Newest Threads

**Bobby_M** · 05-11-2007, 08:09 PM

The autosiphon is awesome, but mostly because it's the easiest way to sanitize and clean the inside of your racking tubing since you can PUMP with it.

**Bobby_M** · 05-11-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimC

You know, you can start a siphon by filling the tube with water... I don't get all the auto siphon votes, but whatever floats your boat. I found them more of a pain than a help my self. Give me a racking cane and bells and whistles free tube any day.

There is no reason to be sucking on a hose to start a siphon other than ignorance.

This method of filling with water still requires you to put your finger over the end of the tube. Now the water and your hand could be contiminated. Then you have to catch the water in a separate container, wait for beer, pinch the tube, move to your receiving vessel. The autosiphon takes away all this contamination potential as long as you rinse/sanitize it in the first place. Pumping the inner cane one time is easier than all the water tricks. Honestly, if someone screws up the process, siphoning is going to be the least of their problems.

**the_bird** · 05-11-2007, 08:15 PM

I'll still take the carboy caps for siphoning

JimC · 05-11-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

This method of filling with water still requires you to put your finger over the end of the tube. Now the water and your hand could be contiminated. Then you have to catch the water in a separate container, wait for beer, pinch the tube, move to your receiving vessel. The autosiphon takes away all this contamination potential as long as you rinse/sanitize it in the first place. Pumping the inner cane one time is easier than all the water tricks. Honestly, if someone screws up the process, siphoning is going to be the least of their problems.

Use sanitizer instead of water and ether tubing clamp, stop cock or 'bent hose' method. No reason to be unsanitary. I know an autosiphon isn't expensive, just isn't needed.

Got Trub? · 05-12-2007, 01:36 AM

Most would agree the first step up for beginning brewers to improve quality is the ability to boil the full batch. Therefore my recommendations would be:

1) Kettle big enough to do a full wort boil - SS or Al
2) Propane burner to heat #1 (because doing this on the stove is a PITA)
3) Immersion cooler to cool #1 (because waiting for 5g to cool is also a PITA)

coyote · 05-12-2007, 10:35 AM

very much appreciate all the replies!

so, a full wort boil means a lot of difference for extract brewing?

my water supply is quite limited...no way I could leave the faucet open for 30 minutes straight for a immersion cooler to work.

gotta think this through.

Got Trub? · 05-13-2007, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

very much appreciate all the replies!

so, a full wort boil means a lot of difference for extract brewing?

my water supply is quite limited...no way I could leave the faucet open for 30 minutes straight for a immersion cooler to work.

gotta think this through.

Yes a full wort boil will affect extract brews. It will help significantly with your hop utilization and ability to make hoppy beers. It will also reduce the amount of kettle caramelization that occurs with boiling concentrated wort. This is not much of an issue if you are brewing dark, complex beers but very important if you want to make lighter beers, especially lagers.

In terms of the wort cooler I collect all the water that goes through it and use it in my garden

98EXL · 05-14-2007, 01:04 PM

wort chiller and turkey fryer are my next DIY and purchases on my list...I'm excited. I want to do a full 5 gallon boil and chill it quickly

**Sir Humpsalot** · 05-14-2007, 01:10 PM

1. BOTTLING WAND (can't believe nobody's said that yet! For about $2 there is NO excuse to not have one)

2. Larger diameter racking cane for siphoning (Cuts the time to drain a carboy from 30 minutes down to 10. Why did I ever fiddle with little-diameter tubing?

3. Software (I use brewsmith, but others are good too). It really frees you up to get creative...

david_42 · 05-14-2007, 01:28 PM

1. The Very Big Grain Bag, big enough for mini-mashes & better steeping.
2. Cooler for mashing, even before adding a spigot.
3. Bulk buys of hops.
[I've kegged & done full boils on a turkey burner from the beginning]

Worst: German 5L mini-keg system. Got it for portability, but it never worked right. Oddly enough, none of the online stores carry THAT system anymore.