follow (my kegs and kettles are still being worked on), but in the mean time the following is a schematic of my setup. The intent is that everything but the HLT/Boil Kettle will sit on a mobile utility cart that can get rolled into the kitchen or outside depending on the scale desired. Again, modularity is the key.
After almost three years of brewing, the time has come for my first lager attempt! Previously I was scared away by the need for high process control/proficiency, low fermentation temperatures and necessary patience. Today, I have all 3 of those under control thanks to over 40 previous batches of experience and the cold chicago winter! This beer will ferment in my apartment vestibule will an electric heat blanket controlled by my PID temp controller to temper any excessively cold nights. I plan on splitting this batch after lagering into 2 for separate dry hopping – classically (or dead) with Saaz, and funky (undead) with Soriachi Ace). As normal with lagers, only time will tell!
My second exploration into sour ales! I wasn’t planning to dive in again so soon but I happened to find a pack of Wyeast Roeselare and felt inspired. My recipe is a re-edit of those from 
