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Home Photo Galleries Equipment Galleries Dennis Howlett • Soucé, France

This rig is primarily intended for single step all-grain infusion mashes and is designed as a small footprint pilot brewery for commercial use. However, it makes excellent homebrews of up to 80 liters (one English barrel) a batch at a maximum of 5.8% ABV strength. Most brews are in the range 4.3–5.3%. The rig could easily be adapted for multi-step RIMS by fitting a copper coil inside the hot liquor tun (HLT) and adding an extra pump. Each vessel is crafted from re-engineered 18-UK gallon barrels.

<p>The chiller control panel regulates the chilling of green beer from 0–15º centigrade.</p> <p>Each vessel is wrapped with heavy-duty bubble wrap that is secured in place with a set of wooden slats. These are held in position with brass straps that fit around the circumference of each vessel. Not only does this look pleasing, but it also provides enough insulation to ensure that the mash temperature is maintained. </p>

Chiller Control Panel
<p>This electrical junction box protects the live wires and is water tight.</p> <p> Each vessel has an Aquaseal lid, about 3/8” thick that completes the insulation. Aquaseal is like fiber board but is water and stain resistant. The HLT and copper tun are both fitted with single, 13-amp, 3-kilowatt electric heating elements. To prevent potential burnout, float switches have been fixed just above the elements. The HLT has a thermostat attached that can be set at any temperature up to 80 degrees centigrade. A small stainless steel pump controls liquid flow. </p>

Electrical Junction Box
<p>Two inline cartridge filters clean up beer from the conditioning tank.</p> <p> Both the HLT and copper tun have valves and copper piping that is arranged around a ‘T’ that flows out to the vertical sparge pipe. The pipe is fitted with a threaded union onto which I can screw the sparge arm or a tube that circulates via the counterflow chiller. </p>

Filters
<p>The HLT and copper tun each have a steel cross-section welded to them, in the center of which is a ‘spike’ that slots over a receiving spike on the frame. </p> <p>The capacity of the HLT and copper is 80 liters. The mash tun has a slightly different arrangement, incorporating a removable pin. The mash tun can then swivel through 90 degrees to allow spent grain dumping. Its capacity is roughly 50–60 liters and incorporates a full size, stainless steel removable false bottom. The copper tun has a small, domed hop screen, also made from stainless steel.</p>

Pump Arrangement


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