$100 Brew Money- Which would you get?

menschmaschine · 06-18-2009, 03:26 PM

Looking for some opinions here. If you had $100 of belated birthday money to spend on brewing equipment, which would you get?:

1. 4 Corny Kegs (currently have 4 and need to stock up on brew for upcoming birth of first child)

2. Upgrade 25 ft immersion chiller to 50 ft (brewing 10+ gallon batches using 25 ft IC. It gets to 80°F in about 30 minutes and to pitching temps in about an hour give or take (ale/lager)... wouldn't mind reducing this time. Shorter brew days are soon to be important.

)

3. 2 Perlick faucets and accessories for keezer build. (currently using picnic taps with unconverted chest freezer)

Thanks.

chefmike · 06-18-2009, 03:28 PM

I have a one year old... go for the cornies. And maybe play with no-chill brewing for awhile. It has taken me a little bit to get back on schedule after my daughters birth. The 8 kegs will let you pile it away when you have time.

And no chill might change your brew day!

wildwest450 · 06-18-2009, 03:33 PM

I would definitely go with the IC. It's not the sexy pick, but an hour is to long to get down to pitching temps. I use my 50 footer for single and double batches, and it works great for both. About 20 minutes to pitching ale temps.

**Cpt_Kirks** · 06-18-2009, 03:35 PM

The cornies and a little submersible pump from Harbor Freight. Pump ice water from a bucket into your current IC.

menschmaschine · 06-18-2009, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the input. I already use a submersible pump to get my lagers into the 40s°F. I don't know about that no-chill brewing... sounds like crazy-talk to me.

Coppertubingsales.com has 50ft role of 1/2" OD for $34.60. Perhaps I can make one and still have enough left over for 2 cornies... a best-of-both-worlds solution. The perlicks will have to wait.

**Mutilated1** · 06-18-2009, 04:45 PM

get some nice faucets that you'll enjoy everyday

**IrregularPulse** · 06-18-2009, 04:46 PM

I say Cornies. I Have 4 already and am learning 4 more is a necessity. I stepped up to 10G brew days since having my son due to fewer brew days. Well 2 batch and theres all my cornies.

**samc** · 06-18-2009, 04:49 PM

"need to stock up on brew for upcoming birth of first child" -

that's just silly, by the time the kid is old enough to drink that beer will be skunky!

But seriously folks I would go for a chiller, seeing as how the no chill method turns you off. I am going to try that in the near future as the chilling ranks almost as low with me as cleaning out the mash tun.

Good luck with the newborn - you will look back on the first few years with happiness when they get to be over 6 or so.

TommyBoy · 06-18-2009, 05:00 PM

Cornies. Fill up that pipeline of beer.

**Edcculus** · 06-18-2009, 05:10 PM

Cornies. Since I started kegging, I've learned you can never have too many.