10 or 20 gallon sculpture

[Speyedr]

I'm on the other side of that. I have a B3-1000, 10 gallon system. I do a mix of 5gal and 10gal batches, pretty even so far. When I'm trying a new recipe I don't know if I want 10gal of it sitting around. I also love the process (don't we all) and so I could potentially have some go stale. I supply beer for poker nights and have parties, but I haven't done the club thing and so I need the flexibility to go lower if I need to.
My point is that If I do 5gal of a "smaller" beer, or if I do a 5gal batch with a decoction my mash level can drop below the thermometer, really just an inconvenience, but it is a problem. If you by a 20gal system you may have trouble doing 5gal on it if you want to. If you don't ever do less than 10gal it's not an issue.

Rob

[TB]

Sorry to come in a little late on this topic.

Here are my thoughts, although not related to the 10g vs 20g option. If you've got the room (horizontal room) and your going to pay the big dollars for a nice impressive system, why not get a system that is easy, safe and ergonomic to use?

My thoughts are that if your paying this sort of money for a brewing sculpture, and it has a pump anyway, why do you still want to have to use a ladder to climb up and down to use it?

I don't see the logic in these high $$ systems where you put the vessel that is the most important to access - at the top of the system where you can't get to it without climbing. The only reason I can see is if you are really pressed for horizontal room.

In both these systems (1550 & 2050) you will be climbing a ladder to:
1. check your dough in water volume
2. Stirring to check the temp before dough in
3. Carrying buckets of malt up to dough in (and stir simultaneously?)-on a 20 gallon batch that's going to be around 20kg of malt.
4. Checking your sparge water level over the grain bed while sparging

If your spending the money I recommend considering getting the B3-2100 or B3-1200, where everything is at a nice low height where you can easily access all the vessels-most importantly the MT.

Pumping from the mash tun is not a major issue and even if that's not to your style you could make a grant to gravity into then pump from that.

Sorry for my rant, but I just think this is an important consideration because for the money you pay you can get a better designed system. It's not the money at all that I have the problem with it's just that spending that much on a system and then having to mess about with ladders makes little sense to me.

Yes the other systems work and many people use them, I'm just throwing out some ideas for you to think about.

[Ozbrewer]

My 2 cents worth

If your only going to do 20 gal every now and then get the 10 gal system, and a extra 20 gal kettle, then when it comes to a 20 gal batch you can double mash and your on your way


failing that just get the 20 gal and have a shit load of BBQ's


i like the second choice

[beer_bear]

I would say that if you have the ability to get the 20 gallon but usually only need 10 gallons, go with the 10 like Oz said. One other thing to consider is that while you're getting used to your new system you will probably make a few bad batches. That's 20 gallons of bad brew that you'll have to watch go down the drain ( or blend and give away.).
I know that's a short sighted, but it's just how I am. I only brew once in a while, so every batch counts. You could always get the 10 and if you don't like it, I'll take it off your hands. I'll even bring the beer to get it loaded into my truck. Good luck in your purchase.