Finally got the Black Friday 1 BBL unitank on 15% off I got from SS Brewtech after they shipped it from my local city (it was "on a truck out for delivery") to Rhode Island (and then back). This thing is so damn pretty. Shiny curved surfaces and with 6" heavy duty casters, it rolls around pretty well for a top heavy fermenter. I was prepared for it to be big, so it is not too surprising there (I think I was prepped for it to be even bigger.
Got the new SS Brewtech 31 gallon brew kettle in and started working on adding the new triclamp fittings I wanted. I didn't get the 20 gallon eBrew, because, well, it cost more, didn't really need the heating element (it probably would work with my system) and was ONLY 20 gallons (they don't offer a 30 gallon one). But I needed to add some TC's for thermometers and the 5500W heating element. I had already done this on my converted kegs a couple months ago, so, shouldn't be too bad...
I just locked in on the domain name for MossyCupBrewing.com for 3 years (currently just forwarding here). I settled on the logo left and at least have some "simple" SVG images for the brewery. I like this logo because it is simple and can be mono-color for prints like on my kettle jackets and glassware and it has some "tree" context like the Mossy Cup Oak. Next is to get the LLC and the Federal TTB filings going. *deep breath*...
This thread on homebrewtalk.com about valve tree setups and automation is amazing! In all my years brewing on my frame, as complex and automated as I've gotten it, I've always thought making a hard plumbed setup like the pro brew systems would be cool. Well, some of the hardware is getting cheap enough these days and I thought I would have a go at how I would layout my setup with 3-way valves in T port form...
Working through trying to decide if all the paper work, fees, licenses and head ache are worth getting wholesaler license to make/sell beer. I was working on some logos for the L.L.C. if I was going to do this. I also started talking and reading all the filing/paperwork necessary. UGH!!...it is a LOT!
Got my Brew Built IceMaster Max 2 dual vessel glycol chiller (with built-in temp controllers and pumps) in from morebeer.com today. First thing I did (after checking that pumps all worked and the chiller worked and no leaks) was to begin diving into tearing it apart. The plan was to wire in switched outlets for 120v heater pads when the controller needed heating. I didn't want to permanently modify heaters and peripherals, so just went with switched 120v outlets mounted in the back top.
Took advantage of the Black Friday specials and got a Brewbuilt Icemaster Max 2 glycol chiller for fermentation for $100 off. Upped the game on my boil to be able to do 1 BBL batches with a 30 gallon Brew kettle from SS Brewtech at 15% off. And, got a 1 BBL unitank fermenter on 15% off too! Well, guess it just got serious. I convinced myself to save the $1000 on the jacketed unitank and spend it on those other items, but it was hard passing up the jacketed version.
