The New Steam Condenser Lid by Spike Brewing: A Preview

Spike Brewing sent me a prototype of their upcoming Steam Condenser Lid, and I brewed a batch of beer with it on my Spike Solo (formerly known as their eBIAB). See how it went!
#SpikeBrewing #SteamCondenserLid #Steamcondenser

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[chowe]

Hahahaha Larry peeking in the view port took me off guard! Great video as always!

[stefennfiscus]

Been watching for a while now, great intro! You've really stepped up your editing/videography skills, well done!

[HomeBrewingTV]

LOL 😂 Larry, your face at 0:48! Great video my friend.

[miguelsandoval]

Amazing work and amazing spike brewing for listening to costumers.

[ShortCircuitedBrewers]

As we had discussed the angle was a contributing factor. I do still say that the spray nozzle should extend down into the T past the horizontal opening. If look at the Steam Slayer its nozzle does extend past the port in the T. Thanks for sharing the trials and tribulations with us. And giving a inside look at the development process! Cheers! 👍🍻

[jeremyyoung]

Just got mine on Thursday! Ran a water line to mine so I wouldn’t have to use the pump, then extended a drain tube back to sink. Did a practice boil, and steam everywhere! Took me a few minutes but realized two things, one I was choking the system as water filled the drain tube, second my boil was now way too aggressive. Should have watched your video first! Lol. Got everything dialed in now with a little trial and error. Running system about 47% power, and slow water flow with short drain tube into bucket. No floor drain, but at least with water hookup I only have to manage the drain bucket and not also a pump bucket. Spot on review, had the same thoughts on the portal on the lid. I’ve actually just ditched the tri-clamp now during boil as the window stays on fine on its own without steam leaking. Doing first brew on it today!

[beerme_]

Nice review..Thanks for your efforts to provide information to help home brewers make informed decisions on products and processes..

[keithreding]

Thanks for the review. I brew under my deck which has a roof under it. I don't see a need for this lid but I'm glad I checked out your video. I subscribed also. Happy brewing!

[Timealude]

Im actually looking into getting a steam condenser for my 10 gallon set up, I loved this preview..so now im just pondering to get this or the steam slayer. I may wait for the final product review to actually make my decision but thank you very much for this informed preview of the spike one.

[mattxander]

I don't expect an answer here, but I would want to run this directly off a faucet, and the discharge tube be much longer (6-8 ft) to reach a drain so I don't have to babysit 5 gallon buckets constantly. I don't know if that length messes with the partial vacuum and I also don't know if a household faucet puts out enough pressure to run the sprayer effectively. However, that'd be great questions to know the answers to as it helps illustrate flexibility of the unit.

[jonmccombs]

Great job! You provided a great review. The amount of water used was a question I have been trying to find out. Thanks!

[nickprince]

Would be nice to see that 4" port with a hinge like the commercial ones. I could see myself loosing a gasket in there.

[VincentArboriste]

Now THAT is a review! Thank you for this awesome video.

[stijnenreneetijdhof]

hi, does anyone know a steam condenser lid that fits the SS Brewtech 1 BBL kettle?

[dennisschickling]

Larry. I HOPE ALL IS WELL. Haven't seen you in a few weeks.

[TheBrewQ]

25 gallons an hour?! Holy jeebus. I’m looking forward to finishing setting up my exhaust setup lol. I turned my brew shed into a sauna last weekend haha

[CB-ckyg]

Great video, Larry. It's a sexy piece of hardware but I don't see this one in my future. (The water usage.) You helped me decide.

[henryelceser]

Cheers! Commercial units have been available for many years in industry. I installed one ~40 years ago. Nice concept for homebrewing, if you need ventilation and no space etc for an exhauster. As you say, uses H2O. I would rather figure out a big ass fan!!

Lebanon, IL

[CC-wqyz]

I had to build a steam condenser because I brew in an attic apartment with high concrete ceilings. I was getting water staining. I think this is my idea but if someone else has done it I honestly didn’t know about it. My kettle lid is flat. I built the steam outlet so it’s on the edge of the lid and I added a 4 inch ferrule to the center for hop additions. I modified a 4 inch triclover cap so it has a 1/4 inch handle on it in an upside down U. On the UNDERSIDE of the central ferrule I welded another 4 inch ferrule pointing into the kettle. To that lower upside down ferrule, I attach a paint strainer bag to catch the hops. I know this isn’t something that can be done with the device in the video but if you’re thinking of a DIY project I can vouch for it working ok. In operation, the upper cap just sits on the ferrule and gasket by gravity. When steam starts to leak out from underneath it then I adjust the heat a little. You still need a pair of pliers or a glove to pick up the cap to make a hop addition but there’s no clamp to have to mess with. This is when a picture is worth 1000 words🤦‍♂️

[Saintsdevotee]

Any impact on the smell of brewing? I brew in basement and wife isn't a fan of the smells a brew day produces.