My poor man's setup

quickerNu · 04-01-2008, 05:21 PM

Pics from my Friday night brew session. AHS Scottish Export/ 80 Schilling kit. Trying out the new picture phone, so pardon the poor quality! Here is my BYO-inspired coutertop mash setup:

Mashed a little over 4 lbs of grain in my 2.5 gallon cooler. 153 for 45 minutes.

And then the boil- 26qt stainless cheap pot from Austin Homebrew supply, on my 30$ turkey fryer

And finally, in the fermenter, next to the apfelwein and beerswap brew I have yet to sample. First time I have ever hit my OG perfectly. Changed up my mash procedure a bit. I need to figure out efficiency formulas one day!

brewt00l · 04-01-2008, 05:53 PM

Nice...here is my ghetto three tier lack-of-sculpture:

quickerNu · 04-01-2008, 07:06 PM

I aspire to one day have such a cool setup! Maybe this summer I'll part with the cash and build a big MLT so I can go all grain. Just scared of big boil pot prices!

daholl01 · 04-01-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickerNu

I aspire to one day have such a cool setup! Maybe this summer I'll part with the cash and build a big BLT so I can go all grain. Just scared of big boil pot prices!

Did you just buy the burner by itself and not as a part of a turkey fryer kit? I paid around $40 for the burner and an alum. 30 qt pot (I'd like to get a bigger pot at some point). Sure it would be nice to have a much larger SS pot, but for the time being my setup works for me!

By the way, what use would a big sandwich be for going all grain???

Sir Humpsalot · 04-01-2008, 07:32 PM

I don't know if you have the space, however, just to let you know... I built a two-tier (you have to lift the hot water into the MLT manually with a pitcher, but can then gravity-feed into the brew-pot, and into the CFC into the carboy). It was less than $100 and could have been less than $50 if I didn't choose to do a built-in water system.

2x4's or 2x6's cost about $3 a piece. Cheap!

You just need the space....

slim chillingsworth · 04-01-2008, 07:33 PM

might want to consider water-proofing that temp probe:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/remote-probe-thermometer-wort-proofing-26905/

quickerNu · 04-01-2008, 07:50 PM

By the way, what use would a big sandwich be for going all grain???

Looks like spellcheck got me! I meant MLT! I have plenty of room, just not much money. Every dime is going to a new house, but all-grain is cheaper in the long run, mini mash kits are getting expensive. I need a scale or 2 (grain and hops), a cooler, hardware, steel braid, and a big pot, not to mention a chiller. I have started doing full boils in my 26qt pot, but it is cutting it close. If it isn't really cold outside, I can't get the wort cool fast enough.
I bought the turkey fryer kit a long time ago, before I was into homebrewing. HEB charged me for the smaller kit, I even pointed it out, but the cashier said don't worry about it.

I have been very careful about not getting the wire wet, but I need to waterproof it before I screw up. Got the thermometer for 6 bucks on ebay-with shipping.

rwdr4 · 04-02-2008, 06:15 PM

I use a turkey frying kit with a 40 quart stock pot (I have a keggle also) with lid. You can find them cheap for around 40 to 45 buck if you search right.

Here is one on ebay from a discount commercial equipment seller.

http://stores.ebay.com/Discount-Restaurant-Equipment_W0QQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247

Save the money and buy a commercial stockpot and then modify it to add a ball valve and sight glass set up.

ww.cookware.com has some also.

Just a though

Bill

hopsalot · 04-17-2008, 09:16 PM

you aint to poor, I see a digital thermometer, I less off than that and I feel fine about it. a poor man sure can make good brew though

**BierMuncher** · 04-17-2008, 09:36 PM

Looks strangely familiar: