Beer Belly Breweries

[WSC]

I have been checking out these systems to make the full move to AG in a big way.

http://www.beerbelly.com.au/brewboy.html

I have a fridge with temp control to control fermentation temps so I'm ready go.

Does anyone have one of these systems or similar? What are the pros and cons?

[drsmurto]

If/when my lotto numbers come up i will be grabbing a mash pilot....

Wasnt last night, maybe Saturday is my lucky day?

[James L]

nar.. you'll have to go halves in me... cos i'm gonna win.. either way, there will be a brewery involved..

[Chris]

Is there any brewer who won't, when their numbers come up?

[James L]

you want in too?

you gonna start singing tool soon or do you need a few bevvies first?

just joking....

[Chris]

I know the pieces fit, 'cause I watched him weld them in...

Best I could do at short notice. Great looking equipment that beer belly.

[James L]

musical genius... chris that was good.....

[Chris]

Do you want a brewery?
Is this what you had in mind?
'cause this is what you're getting!

Now it's on!!!

[James L]

Farken magic....

[Boonie]

Looks nice, sounds great.

BTW, you can keep the Lotto win...when I win the $2 Lottery worth a cool 13 Mill, it will be purchased within 24 hours.

I might even buy 2 just for the fun of it

Envious..........Yes

[WSC]

OK, so based on the responses the breweries are good and worth the money.

I have emailed them for the price list......and will be sitting down when I read it by the sound of it.

I guess there are cheaper ways of brewing.

[Trough Lolly]

Yes, it's good gear - mind you, you'll need a Packer like budget to pick it all up! Sorry, I couldn't help myself WSC...geddit, WSC...Packer...Heh...

[WSC]

Yes I got a quote and if you want all the bells and whitsles it's $10k, basic one is $5k.

I like what they do but can't help but think my fitter mate couldn't get close for cheaper. Although the pots and stainless frame alone is expensive just for the materials let alone the design and labour.

Oh well, keep dreaming

[drsmurto]

Your mate prob could get cheaper if you dont have to pay for labour. My understanding is this takes a hell of a long time to build and Wayne is a perfectionist. he wont let one of his babies leave till he is 110% satisfied its as good as he can make it.

I keep buying xlotto tix in the hope.........

[Trough Lolly]

I have two sons at home - 4yo and 6yo - one's going to be a fitter and the other an electrician!

Cheers,
TL

[Biernut]

Yes I got a quote and if you want all the bells and whitsles it's $10k, basic one is $5k.

I like what they do but can't help but think my fitter mate couldn't get close for cheaper. Although the pots and stainless frame alone is expensive just for the materials let alone the design and labour.

Oh well, keep dreaming

S/S frame! "phew" that would be expensive. I am putting together a frame out of 2mm square section steel and will spray it with black two part epoxy at the fraction of the cost of S/S. Two reasons I am doing this is that (1) I don't have the gear to work with stainless and (2) the cost would be beyond my financial resources. I estimate the cost of setting up a brewery for AG using gear similar to T/L's you are looking at a tad over a grand, of course if you are buying a case a week of your local swill this would pay for itself in a year. Some time down the track I will post a blow by blow cost of items I have paid for to put this system together for those who may be interested.

[drsmurto]

I still dont have a brew stand. I use a table and 3 milk crates with varying numbers of bricks and/or lumps of wood.

Now that i have gotten rid of a mates furniture from my shed (its been there for 18 months!) i can actually start thinking about constructing a more permanent brewing structure.

[Trough Lolly]

My brewstand is 20mm steel section that's welded and powdercoated silver. I designed it and had it built at a local metalshop. The benchtop is Stainless steel and removable (it's partially removed in the picture - and lays nice and flat when pushed down on the top of the frame). I hesitated to powedercoat it because the rig would be close to heat (3 ring burners) and the metalshop used a special paint that's heat resistant. I expect it to degrade over time - but that's fine...it gives it a rustic look!

The 10 Gallon rubbermaid mashtun is there for scale - it's plenty big enough as you can see. It has heavy duty lockable wheels and doubles nicely as a BBQ servery when necessary...

Cheers,
TL

[tazman67]

Nice beer porn TL

[Biernut]

Good setup T/L, I take it you are using a March pump to move liquid from one vessel to another. I have elected to go for a tree like structure, HLT at the top gravity feed to mash tun, gravity feed to boiler, then pumped through chiller to fermenter on the same level. HLT will be gas assisted with an electric element thermo controled to select heat and maintain it. The boiler is gas heated. I am fortunate to have the space and a fairly well equiped workshop, so most of the labour is my own time permitting. To have this setup outsourced or purchased from a supplier such as Beerbelly represents a big outlay and could realistically only be born by a brewing group. While Mr Blichmann and his lovely daughters standing in his pots may look enticing, they still represent a hefty outlay for the one out AG brewer. I guess the bottom line is if you are handy and have a bit of gear and the room to put it together scrounge around for some s/hand S/S kegs and whatever else you can find to make your brewing day a little easier.