Thursday, September 17, 2015

Make A Threebarrel Brewing System

Brew your own beer to enjoy a higher quality beer.


Beer has been brewed for thousands of years, and for much of that time, it was brewed at home. Brewing at home can be an interesting hobby or just a way to make custom beer for yourself, but in either case, you need the right equipment. Investing in beer-making equipment involves an initial cash outlay, but the more beer you make, the sooner you will recoup equipment investment costs. One method of brewing is the "three barrel" gravity-assisted method. Add this to my Recipe Box.


Instructions


1. Purchase three metal industrial shelving units with dimensions at least 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide and 5 feet high. One unit will need at least three adjustable shelves, one will need at least two adjustable shelves and the last unit will only require one adjustable shelf.


2. Assemble each shelving unit according to the manufacturer's instructions. The first unit should have a shelf at floor level, one about 2 1/2-feet high and one at 5 feet, the second unit should have a shelf at floor level and one at about 3 feet high and the third unit should have one shelf at about 1 foot high. Set the shelving units in a row from tallest to shortest.


3. Place a propane-powered cooker on the top shelf of each shelving unit, which will be used as your heat source at each step in the brewing process. Place a propane tank on each of the shelves at floor level and the shelf half way up the tallest shelf unit and connect each to the propane cookers.


4. Place empty kegs onto each of the three cookers. The topmost keg will be for heating your mash and sparge water, the second will be your mashing vessel and the third will be the brew kettle.


5. Install valves to the two topmost beer kegs, which will be used to stop and start the transfer of liquid from the first keg to the second, then from the second to the third. Onto the third keg, install a valve to transfer the wort to whatever type of fermenter you choose to use.


6. Slide piping or hose onto each of the valves on your two topmost kegs, long enough to reach the bottom of the next container in line. This is both to avoid splashing hot liquid and to prevent oxidation of the beer. Depending on what container you use for fermentation, you may need to install piping to the last valve as well.

Tags: floor level, have shelf, should have, should have shelf, unit should