tmoney1224

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I have a chance to get a really good deal on this kit: Vintners Best

I'm really just interested in making beer and maybe Apfelwein, but wanted to get some peoples opinion on if I could use most of the items in the kit for those purposes. For example are wine hydrometer the same? Would I need a extra bottling bucket or could I just use the bucket included for that?

From my noob perspective it seems like everything I need is in this kit except a pot, some bottles, caps, and a capper, but just want to make sure I'm not wasting my money.

Thanks, and I really enjoy reading this site.

david_42

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Most wine hydrometers are calibrated in Brix, but conversion to points is easy. Otherwise, not much difference.

A bottling bucket is always a good idea.

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Revvy

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You do realice that your bottling apparatus will be worthless unless you put all your beer in wine bottles. The corker and a beer capper are entirely different animals.

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The Open Heart Surgery Recovery "Dramedy" continues!

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

flowerysong

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Actually, some floor corkers can also be used for beer bottles using an optional crown cap adapter.

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Primary #1 - Empty
Primary #2 - Empty
Secondary #1 - The Jolly Toper's Undrinkable Ale
Secondary #2 - Empty

Revvy

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*raises eyebrow*

Really? That's cool to know....I'm going to need a wine corker down the line when my apfelwein and the mead I'm making this weekend get ready to be bottled.

__________________

The Open Heart Surgery Recovery "Dramedy" continues!

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

tmoney1224

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I figured I would just throw it on ebay if it wouldn't work, but thats good to know.

Thanks

tmoney1224

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So the extra bucket then have included wouldn't work? Figured I could just use the carboy as my primary and the bucket for bottling?

malkore

Recipes 

You can get hydrometers with all three brewer's scales on it (brix, SG, and plato).

you don't want to brew beer and wine in teh same bucket...the flavors and aromas can mix.
different styles of beers can all be done int eh same bucket, because its all beer. wine has no malt or hops.

keep plastic fermenters to specific brewing purposes. Glass carboys, however, can be rotated to different tasks.

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

Revvy

Recipes 

How much is this wine kit gonna cost you? If it's 60-70 bucks, then you can get the same thing in beer form, with a capper and a 3 way hydrometer. If it's dirt cheap then get the kit.

You can get a food grade plastic bucket at any big box hardware store for 5 bucks. Look for one that has a mark a couple inches below the lip labeled "5 Gallons." (Not 5 gallons to the top of the bucket.)

Then get a spigot at a homebrew shop for 3 bucks, and drill a hole in the bottom of the bucket...Viola a cheap bottling bucket.

(Lowes has almost clear buckets with one gallon markings up the side of it for about 4 bucks...)

__________________

The Open Heart Surgery Recovery "Dramedy" continues!

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

cronxitawney

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Are these buckets actualy marked "Food Grade"? I have been told that the buckets from hardware stores are not food grade. Food grade buckets are marked HDPE 2, but not all buckets marked HDPE 2 are necessarily food grade. Just my 2 cents.