Saturday, March 26, 2011

New RIMS System

I recently received my RIMS tube that I ordered from brewershardware.com.  I relied on a lot of information from homebrewtalk.com to build the system.  I used the SYL-2362 PID from auberins.com to control the temperature.  Following are some pics.

Front of control box, the top number on the PID is the temperature of my wort and the bottom number is the target temperature.  The two switches control the PID and the pump.
RIMS tube purchased from brewershardware.com using camlock quick disconnects, a 1500 watt low-density heating element from plumbingsupply.com, and an RTD sensor from auberins.com.

Plug that is connected to the PID/element switch.

Plug that is connected to the pump switch.

Recirculating mash through the RIMS tube.

03/13/11 Brewday Sweet Stout

I brewed a 10 gallon batch of a Sweet Stout based on Jamil Zainasheff's recipe from Brewing Classic Styles.   Following is my recipe from Beersmith:

Recipe: Sweet Stout
Style: Sweet Stout
TYPE: All Grain

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 11.00 gal    
Boil Size: 14.79 gal
Estimated OG: 1.061 SG
Estimated Color: 40.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 30.0 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 80.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount        Item                                      Type         % or IBU    
17.00 lb      Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)            Grain        72.34 %     
2.00 lb       Black (Patent) Malt (500.0 SRM)           Grain        8.51 %      
1.50 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM)     Grain        6.38 %      
1.00 lb       Pale Chocolate Malt  (200.0 SRM)          Grain        4.26 %      
3.00 oz       Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %]  (60 min)    Hops         30.0 IBU    
0.55 tsp      Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min)            Misc                     
2.00 oz       Sanitize Pump (Boil 5.0 min)              Misc                     
2.00 items    Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min)          Misc                     
2.00 lb       Milk Sugar (Lactose) (0.0 SRM)            Sugar        8.51 %      
2 Pkgs        SafAle English Ale (DCL Yeast #S-04)      Yeast-Ale                


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 21.50 lb
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out
Step Time     Name               Description                         Step Temp   
75 min        Mash In            Add 37.63 qt of water at 159.2 F    151.0 F     

Friday, March 4, 2011

02/27/11 Brewday Smoked Robust Porter

I brewed a 10 gallon batch of a Smoked Robust Porter based on Jamil Zainasheff's recipe from Brewing Classic Styles.  In this post I'll detail some of my equipment and process from pictures from my brewday.  I use the following terms throughout my post:
HLT - Hot Liquor Tank
MLT - Mash Lauter Tun
BK - Boil Kettle

My recipe was as follows from Beersmith:

Recipe: Kyle's Smoked Robust Porter
Style: Wood Aged Beer
TYPE: All Grain

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 11.00 gal     
Boil Size: 13.69 gal
Estimated OG: 1.072 SG
Estimated Color: 29.0 SRM
Estimated IBU: 30.1 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 81.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount        Item                                      Type         % or IBU     
13.00 lb      Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)            Grain        47.71 %      
8.00 lb       Smoked Malt (9.0 SRM)                     Grain        29.36 %      
1.50 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM)     Grain        5.50 %       
1.50 lb       Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM)     Grain        5.50 %       
1.50 lb       Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM)              Grain        5.50 %       
1.00 lb       Pale Chocolate Malt  (200.0 SRM)          Grain        3.67 %       
0.75 lb       Carafa II (412.0 SRM)                     Grain        2.75 %       
2.00 oz       Fuggles [5.10 %]  (60 min)                Hops         19.5 IBU     
1.50 oz       Williamette [4.80 %]  (30 min)            Hops         7.0 IBU      
1.50 oz       Williamette [4.80 %]  (15 min)            Hops         3.7 IBU      
1.00 oz       Williamette [4.80 %]  (0 min)             Hops          -           
1.00 oz       Fuggles [5.10 %]  (0 min)                 Hops          -           
0.55 tsp      Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min)            Misc                      
2.00 oz       Sanitize Pump (Boil 5.0 min)              Misc                      
2 Pkgs        US-05 American Ale (Danstar #US-05 )      Yeast-Ale                 


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 27.25 lb
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Medium Body, No Mash Out
Step Time     Name               Description                         Step Temp    
60 min        Mash In            Add 40.88 qt of water at 165.4 F    154.0 F      


I ferment in a Sanke keg with a fermentation kit that I purchased from Brewers Hardware. 
Boiling water in Sanke to sanitize.

Steam coming out of racking cane as well as blow-off tube.

Close-up of Brewers Hardware Sanke Fermentation Kit


Grain bill ready for crushing in mill

Grain mill ready to go!!

Grain mill with 27.5 lbs of grain.
 
Close-up of my crush.

Grain crushed and ready to go.

Water filter with carbon filter to remove the chlorine

Filling my MLT with strike water.

Inside of MLT when adding strike water.

MLT with strike water, the water was around 40 degrees.

Starting the Blichmann Burner.

I have mashed in the grains and started recirculation for the mash.

Recirculating the mash.

Adding water the HLT for sparge-out.

Sparge out from the HLT (top) to the MLT (left) to the BK (right).

Fly sparging with sparge water added to the top of the grain bed.

Wort coming from the MLT to the BK.

Sparge almost complete!!

Front of BK with sparge almost finished.

 MLT after sparge is complete.


I failed to take any pictures after the sparge.  I'll take pictures from the beginning of the boil on during my next brew session.







My Equipment

I recently upgraded a bunch of my equipment and my brew stand.

 Blichmann Top Tier System with 3 burner tiers.

40 plate chiller from kegcowboy.com and march pump

MLT with false bottom from Jaybird at HBT.com

Stainless mash paddle from Jaybird at HBT.com

20 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker kettle with HopBlocker

Whirlpool paddle from Jaybird at HBT.com