I was recently diagnosed with a bulging disc and told not to lift heavy objects. Well I said screw that and decided to brew today. Ran out of beer so now I just did a 5 gal batch and during the mix process no problems but now my body is telling me how stupid I was. Does anyone know of a way or contraption to build to help easy this process. I DO NOT want to stop brewing my own beer. So Any ideas at all would be awesome.
Currently Im using a small boiler that I set on the ground and once Im done with the boil I move to a tub of Ice water. After getting down to my yeast pitching temp I have to lift the pot up and pour it into the cabby. This is the start of the things I should not be doing. After pitching the yeast into the carboy I lift the carboy and give it a few shakes. Now this is where the pain really gets going.
So any ideas on what I could do to avoid this problem…Thanks guys and gals.
Pumps for transfers. A furniture dolly for transporting carboys and kegs. A winch for lifting carboys and kegs.
There is no need to shake anything. Buy an oxygen wand and o2 tank and inject pure oxygen in your wort. I do all of this except the winch personally.
Smaller batches. You have to brew more often, and you probably want to bottle although you can find smaller kegging systems… all at the “expense” of way more variety in your beer fridge.
If one thinks of a production brewery, the beer is not lifted and shaken. Get an O2 setup. Rocking a carboy can cause a lot of splashing. For many ales I just pump into the fermenter with the valve open which causes a lot of splashing and air entrainment.
Pumps save lifting, get a pump. Or get a friend to brew with, they can do the lifting. Smaller batches, brew more often if those other suggestions aren’t appealing.
Do you wear a back support when brewing? If my back is aching I will put on my weight lifting belt, and it helps me get through the day.
Thanks so much for the ideas all. using the O2 kit how does it work and what all would I need I did a search and found the wand. Do I also need a bottle or regulator? Never heard of using this contraption before.
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/mobile/BIG-OXYGEN-SYSTEM–P3474.aspx
Here’s an example of one. Mine is a bit different than this one, but most brewers turn the oxygen on just enough that you barely see bubbles reaching the top of the carboy, but clearly see them coming out of the stone. 60 to 90 seconds is typically all you’d need.
Pros: requires no shaking, ensures yeast have oxygen for fermentation.
Cons: it is one more thing to clean, sanitize and store. Also, they aren’t free.
The oxygen bottles are readily available at a Lowe’s or Home Depot in welding supplies.
I’ve been using the Williams Brewing setup for a couple of years, It works great. I added a small inline medical oxygen meter that I think I got for about $15. The meter was a perfect fit for the tubing that came with the kit. It’s probably overkill, but for me it helps to get consistency in my oxygenation. With this and a stopwatch, I’m good.
I’ve had two back surgeries due to genetics and injuries (And I’m only 36!). About 3 months ago, I was brewing 10gal batches and just came to the realization that I don’t want to screw up my back any more than it is. Better to be able to brew than not. I sold all my 10gal stuff and went to 2.5gal BIAB. Still in the process of getting it all put together.
I ended up going with a 7.5gal Blichmann G2 kettle and the single gas unit Tower of Power.
I also have a hydraulic lift table from Harbor Freight that I use to raise the kettle and move things around. Less lifting and less weight when you lift is the solution.
Plus I’ll have the advantage of “having to” brew more often. Bummer.
3 gallons is about all I can lift (even then having problems). Aside from giving 2-3 bottles away, it’s just me drinking it. I don’t know what I’d do with 50 beers that are all the same
so now I just did a 5 gal batch and during the mix process no problems but now my body is telling me how stupid I was. Does anyone know of a way or contraption to build to help easy this process. I DO NOT want to stop brewing my own beer. So Any ideas at all would be awesome.
