Hi all!
I'd like to increase my batch volumes and would be very grateful if you could help me choose which equipment to buy (actually a present from my parents-in-law!).
This is my current setup (sorry about the non-round numbers, we use the metric system here):
- average batch volume for a 1.055 OG beer: around 11 US gallons
- BIAB setup using a 19.2 gallon aluminium kettle (yup, they are big & heavy bags!)
- propane burner (can't remember its power though)
- 8.7 gallon stainless steel kettle for heating up sparge water (I used to use it for brewing 5 gallon batches)
- 8 x 7.9 gallon plastic fermenters
- a big copper coil immersion chiller (can't remember its size, but it cools down 11 gallons of boiling wort to room temperature in about 15 minutes)
I think moving to 15.8 gal batches sounds reasonable (i.e. 3 fermenters).
Would you suggest I get
1) another ~ 19.2 gal mash tun with a false bottom (using my small stainless steel kettle for heating up sparge water)?
2) a big (20 gal?) cooler with a manifold (I'm no good at welding though...)?
3) Or a ~26.5 gal kettle for BIAB (in which case I could use two bags at the same time for convenience)?
I would, I suppose, need a pump for the first the options. Does this one seem okay?
Many, many thanks for your help!
EV.
I'd like to increase my batch volumes and would be very grateful if you could help me choose which equipment to buy (actually a present from my parents-in-law!).
This is my current setup (sorry about the non-round numbers, we use the metric system here):
- average batch volume for a 1.055 OG beer: around 11 US gallons
- BIAB setup using a 19.2 gallon aluminium kettle (yup, they are big & heavy bags!)
- propane burner (can't remember its power though)
- 8.7 gallon stainless steel kettle for heating up sparge water (I used to use it for brewing 5 gallon batches)
- 8 x 7.9 gallon plastic fermenters
- a big copper coil immersion chiller (can't remember its size, but it cools down 11 gallons of boiling wort to room temperature in about 15 minutes)
I think moving to 15.8 gal batches sounds reasonable (i.e. 3 fermenters).
Would you suggest I get
1) another ~ 19.2 gal mash tun with a false bottom (using my small stainless steel kettle for heating up sparge water)?
2) a big (20 gal?) cooler with a manifold (I'm no good at welding though...)?
3) Or a ~26.5 gal kettle for BIAB (in which case I could use two bags at the same time for convenience)?
I would, I suppose, need a pump for the first the options. Does this one seem okay?
Many, many thanks for your help!
EV.