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Reply To: Copper vs. Pex

Matthew Ramsay — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:50:25 +0000

I use Pex for water and air supply lines – no issues and it’s super easy to adapt/add tees, etc. One thing I kept in mind is that Pex is affected by UV light so be aware of exposure to sunlight for any runs.

Reply To: Copper vs. Pex

T. Dustin Hauck — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:47:50 +0000

Note that pex usually has a different friction loss than copper and may requires a larger pipe size than an equivalent run in copper. Check with the pex manufacturer to verify sizing based on the pressure and distance of the run, and what else it on each run. Some municipalities require plastic pipe systems to be flushed and third party tested and certified before use. Even if it will not be inspected by the municipality, it should still be flushed and tested prior to use.

Reply To: Copper vs. Pex

Kent Taylor — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:24:25 +0000

We have used PEX extensively throughout out brewery. When properly insulated, it can be used for glycol lines. Because of the higher operating pressures of Pex-Al-Pex, we use it for our air line drops. And, of course, water…

Good Luck

Reply To: Taming a Wild Boil: Kettle Boilover Protection

Marc Martin — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 17:33:39 +0000

It has been my experience that boil over sensor systems may work fine sometimes but not always. It really depends on the wort density and the heating source intensity. I have experienced and heard of cases where by the time foam hits a sensor it is too late and boiling wort still exits the manway. Additionally, sensors must be maintained carefully to ensure they are very clean as beer stone buildup can reduce their sensitivity.

These systems can lull brewers into a false sense of security. The use of products like “Fermcap” that break up surface tension work well to help stabilize a boil quicker but the bottom line should always be – never turn your back on a boil !!

Taming a Wild Boil: Kettle Boilover Protection

Adriana Terron — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:48:37 +0000

During a brew day, boils can often be unpredictable, volatile, real bucking bulls. As soon as anything got added to an active boil, I’d immediately reach for my two trusty armaments—spray hose and spray bottle of antifoam, one in each hand, like an old Western gunslinger in a high noon duel. The stakes felt just as high too as I’d watch a 7-barrel vat of boiling wort surge towards my face. Well, there is a better way.

With a boilover protection device, brewers can breathe a little easier. Kent Taylor of the Brewers Association’s (BA) Maintenance and Engineering Subcommittee has created a new Maintenance and Engineering White Paper: Kettle Boilover Protection, which contains a detailed case study on how to modify a brew kettle to add a boilover sensor control system, essentially a foam-detecting, automated heat shutoff mechanism. This is a huge safety add to the brewhouse and one breweries can readily implement with the help of this richly detailed resource.