My New Ag Setup

[Julez]

With thanks to all those that gave me tips and pointers along the way, I finally put my mash tun and kettle/HLT together today. Just waiting for my NASA burner and medium pressure reg to arrive and it will be party time for brew #1 :super:

I really have to say how awesome the AHB community is, it's great to be a part of!

Cheers, Julez.

 

[Screwtop]

With thanks to all those that gave me tips and pointers along the way, I finally put my mash tun and kettle/HLT together today. Just waiting for my NASA burner and medium pressure reg to arrive and it will be party time for brew #1 :super:

I really have to say how awesome the AHB community is, it's great to be a part of!

Cheers, Julez.

Hmmmm, Noice Julez, brew you good thing!

Don't forget, post pics from brew day #1

 

[hairofthedog]

sweet looking rig julez good luck n good brewing

 

[SJW]

Looks good mate. Now the fun begins, working out how it all goes together and what type of beer it spits out. Give it 12 months and I bet your posting photos of your March pump setup too!

 

[yardy]

flash setup Julez, nice kettle, got the brewstand planned ?

cheers

 

[Julez]

Hmmmm, Noice Julez, brew you good thing!

Don't forget, post pics from brew day #1

Roger that Screwtop, will do for sure . Got my NASA and medium pressure reg now too, having way too much fun playing around with that. Think I better get a fire extinguisher too...

 

[Julez]

Thanks hairofthedog and SJW, reckon I'm addicted already, I may have created a monster....

 

[Julez]

flash setup Julez, nice kettle, got the brewstand planned ?

cheers

G'day Yardy, not fully sure what I will do there, to start with my NASA will double as my brew stand :lol: . Will initially only do some half size batches anyway, so should be pretty managable. I can manouvre my mash tun above or below the pot, depending whether it is in HLT or kettle mode. Think I can wing it...

Cheers!

 

[yardy]

G'day Yardy, not fully sure what I will do there, to start with my NASA will double as my brew stand :lol: . Will initially only do some half size batches anyway, so should be pretty managable. I can manouvre my mash tun above or below the pot, depending whether it is in HLT or kettle mode. Think I can wing it...

Cheers!

before i built mine i used 4 concrete bessa blocks, worked ok for a fair while, got to watch the heat though, one of the blocks cracked on me which prompted me to build the stand

good luck
yard

 

[snagler]

Julez,

Ive been thinking of getting one of those false bottoms like yours. Im looking at upgradeing the copper manifold in my 33 litre Willow esky

Is it the one "Beerbelly" sells?
Is that the 33 litre willow esky you are useing?

I would be interested to see what efficiency you get. Im getting 70 to 75% with a similar (or same) esky with a fairly ellaborate 1/2 inch copper manifold thingy


Good luck with your first batch

Snagler

 

[Julez]

Julez,

Ive been thinking of getting one of those false bottoms like yours. Im looking at upgradeing the copper manifold in my 33 litre Willow esky

Is it the one "Beerbelly" sells?
Is that the 33 litre willow esky you are useing?

I would be interested to see what efficiency you get. Im getting 70 to 75% with a similar (or same) esky with a fairly ellaborate 1/2 inch copper manifold thingy


Good luck with your first batch

Snagler

Howdy Snagler,

it is the Beerbelly one. I ordered it stock standard off the website, but have ended up deciding to get a sliding bottom added to it, as the bottom of my esky is not totally flat. So may be another couple of weeks before I get to do my first batch now... And yep, that is the 33L Willow you see in the pics. It fits very neatly. I've heard the efficiencies from the BB falsie are very good, but will try to remember to let you know my results in a couple of weeks!

Cheers, Julez.

 

[The King of Spain]

bet you trade up for an insulated cooler with a proper insluated top and no dead space within 6 months :lol:

 

[Julez]

bet you trade up for an insulated cooler with a proper insluated top and no dead space within 6 months :lol:

King of Spain, are you saying the Willows are dicey? What do you mean insulated - aren't all these cooler boxes insulated? No dead space? :huh: What is your experience with the Willows? I would be interested to know if you have had any problems, I take it you mean that they don't hold temps very constant? Please explain!!

Cheers.

 

[driveitlikeustoleit]

Hey Julez

Nice work. I imagine you will be wanting to grab/make a stand soon too. Lugging tubs of hot grain/wort sux. Just designing mine.

Brew on!

 

[domonsura]

The willow eskys are fine, I've converted several of them now and I'm not aware of anyone having problems with heat loss. If dead space above the mash is an issue you can lay a cut out of camping mat foam on top of the mash itself to insulate it further. Works well.

 

[yardy]

The willow eskys are fine, I've converted several of them now and I'm not aware of anyone having problems with heat loss. If dead space above the mash is an issue you can lay a cut out of camping mat foam on top of the mash itself to insulate it further. Works well.

I agree, nothing wrong with the Willow, i lose 1* over 60 min, never tried the mat.

cheers