Blichmann Top Tier: Reviews, Pics, Tips, etc.

[mthhurley]

My lovely wife got me a Top Tier for my 40th birthday in late October. I've only brewed on it twice so far (partly due to it being very cold here now and me not wanting to sit in the freezing garage).

I went with 2 burners and 1 shelf. Just this week, I used my airline miles via Amazon to buy a March pump and a cheapo HLT pot (can never seem to use the miles so might as well do something useful with them).

So now I need to buy some fittings, thermoplastic tubing, pump mounting bracket...etc.
I'm using a typical configuration, HLT on the high burner, mashing shelf waist high, boil kettle down low.

Also got my keezer up and running...I should be able to handle 4 handles at once (though I only have 1 plumbed at the moment).

Any suggestions or ideas are welcome.

[mickp]

Ahhhh...lovely wives...

I brewed my first batch on my new, all electric top tier system today (pictures to follow when I work out how to post them). The one thing I would definitely recommend are the cam lock fittings from ProFlowDynamics. They're sweet, work great, and look pretty radical to boot.
There's a youtube video by BobbyFromNJ on these...check it out.

Today was also my first time using a pump (I got one of the Chugger pumps). I use the Camlocks mainly to switch between recirculating to the mash and then pumping through the Therminator. If you're new to the pumps I'd also recommend checking out the Youtube videos showing how to prime the March pump. Helped me greatly. Also, one thing that is REALLY useful, out the outlet side of the pump, have a bleed valve to allow air out while priming. I use a spare 1/2 inch ball valve on a stainless T. Close off the main outlet valve, open the bleed valve to let air out, then, when fluid starts coming out of the bleed valve, close it, and open the main outlet.

I use the Blichmann pump mounting - don't know about other options.

Good luck!

[elsinore]

I measure the mash temp at the HEX-out/MLT-in (top of lid on MLT). This is the main temp control I use with Ranco temp control #1. So if I want to mash at 150F, I just set my ranco temp control #1 to 150.

I have pretty much your exact set-up, but how did you attach the temp probe from this Ranco? Or is it just sitting on top of the MLT-in and the wort flows over it?

[bobbytuck]

I used a stainless cross-tee (not sure if that's the right word -- instead of a tee it's an X) with a screw-in thermoprobe in one hole, a stainless plug in the hole directly opposite, and then quick-connects in the other two holes. I found the thermoprobe that fits the ranco sensor at one of the brewer's hardware places. Think it was about 12 bucks or so.

Prior to that I was simply submerging the Ranco probe in the HLT. (Although I had a differential of about one degree between the HLT and the MLT -- so I had to take that in account when setting the temp when I just submerged the probe.) So if I wanted to mash at 153, I'd usually set it to 154 or 155. With the thermowell method, I just set the exact mash temp -- no differential.

[Brewing_In_MKE]

Here is my Blichmann, I used it for the first brew of this year on Sunday to do a porter I am going to give the bourbon and oak treatment. I like it.



The best part is that it has a built in glass holder for my original BN glass. Nope, the bottom hasn't exploded out of it yet.



The burners work great. Only small problem I have is, I would like to be able to get a better read on temps in my HLT but reaching up there is out of the question, even for me at 6' 8". I roll it in and out of my garage for storage. I am going to build a pipe to run water up to the HLT from my hose, so filling is no big problem.

[TheeMattSmith]

Got a top tier and spent the last week putting it together. Everything went well except I spent a couple hrs last night chasing down gas leaks. The main culprit was the flex hose that was provided. Has anybody else had this problem and how have you fixed it. I was able to slow the leak but it is still there.
Thanks

[Cliff]

I am not a fan of gravity systems. I have a fear of heights.