Brewzilla

Matt_W · Sep 24, 2021

I recently purchased the whirlpool arm and it does make the hops form in a nice pile in the middle. There weren’t many hops in the brew pictured, about 60g.

It did appear to me that there was less junk in the fermenter but that’s never been a huge issue.

hoppyscotty · Sep 24, 2021

I find the benefits of the whirlpool arm are that it does aid in cooling a small amount and it is successful in gathering up large boil hop additions into a nice cone in the centre of the False Bottom that aids cleaning and tidy up. But the false bottom design itself is flawed as there are gaps around its edge as the BZ body iteself is not perfectly round so hops are sucked past the FB and the whirlpool arm greatly reduces this.

I have no issues with some stuff getting into the fermenter, not really an issue, it settles out along with the trub, but you don't want it to block your pump and screw up your transfer.

Go on, the whirlpool arm is not a game changer, but it has uses and is pretty cheap.

fgoulding · Sep 24, 2021

I have the whirlpool arm and found that it works fine. Someone said that it works better when pointed in the same direction as the cold water which is circulating in the chiller. I’m a bit sceptical but that’s what I do.

I also give the wort a few vigorous stirs with my paddle (making sure I sprayed the paddle with starsan).

The trub ends up in a nice cone shape.

Of course you’ll have less trub issues if you use a hop spider but I hate mine as it’s too fine.

Little Rock Brewing · Sep 24, 2021

Does anyone use a stainless steel mesh strainer thing on the inside of the tap for filtering out the trub.
I guess it'll interfere with the whirlpooling.

Rodcx500z · Sep 24, 2021

No i don't use the tap i pump right into the fv

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Sep 24, 2021

Does anyone think it's a good idea to hold a sieve under the flow of wort as it's being transferred to the fermenter? Wanting to get any bits out but was worried I may be losing something that the yeast needs. Just a random thought!

Little Rock Brewing · Sep 24, 2021

Rodcx500z said:
No i don't use the tap i pump right into the fv

Didn't think about pumping it in!
I'll have to get a longer hose.

Little Rock Brewing · Sep 24, 2021

Actually I guess you just have the FV side by side to the BZ. athumb..

Rodcx500z · Sep 24, 2021

Hi Lisa what i do is when i turn the pump on to recirculate i hold a little sieve to catch anything left in the pump from previous brew, then do the same when pumping into the fv

sifty · Sep 24, 2021

I hold a sieve under the tap when transferring into the fermenter. Both to catch any 'bits' and to aerate it a bit...

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Sep 24, 2021

I think the tap is better for aeration than the pump method. It gives a lovely layer of foam on the top. Also with the tap you don't have to stand there and hold it like a numpty ha ha ha!

Rodcx500z · Sep 24, 2021

You don't need to hold the pipe just put the fv next to the kettle, i will post a pic next brew day athumb..

Little Rock Brewing · Sep 24, 2021

Going to do another AG at the weekend. Got an IPA in the FV and a Saison just bottled.
Not sure what to make......

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Sep 24, 2021

It doesn't give as much aeration unless it's wayyyyy higher than the FV in my experience. The tap is my preferred method. athumb..

venkman100 · Sep 24, 2021

Rodcx500z said:
Hi i am fairly new to a 35L brewzilla, i don't have the whirlpool arm i am 6 brews in and so far no problems, when i start the pump i use a little sieve to catch the remnents of the last brew and same when i transfare to fv i also just chuck the pellets in,

Oooer.... There really shouldn't be anything left in the pump from the last brew. It needs washing out after each brew

sifty · Sep 24, 2021

Agree. Part of the cleanup. I save hot water from the chilling process and give the kettle a good wash with hot water/pbw solution and a microfibre cloth. Run the pump to push this through the system, then repeat with hot clean water and finally rinse with a starsan solution. I also store it upside down till completely dry.
Next brew a quick rinse with starsan through the pump and good to go...

Rodcx500z · Sep 24, 2021

Well in 2 years of brewing i have chucked one batch and not through infection, you can get a little to anal about cleaning , you really have to try to infect a brew, and i don't use starsan or any other of the fancy cleaners, i use good old oxy and the cheap miltons, we are all different in our methods i grew up in an age were we didn't sit at a games console all day and mummy mopped with bleach not some fancy dan cleaner that costs an arm and a leg

London · Sep 24, 2021

Just a good rinse and a quick clean is all I do, it’s going to get boiled on the next outing anyway .

Little Rock Brewing · Sep 25, 2021

Must admit to not even thinking about running the pump to clean all that gubbins!
I'll do it before the next session.

Oddersocks · Sep 25, 2021

I use the whirlpool arm and always leaves a nice hop cone. Also aids cooling with immersion chiller. Halfway through cooling I switch to the silicone hose and recirculate through a stainless steel sieve which filters a LOT of very fine crud. Like others though I find that a lot of stuff makes it over the sides of the false bottom during transfer to the FV. I cold crash and condition for a few weeks and also use a dip tube filter in the keg so everything comes out clear but I would like to find a good solution to seal the false bottom. It also rides up during the boil and I weight it down with a heavy stirring paddle until the boil is over. I always clean with PBW then hot water rinse then starsan, running each through the pump and recirc/whirlpool arms.

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