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My own personal tornado...

There are things that make your world special. My own personal favorite at Saint Arnold is my tornado. The concept is very simple and you can make your own tornado at home. (Seriously... check this place out: "The Tornado Project" (Look for the "Secrets of the Tornado" video.) But it was a delightful discovery when I left the exhaust fan on in the brew kettle by accident.
Because of the airflow within our brewhouse, we tend to swirl the air in the kettle. The exhaust fan only enhances that airflow. The result is a very powerful vortex, which is outlined in the steam from the hot wort. (For you homebrewers, we don't worry so much about infection from exposure to air... the wort is over 180 degrees and is chilled after it leaves the kettle in a sterile environment.) The vortex is so powerful, it can disturb the hop cone & trub at the bottom of the kettle, hence the reason the exhaust fan is usually left off. It's entrancing to watch, it expands and contracts, just like a real tornado would. Seeing the suction it causes at the surface only hints at nature's capabilities. It's a moment of awe in a workaday world.

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