Hey all,
Our 10bbl kettle is outfitted with a stack condenser for steam control, as we have three stories of apartments above the brewery. Flow rate of inlet water is regulated by a globe valve, and the outlet has an in-line thermometer. In general, to minimize water waste (our HLT is undersized and routinely overflows during KO), I typically hold the discharge water to about 160*F; it's enough to keep the steam down, and neither wastes water nor excessively cools the HLT. It also frankly makes me feel like I'm achieving some semblance of consistency.
Of course, that temperature is largely arbitrary and based on some practical considerations. There's a part of my brain that wonders if different temperatures might affect the kettle differently. For instance, would a cooler temperature pull that vacuum from steam to liquid more aggressively and change evaporation, DMS, etc. Or does it make no difference to the resulting wort at all?
I haven't been able to find any info on this. Thanks.
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Matt Agpaoa
Director of Brewing Ops.
Triumph Brewing Cos.
Red Bank, NJ / Princeton, NJ / New Hope, PA
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