$1 Solution To A $150 Problem
When I was putting my first brewery together, my partners weren’t that thrilled about the whole idea, especially me spending extra money to add a brewery to our little wood oven pizzeria called IL Vicino. So I had to figure out less expensive ways to get tthe brewery going.
My friend Bill Carver of Carver’s Brewing in Durango, Colorado gave me a tour of his brewery and all the things he did to save money. What stood out for me was the way he separated the settled yeast in his serving/conditioning tanks. Rather than use a racking arm with a butterfly valve attached, he used a simple length of one-inch plastic PVC that he jammed in the bottom outlet. This created a stand-pipe, so all the yeast would settle below the stand-pipe opening, and the clear beer exits the pipe leaving the yeast behind. Brilliant.
Not only did this work in 1993, I have to admit I still use it today. Not on our fermenters - I’m not stupid - but in the serving tanks. It’s just simple.
Cut about a 5” length of PVC. I used to add a couple rubber gaskets to it, but it’s not necessary because just the PVC will hold in the outlet.
First I clean the PVC and soak in in sanitizer. Next, when I am ready to transfer my beer to the serving tank, which has been cleaned and sanitized, I insert the PVC into the bottom drain of the server (using rubber gloves). Next I add finings, close up the tank, and add CO2 to the tank and give it a little time (5 minutes) to let the CO2 settle to the bottom. Now I start the transfer, slowly at first so I don’t blow out the PVC, and then gradually up the speed.
Once the tank is finished and I am ready to clean it again I take the pressure off the tank and vent out all the CO2. Now I can open the man-way and pull out the PVC. With the stand pipe out I can rinse out the tank before doing a CIP. I have been brewing this way now for almost thirty years and have never had a problem.
Like all my Frankenbrew suggestions, take it or leave it. I wouldn’t offer it if it didn’t work for me. Maybe you would choose to go this route when you start and then later when you have the money, switch to racking arms. As in all Frankenbrew ideas, the purpose is to get you into your brewery without spending a fortune. From there you will have the resources to grow and buy any equipment you want. But you have to make a start, and simple suggestions like using a piece of PVC as a stand pipe may help you get to your brewery opening day.
On a side note, I finished a simple E-book on business systems. It’s cheap at $5.99. When we teach students how to open breweries, this system is the number one thing I emphasize. It works in any kind of business that deals with customers. I’d love to know what you think. Link below.
