Hi, So I'm thinking about building a new setup and started by comparing the equipment and process using different scenarios. I currently use a 3V HERMS. It works fine, but I would like to 1-improve ease in cleaning, 2-simplify process by reducing hose changes and 3-not spend too much money. To improve cleaning I have been looking for domed-bottomed kettles and it looks like they are finally coming into home brewing, yay. To simplify my process I've considered using a valve tree, but with 2 pumps and 3 vessels it's still complicated and costly. I've been brainstorming on ways to eliminate the HLT (and associated pump, heater, controls, piping) as a way to simplify and reduce costs.
Obviously there is the single vessel biab method, which I have tried using a Braumeister for a few years. I didn't keep it. But I have also just noticed the 2V E-HERMS setup from Friedies blog; BK/HLT plus MLT which uses a full volume method to eliminate sparging. In this case strike and sparge water are combined in one mash step. That got me to thinking if I had the same setup, I would have the sparge water in the BK/HLT for heating the HERMS coil anyway, why not add the sparge water on top of the mash, only not lauter off the wort until the BK/HLT is empty. Shouldn't the sparge water sit rather nicely on top of the wort and rinse the grains as the wort is lautered and the water level drops? I have seen other posts claiming a hybrid sparge, but I would argue that this a true hybrid between batch and fly sparging.
Then I would only have 1 pump, 1 heating element, ect. I could also use the HERMS coil in the BK for knockout (at least to get below 80C.) The main disadvantage I see is cleaning the BK with a permanant HERMS coil, even if I have the luxury of the bottom drain. In order to avoid this possible problem, I have also considered doing the 1V RIMS in the MLT; that is, second heating element under the false bottom recirculating, and no HERMS coil in the BK/HLT. Of course here I would have 2 heating elements and added control components.
If either case should workout, I believe a version of the valve tree should be possible to realize being that only 1 pump is used.
Any feedback from you guys side?
Thanks for looking
I've brewed on just about every configuration, 3V Herms, 3V RIMS, 3V direct fire, 2V eKettle RIMS, All in One Basket based systems and Single Vessel eBIAB (custom built with 5500 watts). I haven't been able to figure out any reason why the eBIAB can be bested in any of the ways I care about. To your point, it eliminates both the HLT and the Mash tun and drops the pump and element quantity to 1.
What about the Breumeister didn't you like? I ask because it's possible that the fix may not necessarily have to do with adding more vessels.
Post time 2022-10-18 08:51:00