FRED'S BEER SYSTEM

I guess we will start with the 3 tier rack. It was made out of 1" square tubing. The welding was done by Darrin "Otis".   I fitted each level with a 160,000 BTU LP burner.  Each burner is controlled by their own needle valve.  This made it possible to use only one LP tank and regulator.  The tanks were made from junk yard supplied 1/2 barrel beer kegs.  I had the tops cut out with a Plasma cutter.  Each tank had stainless steel (SS) couplings welded in them for temp probes and for the drains via SS ball valves.  Each tank has a bent pick up tube made from 1/2" SS. The screens are made from perforated stainless.  I had to have the Mash/lauter-tun notched so I could fit a large screen into it.

The tank on the top is the hot liquor tank the next tank down is the mash/lauter-tun and the lowest tank is the boiling kettle. The tanks are normally moved up one level but the day I took these pictures, it was raining and I had to brew indoors. The garage isn't high enough for me to use the top rack!

I store my grain in 8 gallon buckets picked up from a paint supply store.  They seal great!

The beer is fermented and served in 5 gallon cornelius kegs.   The fermenters have about 1/2" cut off the pick up tube to avoid sucking up yeast slurry.

A top view on boiling kettle, ball valve, pickup tube and screen.

The mash/lauter-tun in action! I wrapped it with a bubble type insulation to help hold the heat.  I am still able to heat the mash if needed.

The burners are mounted under each keg.  I bought them from Metal Fusions.  Make sure you pick up a high output regulator with the burners.  The type they sell for grills won't work.

I fitted the Mash/lauter-tun and Hot Liquor tank with thermometers and thermowells.