Lawrence Brewers Guild

If you could do it all over again, what thermometers would you choose for your AG rig? I'm about to drop $60-$70 on bulkhead thermometers for my HLT and MLT, and I only wanna do it once. I'm using kegs for my kettles.

So... I'm calling for some expert opinions. Who has what, and how much do you love them?

The style I'm looking at right now are the #7417 Brewmometer weldless ones found at: http://www.northernbrewer.com/thermometers.html

But I'm definitely open to others -- especially if they work well, have nice big faces, and won't leak. I know Chuck is the king of the big dials... where'd you get those sucka's?

Please chime in one and all... I'm placing my order tomorrow and want to get this thing FINISHED so I can have it all figured out and beer brewed for Maifest.

Matt

Matt,
I run just 1 weldless in my HLT/HERMS that is bimetal, 1/2"NPT, adjustable, 2" face and has a 4-5" stem. Similiar to the Brewmometer or the Miljoco that NB carries. But i bought them brand new off ebay for less money. I also prefer a bimetal 9-12" straight stem (no NPT threads), adjustable, 2" face like the large face item#7413 for my MT. I like to mount this in the lid of the MT and its long enuff to reach from the top and down thru the grainbed. It can be removed for cleaning and for doughing in so you dont knock the stem. Dropping or knocking stems on bimetals will cause them not to read properly after awhile. So the purpose of the adjustable part is so they can be calibrated with a glass lab thermo on occasion. Such as the one lab thermo NB carries.

I have 2 lab thermos. A partial immersion and a full immersion. The partial reads at a line that is a few inches up from the bulb. Good for calibrating using water on the stove or chopped ice in a cup. The full needs to be submerged all the way to the level of whatever your measuring, such as a mash. I use the full to double check my bimetal when reading mash temps. Its important imo, to have a calibrating thermo that the rest of the bimetals in the brewery are checked against so they all read the same. Ive heard way to many times that of brewers missing mash temps because the HLT and MT thermos are off.....I use the lab thermos as my go to calibrating thermos for my bimetals...

That's a GREAT tip Andy. Thanks. I'll see if I can't pick up a glass lab thermo while I'm at it.

Matt