I always feel a bit bad after I write posts like the above Bob as I know how much fun it is coming up with new ideas and contraptions. I do really enjoy it
.
I have an amazing collection of parts here (in my apartment
) that are all left over from failed experiments but that I hang onto in the hope that they will be useful for my next bright idea
. Some of them actually worked really well and have a place in certain size breweries. Other ideas I would actually like to re-visit.
Most ideas that involved more parts proved to be a very false economy though as the, 'ease of use', I envisioned was nearly always heavily outweighed by the parts being a PITA to maintain or clean. Other ideas sounded good but in reality were very messy and offered very little gain. I think the squeezing the bag thing above is one of these.
However, I hope my opinion doesn't stop anyone from trying anything new. It is always fun and in some situations, that I am quite possibly unable to see, the ideas might actually be very worthwhile.
The main thing is that if new brewers make a change and then record a miraculous improvement they should realise that one brew cannot tell you a single thing. I'll still get an occasional brew with outrageous efficiencies that I am positive I have measured correctly. (Or vice versa). It's boring having to do another two or three brews to confirm that a single change makes a difference but it is the
only way. In fact, even that way is fraught with problems. Several side by side brews (which means you need two identical kettles) is often the only real way of testing many changes to your brewing procedure.
I now focus on ways to decrease labour and avoid hidden infections* as I now know worrying about complex stuff doesn't give me any better beer. A good recipe will always taste great and should get you some sort of medal if your gear is clean.
Excuse the long ramble
PP
* I spent three years trying to track down an off-flavour in my beers that I couldn't stand. A few others could taste it (maybe 10%) but most palates couldn't, just like I can't taste many faults that others can. The source of the problem ended up being faulty welds in brand new kegs I had bought. They have just sent me eight replacements and the design of these is even worse. They have a lap on the inside that you can slide a piece of paper up about 8 mm
. How on earth can that possibly be sanitised??? I can't say that communicating with this company and resolving this is on my list of fun things to do
.
If you have found
the above or anything else of value on BIABrewer.info, consider supporting us by
getting some BIPs!
