Breaking in my New Fermenter

[JoKing]

Recently, I commisioned the fabrication of a new fermenter for my brewery. Several months, and several thousand dollars later - she arrived. She was in a bit of a state - and took me 3 solid days to clean out. Then I had to fabricate adapters etc so as to suit the existing hardware in my brewhouse... this took a lot of time, but I got it done within a few days.

 

So... after that, there was only one thing left to do - and that was to put a batch down to break her in.

 

But I didn't want to brew just some ordinary batch of beer. No. I really wanted to brew something special. What I wanted to brew was Mash Up.

 

I had been wanting to brew Mash Up as soon as we received the recipe. I am a massive supporter of what NZCraftBeerTV is about - and I believe in the cause 100%... so there couldn't have been a better beer to break my brand new shiny stainless fermenter in with. Below is a recolection of the brew day for all to see...

 

First thing's first - Gotta use the right malt...

Crush those suckers up ready to dough in...

Behold the osmotic hydration of crushed malted barley...

Somehow - by chance - by luck... The temperature equalises to what would be my favourite saccrification temperature

Time to recirulate this big old mash up... Yes Tyler - this is mt original recirc plate from my home brew days - it carries with it some good karma... and some clear wort.

 Using my Banks Brewing Hardware Stainless Steel Rotating Sparge Arm to rinse those dirty little grains...

 

This wort is broken... very broken...

AHWHADDUP HOPS?????

Deciding if I need to add more hops...

NEEDS MORE HOPS!!!!

What the hell is this? 14.2 Plato???

Transferring all that maltose, maltriose, dextrine and isohumulone into that shiny stainless fermenter...

AWHADDUP Ice formation on my glycol cooled dimple plated cooling jackets?????

Somehow, I don't think clarity is going to be a problem with this beer...

Your compulsory cheesy product shot...

And a week later - I have decided to follow the recipe and... ADD MORE HOPS!!!!

[Stu McKinlay]

I'm thirsty... very very thirsty indeed.

[Pilgrim]

Nice set-up Joseph, we must get together sometime.

[Mike Neilson]

14.2 plato looks like 14.4 Brix to me or 14 plato just saying you know, I would hate you to pay mr exsise man more of the moola, that should be in your pocket!!

[Chris Banks]

She's a whopper! how many litres can you fit in there bro?

[Mark Meyburg]

got to love them hops bro - now that makes three fermenters 

[martin w]

mike,afaik you pay excise tax based on the intended gravity rather than the actual gravity.

[Mike Neilson]

Martin, you pay on total alcahol produced by the litrage produced through the fermentation, not starting gravity nor finished. You use your Calcs as a guide. And if you are not calculating that well you could squew if your total alc produced as a theroy to the exise man who is only tollarable to .3 of a percent either side of the intended alc theroy you produce.  

[JoKing]

Yeah... gravity has nothing to do with it. It's the lab analysis that counts. And costs. But whatever... id rather pay the lab tech than the excise backpay from shitty calcs!

[martin w]

after re-reading what i wrote it didn't come across correct, i always assumed you'd pay on litres of alcohol actually produced like you say but i was speaking with the brewer at the local micro and he told me you pay on what your recipe says you'll produce,so if your under or over you either win or lose,seemed strange to me as it would be open to abuse but thats what he told me,maybe i misunderstood.perhaps one of the probrewers will chime in to confirm?

[martin w]

ok, jo confirmed whilst i was typing!