I've recently returned to brewing after a 10-ish year hiatus. Unfortunately, I don't have the basement area I've had at our last two houses for fermenting. As a result, I'll be fermenting in the garage - in Atlanta.
I really want to be able to concentrate on fermentation temperature control, but I also can't be throwing thousands of dollars at this (I may be able to get away with $1000). I would like to be able to ultimately have two beers fermenting at the same time, so cost-efficient expansion will need to be considered. I'd also like to try my hand at lagering. I typically brew 5g batches, but my current setup (keggles / cooler MLT) would allow me to go to 10.
I believe I would like to use a conical; I'm definitely intrigued by the benefits of easier yeast harvesting and removing the trub. I have considered building a window-unit glycol chiller. I recently added an upright freezer for serving. I am not positive I have room for another, and most certainly don't have room for two more, but I haven't ruled that out.
I'm looking for y'all's opinions.
Questions I have include:
I really want to be able to concentrate on fermentation temperature control, but I also can't be throwing thousands of dollars at this (I may be able to get away with $1000). I would like to be able to ultimately have two beers fermenting at the same time, so cost-efficient expansion will need to be considered. I'd also like to try my hand at lagering. I typically brew 5g batches, but my current setup (keggles / cooler MLT) would allow me to go to 10.
I believe I would like to use a conical; I'm definitely intrigued by the benefits of easier yeast harvesting and removing the trub. I have considered building a window-unit glycol chiller. I recently added an upright freezer for serving. I am not positive I have room for another, and most certainly don't have room for two more, but I haven't ruled that out.
I'm looking for y'all's opinions.
Questions I have include:
- I have looked at putting a chiller coil in a SS Brewtech Chronical, but it bothers me that the single top tri-clamp is so small. Is this a valid concern?
- I feel pretty good about setting up the homemade glycol chiller, but should I be concerned about condensation on the outside of the conicals? Is it a necessity to insulate them?
- Would it make the most sense to go all-in and get a jacketed conical? Which manufacturers offer the most bang for the buck?
- I'm not currently concerned with carbonating in the fermentor. As it is, I have plenty of space for that in my keezer. I would like to transfer under pressure, though.
- I'm currently brewing in the back yard - I'd need to find a conical I could roll on wheels. It seems that I'd need a wide base for stability, and that this would limit the ability to put it in an upright freezer, right?
- Should I be concerned about getting CO2 out if I fermented in a freezer?
- Should I just ditch the conical idea altogether and find a way to keep my carboys temperature-controlled? Or should look to ferment in kegs (1/2 barrel or cornys)?
- Or do I just say screw normal fermentation for now and put my carboys in an immersion circulation bath with kveik?
- Are there other options I'm not thinking about?
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