Hey forum,
I have a Brutus 10 clone brew system. Works great but I’m thinking of automating it some what. Just wondering what you all do and how you did it…any recommendations? I at least want to maintain a set point on my mash and HLT.
Thanks
btw-how the hell do you add pics?
You add pics by posting them somewhere then including a link in your post here.
Automation? It’s hard to automate a cooler!
My system is automated to about the same percentage as Blutarsky’s grade point average.
Not at all, nor will it ever be.
Much less that I want it to be. I’d love to have a fully automated brewing system but don’t have the funds or time to build one.
Kai
My kettle will automatically boil over if left unattended ;) Other than that it’s all manual for me.
0% automation here. Gravity and elbow grease. 8) Just need to figure out a wood fired HLT and BK and I’ll be brewing after the apocalypse(well, until the ingredients run out!).
i’ve got none.
I will always keep my cooler handy and working at least part-time. 
But I am in the process of building a single tier direct fired mash brewstand. A clone of the Brutus 10 to be precise. I installed the pumps over the weekend. I still have the controllers and pilot lights to install. This has been a project of mine for about a year now with funds as the bottleneck. I now have 95% of the parts and materials and I’m about 75% of the way through the build. It’s been an exciting project. I will have precise temp control over the mash tun and the HLT with a direct fired recirculating system.
I have a pump. I am the controller.
Bluesman, I’ve seen some of your pics…very nice system…How many gallons? I’m doing 10 gallon batches. What temp controllers are you using? Love to see more pics. Thanks
My system is as automated as The Olive Garden is Italian. So, not at all.
Paul
My rig has three burners, two pumps, a whole bunch of levers and quick disconnects, but no solenoids or timers or anything very fancy/automatic.
I use a gravity fed 3-tier system, no automation. I have a pump, it sits on a shelf. I might hook it up someday.
Gravity, it’s automatic. I deal with severe automation on various professional and not so professional levels… The LAST thing I want to hear myself say when brewing is: “What’s it doing?”
Simple, organic: Heat water, soak grains, boil…done. Ooooohm.
I like that. My life used to be uber complicated. Brewing was the release from that nonsense.
Thanks.
I can brew 12 gallon batches. I have three Blichmann 15’s using banjo burner KAB4’s. The mash and HLT are regulated by two Love controllers using pilot lights. This way I can precisely heat my strike water and regulate the mash temp with the controllers. I am taking photos the whole way through the process and will post them in my Brutus 10 thread when I’m nearly complete. I’m thinking by summer I should have the full system up and running.
I have simple HERMS system.
One pump and one Ranco controller.
Some gravity and some pumping.
My pump developed an issue to where I pretty much eliminated it from my brew day and went back to pouring the sparge water over the perforated tin foil or colander…it felt like the first time and kinda enjoyed it more. Gave me something to do … beside drink and that can lead to trouble before clean up. So I guess I am getting less automated and enjoy it more.
Bluesman, sounds like you are doing exactly what I want to do. Any pics of the gas connections would be great. 3 Blickmanns, wow…