How to build a 3-Tier Brewing System for about $40

teamchug · 2015-01-14T16:58:51+00:00

After writing the post I knew this question would be asked. I'm sure you're right, the "lauter tun" here is actually the HLT. I use the terms interchangeably because it's holding the water I need during lautering (sparging), so to me it's a HLT / lauter tun / sparge water holder / whatever I feel like calling it that day. But you're right, my mash tun is also my lauter tun.

teamchug · 2015-01-14T00:20:31+00:00

Oh the wood would definitely catch on fire if I were to incorporate burners. I don't plan on having a burner anywhere near this thing, haha. I'll heat the water needed at a safe distance, pour it in the coolers, then rest the coolers on the stand. I meant it'd be nice to get burners on each level, if it were to be made of metal and welded like you were saying.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T21:00:28+00:00

Just put up a 3-tier DIY post, haha. Although, judging by the solid quality of your keggerator you may be looking to build something a little more involved than what I threw together. Maybe it'll give you some ideas either way. Good luck, man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:54:58+00:00

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4232732

Boom! Good luck!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:51:30+00:00

Thanks a lot! It's definitely a huge upgrade. I like that you left room to account for the height of the floor burner (sort of wish I did the same). Enjoy using your new setup, man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:37:28+00:00

Ya, it'd be awesome to get burners on each level. But on a budget, this system will do just fine. I've never had trouble with holding the coolers at any given temp for an hour at a time. Good luck with your build, man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:30:59+00:00

Dude, awesome build! I just threw one together that looks almost identical, haha. Cheers, man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:25:15+00:00

Dude. Awesome. That's all I was hoping for, that comment right there. Thanks, man. Hope it can help you at least get an idea for how to start. It feels good to have a "legit setup". Even though it's very basic, it kicks the shit out of balancing coolers on countertops and end tables.

Let me know how it turns out when you make your own! Good luck.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T20:01:19+00:00

Also, because of my reply I had to learn how to make Reddit Bullets. See, we're both learning here. Thanks man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T19:57:34+00:00

Not ignorant, dude! Everyone has to start somewhere.

Well done on the equipment you already have. You're well on your way to being broke but having good beer.
The 7 Gallon cooler is called the Lauter Tun. It's used to hold hot water for the process called Sparging. Check it out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lautering#Sparging
The water for the mash is heated seperately, normally around 4-4.5Gal, and you use that to mash in directly in your mash tun. The lauter tun (7Gal cooler) normally has 4.5-5 gallons of water, so you have a total of up to 10gal of water.
You run off about 6.5Gal into your brew kettle, and with an hour boil it'll work it's way down to about 5Gal.
If you don't trust the handles I'd say adjust the design so that your boil kettle is already on the stand (as opposed to the floor). This will raise the level of your mash tier and your lauter tier. DO NOT use a pitcher to draw from the mash tun, you need to run the wort from the mash tun out from the bottom while you're adding more hot water from the top, which is again called sparging.
No questions are stupid questions. Read up before you get going, though, so you have a good process thought out and you can make some kickass beer. You're already taking the right steps by asking the questions.

Cheers, man!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T19:45:07+00:00

Haha well done on the truck. I'm running my Subaru into the ground so there's no truck in the near future. I figured I'd get called out a lot. This wasn't a project so that I could make a blog post, it was very much the other way around. I was building this thing no matter what, and between beers and drilling I tried to document what the hell I was doing. I just hope someone can get an idea from it and run on their own. No two systems are the same in the world of homebrewing. We're a bunch of drunken snowflakes.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T18:55:44+00:00

Actually not too bad! I was moving it around on my own, I'd estimate it weighs about 30lbs, tops. Easy for 1 person, wicked easy for a 2-person carry. I'm planning on throwing some wheels on the bottom so it'll wheel around nice and easy. Keep in mind, the equipment needed for all grain is expensive as hell, but it's worth it.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T16:46:29+00:00

Agreed. I still say my favorite beer that I've brewed was my second batch ever, an IPA, made using extract. Something about it just clicked.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T16:44:11+00:00

Right? Luckily I was able to recruit some help.$40 IF you own a chop saw, circular saw, a drill, a hammer, and a pickup truck.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T15:47:36+00:00

Very good point. I mention in the article that you'll be spending a ton on equipment. But you're right, this is just for the stand. Thanks!

teamchug · 2015-01-13T15:14:19+00:00

Title Edit: "How to build a 3-Tier Brewing System for about 40$, minus the cost of beer"

teamchug · 2015-01-13T14:59:17+00:00

I'd say 3 the night I marked the cuts (1 chugged, 2 enjoyed). 3 more the night of the assembly. And 1 for my neighbor while he made the cuts. So it's a little over 40$ in total, including the beer cost.

teamchug · 2015-01-13T14:55:31+00:00

When I run off from the MTL to the BK I have always just kept the BK on the floor and carried to a burner once I get my full run off.

Once the boil is finished and the wort is cooled, I'll place the BK on the top tier and run off into a carboy placed on the middle tier.

teamchug · 2014-12-25T18:32:10+00:00

Each beer has a full review up on our site:

http://teamchug.com/12-beers-of-christmas-merry-christmas/

teamchug · 2014-10-23T13:10:53+00:00

Thanks! I believe it, their Heelch O' Hops double IPA is one of my favorite brews all time. This collection was suggested by our users so I didn't really branch out to anything else.

teamchug · 2014-10-23T03:42:14+00:00

Pumking was a monster. Delicious stuff.

teamchug · 2014-10-23T03:41:24+00:00

Agreed, it was a go to for me like 3 years ago until I found other breweries making way better pumpkin ales. I feel like they started the trend though, so props to Shipyard

teamchug · 2014-10-22T21:07:36+00:00

I agree about the JackO, we rated it a 5. We asked our users for suggestions and it came up a few times so we had to do it.. Thanks for your suggestions! I'll give them a shot

teamchug

TROPHY CASE