Synergy systems

[David Ball]

Does anybody know of anyone who has purchased or seen first hand a synergy system?

They look nice and simple, well made and the price tag seems pretty reasonable compared to many other systems out there.

http://www.synergybrew.com/complete_systems/custom-brew-systems/

priced up the 26 gallon/100 L , 2 tier system:

includes:

Everything in the description plus I added on :

40 plate chiller

march 809 pump with drip cover

additional false bottom for the kettle

sight tube on hlt

I also asked about a couple extras:

$75 for whirlpool inlet with 90 degree adapter

$125 for a T fitting with sanitary thermometer at heat exchanger outlet

Might also get a few extra ports added to the hlt so i can turn it electric and install a herms coil  at some stage.

All up including shipping to wellington ($750) it comes to approx $5500 NZD.

seems well priced but would like to hear a bit of feed back before dropping 5K + on SS.

[David Ball]

found a video to get a closer look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCXjS4O5gTk

[Sam Miller]

how about a local made farra system?

[David Ball]

Yea they sound like a pretty good simple set up but they only seem to do 50 l systems.

They go for $4500 + shipping on the great expectations website.

Im pretty keen on a 100l system and with the price difference less than $1000  for the 100l synergy system plus quite a few extras it seems like more bang for ya buck.

Would like to purchase local though. sent banks brewing hardware an email for a quote but never got a reply....

[mattd2]

Try talking to Farra direct (contact can be fund on their website) to see what they can do you on a 100 litre system. For $6300 (price you said including gst) I would nearly be tempted to say I'd build you one (if only I had the time... and skills). I would try Farra and difinatly give Chris Banks another shot, he's a member on here so maybe try PM'ing him.

Also what are you going to ferment 75 litre of beer in?

[David Ball]

have been looking at a few options for ss conical fermenters. Theres heaps of cheap options from chinese manufacturers but its pretty hard to get a gauge on the quality.

I have requested a quote on one of these: http://kegresources.co.nz/brewing-accessories?page=shop.product_det...

Also synergy do converted 15 and 26 gallon keg fermenters. $550 for a 15 gallon.....

[Chris Banks]

Hi David

I do apologise for my lack of response I am scrambling to keep up with my workload currently and emails have been coming thick and fast meaning ones I dont reply to straight away disappear of the bottom of the page quite quickly - xmas must be coming up..............

I will send you an email asap.

Since there has been some talk of Farra's kits I better add my two cents..  they start at "50"L and go big and bigger last brochure I saw included HERMS as an option also.

I would encourage you to contact them directly for details.

The one at Great Expectations is a relative bargain considering there is no freight costs to get it up from the mainland.

I have it on good authority there will also be a preloved 50L farra kit up for sale in the not to distant future ex Chris Mills / Kereru Brewing - it has some awesome mods done to it...(timing of the sale of this is based around his fabricator getting  the replacement sorted...;-))

Whatever you decide I would encourage keeping it Kiwi!

Cheers

Chris

[David Ball]

Cheers Chris, not to worry i forget about emails all the time.

Yep will investigate farra...

Definitly keen on keeping it kiwi is possible.

Will be in touch via email. cheers

[FatD]

definitely need the 3rd burner on the mash tun. never get it right first go with that size..

have you calculated in the GST they will add at customs?

[David Ball]

I was thinking of installing a herms system rather than a third burner.

No i had forgotten about customs... are there any ways around them such as having it sent as a "gift" and having the invoice mailed separately? 

[mattd2]

I think customs might be a bit suspicious of a $5500 gift from a comercial outfit, which would also hurt their reputation of importing into NZ in the future, so I think they would not be keen on the idea. Even if it did get through you would then be stuck if anything did go wrong because they could always turn round and say that was a gift so we ain't paying.

Going from 50 - 100 litres on the farra job I can not see much of an increase in price (well relative to the starting point of $4k!) The different is really bigger pots and a bit more steel.

[Chris Mills]

Hi David,

As Chris Banks says I've got a 50L Farra setup which will be hopefully available fairly soon. Maybe a couple of weeks away?

I also have a 130L kettle which would make a great HLT paired with its matching MLT and 160L kettle that Chris Banks has on hand. The 130L kettle was only supposed to be a temporary solution, but it's had 30+ brews put through it and has been sweet to work with. A few minor additions (sight glass, thermowell, etc...) and it would also be a great HLT.

If this is of interest I'm sure that something could be worked out. Speak to Chris Banks about it if you want to pursue it.

Cheers,

Chris Mills

[David Ball]

Cheers Chris

Will keep that in mind.