mendlodc

Recipes 

I have about 30 batches under my belt and am researching the move to AG and would like some opinions on this setup....

http://morebeer.com/view_product/15633/102307/B3-200B_10_Gallon_System_Burner_Kettle_Wort_Chiller

Seems about perfect to me, but want some advice from the pros...

I know I could do the HLT / Mashtun conversions myself and save some money - actually may end up doing that.

I am also thinking about the smaller size with only 5 gal coolers and a smaller brewpot, but from reading homebrewtalk for a bit now, we all seem to agree bigger is better.

Would welcome you your thoughts on this setup?

Thanks!

Brewpastor

Recipes 

Even if you are simply producing a cornie of beer at a time, you will still want the ability to make strong beers that utilize a huge amount of grain. In that sense, bigger is better in my opinion. As for self built, it is not very hard to do and if you enjoy that kind of thing, it is half the fun. I don't see anything wrong with the set-up, but for the money I think I would invest in Keggles and go the self built route. 3 tiers of stainless is hard to beat and it will last forever. Maybe you should talk with our friend YURI and see what he might come up with. Support the locals. Good luck.

__________________
Before I learned to brew I was poor, sober and lonely. Now I am just poor.

BierMuncher

Recipes 

Nice setup but a couple of observations:

You can make a mash tun yourself for less that $75.00 (but you probably know that).

That setup only has one kettle which means you have to transfer all of your sparge water out of the kettle and into the LT and hold it there for the duration of the sparge…while you drain the wort back into the kettle.

A bigger kettle will payoff soon. You appear to brew a lot so you’ll eventually migrate to 10-gallon batches.

Here’s what I’d go for:
10 gallon Rubbermaid from HD converted to mash tun ($75)
7.5 gallon turkey fryer for hot liquor tank ($65)
15 gallon Keggle or suitable brew pot ($150)
50’ of 3/8” flexible copper tubing from Lowe’s and hoses/fittings for IC ($75)
Banjo Burner ($75)

That’s just the way I’d approach it…but if you’re more comfortable with a turn key setup…don’t hesitate to order and get to brewing…

__________________
*******
Check Out My Rolling Kegerator

BierMuncher Tried & Trues:
Tits-Up IIPA (3-Time Medalist), Black Pearl Porter, Kona Pale Ale, Outer Limits IPA, Centennial Blonde (4.0%), Nierra Sevada (SNPA), SWMBO Slayer Belgian Blonde,

jds

Recipes 

Side note:

I saw some 60 quart coolers on sale at Target this morning at 50% off.

This was at the Target at Sheridan and Yale in south Denver.

RodfatherX

Recipes 

Thats quite expensive for what you are getting.

Here is what I've purchased so far in my venture to AG

$30 30qt brew pot and burner

$28 for MLT thats for the everything.... cpvc manifold and small inline nylon barb valve.

$50ish for IC haven't purchased yet

= $108

EamusCatuli

Recipes 

Yeah I would not go with buying all that stuff in a pre-packaged kit, you are paying TON more. Just buy everything separately, and make the MLT by yourself. Its easy, trust.

__________________
A watched pot does boil!

Sigafoos

Recipes 

I'd say go with http://coppertubingsales.com if you're building your own IC. I got 50' of 3/8" from them after reading good reviews here and was very happy with it.

__________________
Community Beer Works: a Buffalo, NY nanobrewery that is now open!

CBW website | Twitter | Facebook | HBT thread

Niagara Association of Homebrewers ex-President
Live in or around Buffalo? Join NAH for fun and excitement!

[1:47pm] chefmike: and dont listen to sigafoos!
[1:47pm] Sigafoos: that's generally good advice

stever

Recipes 

Check out Home Depot, last time I was there 50' of 3/8" copper was $59.00. Depending on your shipping its about the same as coppertubingsales just without the wait.

__________________
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?"

WBC

Recipes 

If you have the money and do not mind spending it for a turn-key system then that is OK. Everyone here is trying to save you money but if you are the person who does not like shopping around and making your own stuff then I can see why you want to go this way. Morebeer's systems are good and as an example I have Morebeer's 1/2 dia x 50 foot long chiller which really kicks but on heat. Do what you think is right and you will be happy. A Keg makes a great boiler too and is way cheaper but MoreBeers 15 gallon boiler is nice too. In the end it's your choice.

__________________
Cheers,
WBC

Fermentor 1: Bill's House Ale II, Fermentor 2: German Helles, Fermentor 3: Bill's Schworzbier (Black Bier)
Tap 1: Bill's House Ale II, Tap 2: German Hefewizen, Tap 3: Nut Brown Ale
Future Brews: Stone IPA Clone, Blonde Ale, Budvar Clone, Newcastle Clone
New toy: Blichmann 27 gallon fermentor

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging”

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment”

knowltonm

Recipes 

If you think you can do your cooler conversions yourself, you can definitely do the chiller yourself as well. Making some of the equipment yourself is half the fun in my opinion.

Do you want to fly sparge or batch sparge?
How have you been cooling your wort? Have you previously been doing 5 gal batches and now moving to 10 gal?

__________________
Primary: 20 min IPA (14oz cascade/5gal), partigyle pale
Secondary: Mead
Bottled: Orange Cream Ale, Big Red Ale, RIS, American Stout, Nut Brown Ale, American Amber Ale, Brown Porter