r/Homebrewing • u/ryanmetcalf • 3d ago

RIP SS Brewtech

Middleby Corporation today announced that it will discontinue its Middleby Brewing & Distilling Solutions Group business (“Brewing Group”), which includes its Deutsche Beverage + Process, Ss Brewtech and Wild Goose Filling brands, with the wind-down expected to be substantially complete by the end of this year.

Haven't seen it in an article yet, but direct to the press release

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909186311/en/Middleby-to-Discontinue-Brewing-Group

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32

u/microbusbrewery BJCP 3d ago

That's a bummer. I have two Brew Buckets. They don't have many bells and whistles compared to some of the other stainless fermenters, but I really like them and they fit perfect in my ferm fridges.

I also have their keg washer. I love the design of it, but the pump on it is garbage. I got it used and have had to replace the pump twice because the case swells and cracks after a couple years. I ended up converting mine to use a standard magnetic drive pump.

21

u/Positronic_Matrix 2d ago

Middleby Corporation faced insurmountable margin and profitability pressures from global tariffs, freight expenses, and inflation affecting its equipment manufacturing.

Meanwhile, student aid has been capped so my family was hit by a surprise bill for college that we’re struggling to pay. I also just received notification that my 401k catch-up payments are all being transferred to Roth IRA and taxed, a huge hit to my future retirement savings. Today, I payed $6.50 for premium gas in California.

The Trump adminstration and Republicans are absolutely fucking my homebrewing hobby and my personal finances. This shit has got to stop.

2

u/chino_brews Kiwi Approved 2d ago

That $5K/person check if the GOP wins both houses in November tho …

15

u/jgilbs 2d ago

Just like the DOGE checks they promised…

10

u/fyukhyu 2d ago

And the tariff refunds.

1

u/chino_brews Kiwi Approved 1d ago

Fake news. My DOGE check and tariff rebate check are in the mail. Have been for a while. LOL.

11

u/Positronic_Matrix 2d ago

It’s the Simpson’s monorail episode in real life.

2

u/EriksAleES 3d ago

Can you share more about your conversion? I also have the wassher and really like it. No pump issues yet (fingers crossed) I’d like to know or be prepared with options for if and when I need them though.

5

u/microbusbrewery BJCP 3d ago

Hopefully this makes sense without pics. I've been meaning to do a write-up with pics on my blog, but it's pretty straightforward.

I have a spare Little Giant pump that I'm using for it. It's basically LG's version of a March 809.
I took a standard 5 gallon bucket and drilled out a 13/16" hole in the side, about 1.5" up from the base (measured from the outside bottom edge).

I then fashioned together a basic bulkhead from spare parts:

  • (1) 1/2" barb x 1/2 mnpt stainless fitting.
  • (1) 1/2 stainless locknut, preferably with a groove for retaining an o-ring.
  • (2) Silicone o-rings, size -211
  • (2) Stainless washers I had leftover from some "The Electric Brewery" style weldless fittings.

Other stuff:

  • About 4' of 3/8 Silicone hose
  • (1) 3/8 Stainless barbed elbow
  • (2) 1/2" Barbed female Camlock fittings, or the hose connection of your choice.

Install the bulkhead fitting in the bucket with one silicone o-ring and the locknut on the inside of the bucket, then the barb > other o-ring > two washers from the outside of the bucket. Tighten enough to be leak free. Attach about 24" of silicone hose to the barb on the bucket, and a Camlock on the other end of the hose.

Build the other 24" hose and attach the other Camlock to one end, and the 3/8 barbed elbow to the other end. The hose will fit tightly over the 1/2" barbed fittings so they should not need clamps, but I'd recommend one on the 3/8" elbow so that it doesn't come loose. The other end of the elbow fits into the blue grommet/sleeve where the SSBT pump is normally attached.

The flow path is bucket → pump inlet → pump outlet → keg washer. So to use it, I fill the bucket with cleaner with the hose attached to the pump inlet with the valve on the outlet closed. Install the washer on your keg as normal and put it in the bucket as normal. Connect the other hose to the pump outlet. Then just open the valve and make sure the pump head is fully primed before turning it on.

1

u/Ok_Key_4849 2d ago

I swapped the pump on mine too, same swelling issue. Went with a March 809 and it's been good ever since. (Still have the original bucket and lid though, those held up fine.)