onejdn

Recipes 

So I'm thinking of building a system and was wondering, what is the preferred system by those that have built similar systems. Are there any major advantages or disadvantages to either? Is there another "self-contained" system that you would recommend?

lupulin

Recipes 

Damn! Where is my popcorn eating 'smilie' ?

foppa78

Recipes 

Lil' Sparky had a nice write up in this thread
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/brew-tree-vs-rims-vs-herm-74346/

Lil' Sparky

Recipes 

Awe, shucks. Thanks for the props foppa. I was just going to tell the noob to use the search or get lost, but now I guess I can't say that, can I?

j/k

Yeah, I don't really have much to add. Spend some time looking around here. There are guys with automated RIMS, HERMS, direct-fire, steam, you name it. Some are probably a little more difficult (and dangerous IMO) to DIY, so pick something you feel comfortable with and go with it. I use direct-fire + recirculation and it works well for me.

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onejdn

Recipes 

I've seen most of the threads on the different systems, I was just wondering if there was a general preference for one over the other. what's the favorite

Lil' Sparky

Recipes 

I guess that's just it - depends who you ask. The brutus 10 fans will tell you that direct-fire rocks. The steam fans are a bunch of steam fanatics that love to tinker with really weird dangerous stuff. The HERMS guys love their coils. And the BrewMagic wanna-bes are all about their enclosed heating coils.

Sorry, but I can't give you what you want. Just pick one that doesn't look above your DIY level, pricks your interest (for whatever reason) and go with it. Or... try them all and tell us which one is your favorite. Then you can answer the unanswerable question.

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onejdn

Recipes 

thanks for the info. maybe it is the unanswerable question. I am guess I'm reluctant to spend time and money on a system if I think there is a better one out there. Maybe there will always be a better one out there.

Lil' Sparky

Recipes 

It wouldn't be a hobby, otherwise.

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onejdn

Recipes 

true. kind of like the search for the holy grail

beerthirty

Recipes 

better one? Its you who make the beer not the equipment.

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primary- Tangerine Dream, SWMBO slayer,
serving- amber ale hop experiment #6, Roggenbier, apfelwine
planning- Cru?
conditioning- 9/9/09 barleywine
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