19th Brew - Lambic - January 3, 2009

So it’s official, were going to make a lambic. Since it’s my first I decided to take the traditional route and do a turbid mash. This mash is very complex and much different than any of our other mashes, so it should be interesting. Another difference with this brew is that I will be using carboys to store the beer for up to year to keep my infected beer vessels separated from my non-infected ones. Once primary fermentation is done (i.e. the Sacharromyces has done its work), I will be removing the airlocks from the carboys and inserting some American white oak that will be suspended by the stopper. This will help let in the right amount of oxygen because the bugs need some but not too much. It will also infect the oak, which can later be used to help inoculate future lambic. This is sort of simulating what happens with lambic aged in barrels.

With any luck, I will also have a fairly updated system. The kettles will be the same, but I have been making some serious mods to the system that I'm planning to have ready. Let me enumerate them for you:

• Integrated control panel: that’s right; the control panel is finally going to be attached. It will have controls for HLT temperature control, mash temperature control (using pump flow), pump control, push button hose water control, and HLT fill with auto shutoff. I will describe each of these below.
  
• HLT Temperature Control
  • Low pressure HLT burner: a new 90-100K BTU propane burner for the HLT with built in pilot. This will save gas and make it easier to control.
  • Gas solenoid: this will connect to the burner and is opened/closed using a 24 v power source from the panel. It also has a built in pilot that enables the burner to start up on its own when the valve opens.
  • HLT Thermowell and Temperature probe: the thermowell goes into the side of the HLT next to the existing temperature probe. The thermowell takes a probe from a temperature controller on the panel to monitor temperature. The controller will then open and close the gas solenoid as needed to regulate HLT heat.
• Mash Temp Control: the mash kettle will also have a thermowell and probe connected to a temperature controller. The controller is currently setup to start and stop the pump to prevent overheating in the mash.
• Pump Control: the pump will not be controlled from a switch on the panel.
• Push button hose water control: The hose water connection has a new 3-way ball valve for redirecting water to either the water filter or the heat exchanger. This part is manual, but the feed for this valve is connected to a water solenoid. The water solenoid can be opened and closed from a momentary button on the panel.
• HLT fill with auto shutoff: the HLT tank has a flow switch mounted at the top of the tank. When it is triggered it will close the solenoid as a failsafe to prevent overfill.
• Inline Oxygenation: the heat exchanger wort output will now have an oxygenation assembly connected. This assembly will have a temperature dial to monitor output temperature and will also be connected to a disposable oxygen tank with pressure gauge to control/monitor the flow of oxygen.
• New metal stand: actually it’s the same stand painted with titanium steel paint and finished with a clear coat to bead any water (or wort) off the stand.
• Tiled surface: the spot on the stand for the mash has now been tiled to prevent heat from the mash or boil from burning the wood.
• Integrated bottle opening: most important piece of hardware.

Don't think I missed anything. This is a huge under taking so hopefully it will all be done by the brew.

Please come and join us on this momentous day, new brew setup and our first lambic. As usual there will be plenty of beer. The Belgian tripel should be on by then. Hope to see everyone there.