Brewing Table — More Plumbing Required
The table build came together nicely today. Right up until I determined I need just a couple more plumbing parts. Of course, the missing bits are stainless quick couplers that I am unlikely to find without driving all over creation. Rather than waste the time, I just ordered them.
Nearly Complete
I finished up the minor electrical bits to add a switch to the pump. I was being brilliant and used an exterior box. As I was finishing the wiring, I noticed the motor for the pump isn’t sealed. Makes the sealed box somewhat pointless. Although, I believe I’ll add a splash shield above the pump at some point. I will splash, spill, or somehow send fluid onto the pump at some point.
In addition to the electrical, I installed the thermometers into the pump along with the false bottom for the mash tank. The plate chiller as mounted below the boil kettle as well. I’d completely missed the chiller in my back of the napkin plumbing diagram. That explained the missing plumbing parts.
I also need some quick couplers for the garden hose attachments for the plate chiller. Those I’ll pick up during another run to the hardware store. Cost is still below my original estimate for the build. A non-trivial outlay of cash but very close to what I expected.
I also ordered 3 flame shields for the front of the kettles. The thermometers need to be protected but the plates sent from Blichmann were a tad too narrow. Another $20 but the new ones can be permanently mounted. Loose bits get lost.
The picture also shows I really need to clean the office garage soon.
Brewing Table – Burner Update
More progress on the 3 position brewing table. I finally got back to working on the table yesterday afternoon. The dreaded work beast has been cutting into my free time in a large way.
I received the kettles about a week ago. First thing I determined is that I’d failed to account for the stepped edges. I knew about them but just failed to remember the fact during the assembly. After a tad more grinding and follow-up welding, the issue is resolved.
Rather than watching paint dry after the fix, I moved onto finishing up the plumbing for the gas distribution system. The burners are all propane and fed by 1/2 inch NPT black pipe. Input is a 3/8″ flare to 3/8″ NPT attached to a 3/8″ to 1/2″ reducing coupler. From there it feeds out to all 3 needle valves. I used flex tubing from the valves to the burners via 1/2″ OD appliance hookups. Attachment at the burners used 1/2″ flare to 3/8″ flare reductions and 3/8″ elbows to attach to the orifices.
Sounds simple in retrospect. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make it all work. Aside from the flare elbows and the needle valves, I found everything at the local hardware stores. Lowes beat out Home Depot for having a better selection of flare fittings.
Brewing Table in Progress
2012 is the year to begin brewing with all grain ingredients instead of extract. The first thing I needed was a three burner table. Fab began on December 20th. The main structure is completed. Plumbing for gas and liquid is up next.
Bottling the Blackberry Mead
After five months, my test batch of blackberry mead has finished fermenting. One gallon batches take quite a while to bottle given the small volume of end product. Sanitizing absorbed the bulk of the time.
The mead tastes decent but is still raw. Hopefully it will mellow with age.
Preparing to Bottle
Mead Update: Blackberry Melomel Racked Again
My latest brewing supply order arrived today. I picked up another two 1-gallon jugs, some caps, and an auto-siphon. The blackberry mead fermentation has slowed down and I wanted to do one more racking to eliminate the majority of the sediment. I’ve avoided buying an auto-siphon due to mixed reviews. Mine worked wonderfully even if it was designed for full carboys and not minimal 1 gallon batches of mead.
The blackberry mead tastes okay. Likely needs a lot more ageing. The singular task before I bottle is patience. I also spent a couple extra dollars and bought additional cheap airlocks and drilled stoppers. The happy balloons worked okay but I trust airlocks. Especially since the mead wont hit the bottles until late fall. In the spring, I can have a mead tasting / gaming session.
Cell phone images will have to suffice. The other camera batteries need charged. Again.
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