So I want to go AG... what do i need? - Page 3

**kingmatt** · 05-15-2011, 09:26 PM

upgrading to all grain was so easy I really wish I would have done it much sooner.

I had been brewing on a 30qt turkey fryer and already had an immersion chiller so all I needed to do was convert a 10 gal chest freezer that my future father-in-law gave me into a mash tun for around $20.

I also picked up a Corona style mill from amazon for under $40 and can now grind my own grain and am getting around 75% efficiency

the most important thing is that my beer has never beer better!

cyclonite · 05-16-2011, 02:29 AM

+1 BIAB

Very easy to try, and extremely cheap. Depending on your kettle, you can try it easily by picking up a 5 gallon paint strainer bag from home depot, but a voile bag is better (finer mesh). Also crush the he'll out of the grain, double milling helps - you can pulverize it down to such a degree that there is a significant amount of flour in the crush. I also sparge once to improve efficiency, getting mid 80's to 90's. Because of how easy and efficient it is, I haven't bothered going to a mash tun which I was originally planning on doing.

ImShero · 05-16-2011, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewhaha2057

Awesome! Thanks. Everyone I know. Who does AG has these custom welded frame setups all tricked out and they are easily a grand into them if not two. This looks pretty do-able. I don't really fully understand the essentials of how all grain works other than the fact that you are taking your sugars starches and proteins from grains instead of dumping in processed syrup, but I am very intrigued, especially when I see people sharing recipes for beers they made etc. If there is a link or thread that someone could share that describes the process I would really appreciate it.

I salvaged two coolers out of my folks garage. Made one for hot liquor.. the other for mashing.. used cpvc to make a manifold.. some refrigerator to make a cooling coil... maybe $100 in for everything. Hit 80% efficiency on my first all grain brew day. If you have to buy the coolers maybe add 40 or 50$ If you want pics of what I did, send me a message... I basically looked at northern brewers set up and then pieced mine together as best I could with what I got at my local hardware store.