Slowly building my brew system (what to add next?)

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I have started to build a better system and get into all grain brewing. Im slowly adding equipment and upgrading old equipment. Eventually id like to have a very nice homebrew system capable of handling larger quantities.

Take a look at what i have currently and let me know what you suggest id add or upgrade next. Just looking for some input from some experienced brewers. Thanks guys.

My Current equipment:

5 gallon brew kettle
Ale pail 6 gallon primary fermenter
1 plastic carboy
10 gallon igloo cooler conversion mash tun
2 liter Erlenmeyer flask



Heres what i am considering:

15 gallon stainless brew kettle
2-3 glass carboys
stir plate


any input is greatly appreciated
 
I have started to build a better system and get into all grain brewing. Im slowly adding equipment and upgrading old equipment. Eventually id like to have a very nice homebrew system capable of handling larger quantities.

Take a look at what i have currently and let me know what you suggest id add or upgrade next. Just looking for some input from some experienced brewers. Thanks guys.

My Current equipment:

5 gallon brew kettle
Ale pail 6 gallon primary fermenter
1 plastic carboy
10 gallon igloo cooler conversion mash tun
2 liter Erlenmeyer flask



Heres what i am considering:

15 gallon stainless brew kettle
2-3 glass carboys
stir plate


any input is greatly appreciated

Those are all good ideas to step up. I would first look to get the larger brew kettle. Doing a full boil is a great way to improve your beer.

How are you chilling your beer currently? If you want to do a larger batch, you will need a good way to chill that amount of volume. When I went to 10 gallon batches, I picked up a 50' copper immersion chiller, and it does a good job.

Also, do you have a way to control your fermentation temperatures? If not, consider picking up a chest freezer and external temperature controller.
 
I would get a wort chiller before you even consider getting a bigger kettle.

A 15 gallon kettle is not much good if you can not cool it down in a timely fashion.

As far as the glass carboys, i have been getting away from them. I still have 4 but i have been using to the better bottles. I like them better, but that's just my personal preference
 
Sounds like you are on the right track. I find I need two kettles for batch sparging with a cooler...one to heat water, one to hold the first mash. wort. If you brew a lot, you will definitely need the extra fermenters. I prefer a mix of buckets and carboys. The 10 gallon cooler is a good call, I have a five gallon and it is kind of pushing it to do 5 gallon batches of a big beer.

The kettle size just depends on how big you want to go. I have read a lot of posts saying 15G kettle is the way to go, in other words buy big now so you don't have to later, but you have to look at your current needs, and what you really plan on in the future. I just bought a sweet 9 gallon kettle with two welds (for valve and thermometer) for $99 from adventures in homebrewing, thermo included in that price. I just looked at my setup and realize I like to brew frequently, I can barely drink everything I brew now in 5 gallon batches, and I don't have a lot of space for storage of keggles and a brewstand. For me personally right now the benefit isn't there to go to 10 gallon batches. But that is just me, everyone is different.
 
I do not have a chiller but did plan to get that next I had just forgot to post that. Was going to build one but will wait to see what kettle I decide on so I can customize it for fit. I have an old keg that i could use for conversion to a keggle i just do not have the equipment or skills to do so. I may contact a local metal fab facility to see if they would be interested in taking on the project.

I will have two kettles once I upgrade, so i can use the new 15 as the brew kettle and my old 5 gallon as my sparge tank.
 
I'd get the kettle. Get it out of the way, I wish I would have. You can do 10 gallon batches without a problem using the BIAB method. You won't need the other kettle. Get the chiller after that. You can use the 5 gallon kettle until you get a chiller.
 
I currently ferment in a ale pale 6 gallon. Use temps around my house to control fermentation temp. Obviously not accurate or ideal. I see the suggestion of the freezer with external temp control. What other options do you suggest that might be less costly?
 
How are you fermenting right now? The first thing I would do would be a good way to maintain cool fermentation temperatures.

Although daksin makes a good point and I agree with him (as I pretty much always do) that maintaining temps is important, I still think the kettle should be first, then maybe temp control before the the chiller. You're going to get the double benefit of taking the evolutionary step of full boils and preparing for the future (all-grain/10gal batches).
 
How big of a batch do you eventually plan to brew? If your only sticking with 5 gallon batches you don't need a 15 gallon kettle. 8-10 gallon would suffice and be much cheaper. Weither you go as big as 15 gallons with your kettle or not an IC is indispensible IMO.

For fermentation control I use my bathtub in our second bathroom. Fill with water and add frozen 2 liter bottles as needed, or use an aquarium temp. controller to warm the water if needed. Works great for ales. And I can fit up to 4 plastic fermenters in there at a time. If you plan to lager a freezer with temp. controller would be almost a necessity.
 
Although daksin makes a good point and I agree with him (as I pretty much always do) that maintaining temps is important, I still think the kettle should be first, then maybe temp control before the the chiller. You're going to get the double benefit of taking the evolutionary step of full boils and preparing for the future (all-grain/10gal batches).

I'd respectfully disagree. In my opinion, you can make some fantastic beers with partial boils, but you can't make a fantastic beer without good temperature control. It's as simple as a wet towel and a fan or a muckbucket and ice bottles.
 
I'd respectfully disagree. In my opinion, you can make some fantastic beers with partial boils, but you can't make a fantastic beer without good temperature control. It's as simple as a wet towel and a fan or a muckbucket and ice bottles.

I agree. Temp control makes the best beer. Maybe the way I should have spun it is there are several cost effective options for temp control, as you mentioned, but in order to go full boil and at a minimum BIAB, you would need to step up your kettle.

I think the bottom line is we are discussing the biggest dilemma that all new brewers face. Although I suggested the kettle route where daskin suggested temp control, if you buy either one you're well ahead of where I was when I started.
 
+1 on the larger kettle. I prefer the buckets over glass myself. So another ail pail, an additional bucket comes in handy when you transfer from the MLT to kettle. Cool glass and hot wort do not mix well. A swamp cooler set up and a heating pad for cooler temps. controlling fermentation temps. is a big plus. I assume you have an extra hydrometer? I broke one the other day, but had an extra. So many things needed for every idea, but all grain is a step before ya take the really big leap. Cheers:rockin:
 
The two best things I did was stepping up to full boils and controlling temperature. I picked up a used freezer for 50 bucks. Just look around for a deal. Most other methods are a pain in the ass.
 
Thank you for all the reccomendations. here's my newest additions:

Keggle (I had an old keg so I'm in the process of converting)
Any suggestions on conversion kits?

Stirstarter Stir plate

Chest freezer (still need temp regulator)

Next additions:
Grain mill (looking at monster mills?)
Plate chiller or DIY immersion chiller
 
Okay I bottled today and it was a nightmare.

I will now be purchasing a bottle bucket and auto siphon to avoid these problems.
 

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