re: Homebrewing Thread: Volume II

Thanks Bug, I might email you and pick your brain a little before we start if you don't mind.

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buffbraz

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So a couple questions before you start...

1) What's your budget range?
2) You plan on bottling or kegging?

Also, i highly recommend buying this book (or going on the website, i believe teh entire book is there).

IPA in the conical; time to have a few brews while the pork shoulder finishes up :)

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I'm reading that book right now. That's the one you linked on the OP? Planning on bottling. As far as budget and equipment, I guess something we can use more than just a few times, maybe couple hundred dollars or more for equipment and first batch supplies? Probably don't wanna go over 400-500 to start with.

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Gotcha. Well if this is something you see yourself getting into, then i'll give you my advice on what i would buy, knowing what i know now, if i could go back.

First, like B said, buy yourself at least a 9.5 gallon brewpot and i would suggest having one with a thermometer ported already. Got mine at brewstock a few years back. So you'd want anywhere from a 36 - 40 qt brew kettle, or if you are handy, you can modify an old sanke keg. A lot of places may try to sell you blichmann, but that shite is very expensive and unnecessary. I would also suggest the brew kettle be heavy bottom stainless, for heat retention and durability. I'd think you could find one for about $120.

Next, you'll want to buy a starter kit. This is the exact one i bought when i started and i still use most of the stuff.

BSG Gold DP-GFZY-7I2K Beer Homebrew Kit with 6 Gallon Glass Carboy



I don't think it comes with an auto-siphon racking cane so you'll want one of those too. or you could get a



or a sterile siphon starter



a plastic paddle for stirring the wort (or if you have something at home to use thats fine. I use this)

LINK

and then a fermtech beer thief for capturing the wort to measure gravity.

Those are the basics, IMO and i still use most of this stuff.

or you could get this kit, which is a more up to date version, except there is no carboy, only plastic buckets. I have never fermented in a bucket before, i only use carboys, but that doesn't mean they don't work. I prefer carboys because i can see the fermentation going on, and i'm not as concerned about headspace in my carboy.

ETA: Also, i use exclusively PBW to clean my equipment after, and starsan to sanitize. I hear some people use oxi-clean that works just as good as PBW.

The next question is, do you plan on doing extract at first to learn the ropes, or jump right into all-grain. Either method is perfectly fine.

We will probably do extract first if it is easier, but we haven't made any purchases yet so that is still up in the air.

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1) if you're buying stuff new, don't get glass carboys get the 6.5gallon PET ones. They have a bigger opening for dry hopping, they are super light, and they obviously don't break when you drop them. Keep the box they come in and you can cover up your beers while they're aging.

2) for your first brew, try to find a homebrew store that sells wort ready to go in packages. My local place sells kits that literally you dump 6gallons of liquid into a bucket, add yeast, seal it and add airlock, wait two weeks, and it's beer. Do that to get used to sanitizing, using a racking cane for transfers, and bottling. When you have that stuff down pat, go right to all grain just like people said.

3) if your cooktop is induction make sure the kettle you use is induction ready. As a related point, definitely test out brewing in the kitchen (this is a good idea because it makes a huge mess and your wife will quickly support investing in a propane burner or an electric kettle and a space for you to brew). I love my SSBrewtech stuff (I have a 7g temp controlled conical and a 10g kettle and am really impressed by the quality). Get a 10g kettle to start minimum and don't get shitty quality stainless.

4) if you are wanting to brew good hoppy beers get ready to invest in kegging ASAP.

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1. Glass seems cooler bc you can see the wort fermenting, but I'm open to something that doesn't break. What does PET stand for?

2. That sound easy, but I would think the fun part is boiling the wort? Might be good to start here though.

3. See above, but I have a high quality stainless pot that isn't being used. Hopefully we can use this.

4. Why is kegging better than bottling for hoppy beers?

It definitely doesn't have a port. So either I get a pump or purchase a new pot. I'm going to snap a picture of it when I get home though.

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1) if you're buying stuff new, don't get glass carboys get the 6.5gallon PET ones. They have a bigger opening for dry hopping, they are super light, and they obviously don't break when you drop them. Keep the box they come in and you can cover up your beers while they're aging.

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Also great advice. Stay away from glass. Nothing good can come of it.

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4) if you are wanting to brew good hoppy beers get ready to invest in kegging ASAP.

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And this. Actually, once you bottle the first time, you'll learn why you should jump straight to kegging.

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And this. Actually, once you bottle the first time, you'll learn why you should jump straight to kegging.

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Good advice.