Size matching gear to batch

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livo

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I'm now looking into recipe builds and matching the batch to the gear I have to make the most efficient use of it. I already had a 60 litre Fermzilla All-Rounder which I've been enjoying as I can easily ferment 50 litres which fills 2 standard Corny kegs, and a half sized one. I've also been using a 60 litre drum FV to make 58 litre batches which fills 3 Cornys, so this has been fairly easy to accomplish using extract kits and extras.

The new gear I have for AG requires a little bit of thought and I'm open to suggestions.

16 gallon / 65 litre Digiboil HLT
10 gallon / 40 litre MLT (SS Brewtech InfuSsion)
10 gallon / 40 litre kettle (Nano)
14 gallon / 52 litre Brew Bucket (SSBT)

The HLT is ample size, and I won't need to fill it. Obviously, the other 3 vessels require the allowance of some head space, particularly the kettle I'd imagine. The brew bucket is bigger, and so is the Fermzilla, so FV size is adequate. If I start with a pre-boil volume of 35 litres in the 40 litre kettle there is hopefully enough space to avoid boil overs, and with evaporation of 6 - 8 % I'd be looking at post boil volumes of 32 - 33 litres. Ideally, I would like to have either 40 or 50 litres of product using either the Brew Bucket or Fermzilla respectively, to allow easy use of keg sizes.

I have an immersion chiller and a plate chiller. I also have a second 40 litre SS pot with lid, but no fittings, and a second gas burner so I can do double pot boils. I did this with 2 smaller pots when I last did AG. I can punch a hole in the second pot for a tap, but I'd rather not.

I'm happy to make Mid-strength beer rather than full-strength.

I have cubes in both 20 and 25 litres and the no chill bladders look good, but I am more thinking about making "concentrated" wort and diluting to add volume to the FV. Any thoughts?
 
if you use the pots differently you could heat mash/sparge water in 40 l kettle, mash in the 40 l tun, maybe 8 kg of malt? Sparge and collect more than 50 l in the digiboil and boil to 40 l which would fit nicely in the 52 l fermenter
 
if you use the pots differently you could heat mash/sparge water in 40 l kettle, mash in the 40 l tun, maybe 8 kg of malt? Sparge and collect more than 50 l in the digiboil and boil to 40 l which would fit nicely in the 52 l fermenter
That's a good idea.

Edit: I did like the idea of digital control of mash / sparge water, but I can work with this idea. A second Digiboil would work as well and do away with the gas. Hmmm! I can only run 1 at a time and only at reduced power as it is. No chance of 15 amp in my brew space after being booted from my big shed.
 
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