HopHeadGrady
Well-Known Member
Hello Everyone. I wanted to append this post to an existing thread but it may bounce around too much. I'm just looking for some high level advice before I go out and spend some money. I am looking at getting a home brew set up for xmas.
Goals:
My goals are to start as easy as possible and then long term maybe get into all grain. I have always been a great chef and prepare some good spice mixes\rubs and stuff and with my combined love for the bubbly goodness, I'm really excited to have fun brewing.
I'm more than willing to put the time in. I just want to brew some different beers and give some to the family, match some to whatever is coming from the BBQ pit etc.
Production goals are to brew more frequent smaller batches and have a variety on hand (3-4 types). I will start with just one until I get the hang of it, and the timing etc.
Equipt:
Although I want to start simple, I am not interested in Mr Beer. I am thinking of either piecing my own kit together, or just buying a kit at the LHBS. I understand from doing research this will get a bit pricy, but I am ok spending some money up front if it means better quality beer.
Some questions I have (sorry if they have been asked before, I did search )
1) Will my gas stove (20 000 btu) do the trick?
2) Why would I use a conical fermenter?
3) Could I get away with running a test batch through my 22qt stock pot? Or do I absolutely need a beer kettle? What is the best way to transfer wort from an everyday stock pot to a fermenting pale? Do I want a false bottom? Any tricks to fab one?
4) Do I go from a wort to fermenting pale to a carboy? Or just from wort --> ferment pale\conical to bottle?
5) When I do get a beer kettle I am looking at decent quality 10 gallon, and from my research so far, am shooting for 5 gal batches. As with most kitchen stuff I have bought, these can get a bit expensive, but I have a decent budget and want to get something that will be around for the long haul. I would even like to brew smaller than 5 gals as I learn. Does the size of the fermenting unit need to be scaled somewhat to the amount of brew I am making? IE can I just brew 2.5 gal and use all my same gear as I would for 5? How many beers does a 5 gallon yield (rough estimate of course).
Again, I am really looking forward to this new hobby!
Goals:
My goals are to start as easy as possible and then long term maybe get into all grain. I have always been a great chef and prepare some good spice mixes\rubs and stuff and with my combined love for the bubbly goodness, I'm really excited to have fun brewing.
I'm more than willing to put the time in. I just want to brew some different beers and give some to the family, match some to whatever is coming from the BBQ pit etc.
Production goals are to brew more frequent smaller batches and have a variety on hand (3-4 types). I will start with just one until I get the hang of it, and the timing etc.
Equipt:
Although I want to start simple, I am not interested in Mr Beer. I am thinking of either piecing my own kit together, or just buying a kit at the LHBS. I understand from doing research this will get a bit pricy, but I am ok spending some money up front if it means better quality beer.
Some questions I have (sorry if they have been asked before, I did search )
1) Will my gas stove (20 000 btu) do the trick?
2) Why would I use a conical fermenter?
3) Could I get away with running a test batch through my 22qt stock pot? Or do I absolutely need a beer kettle? What is the best way to transfer wort from an everyday stock pot to a fermenting pale? Do I want a false bottom? Any tricks to fab one?
4) Do I go from a wort to fermenting pale to a carboy? Or just from wort --> ferment pale\conical to bottle?
5) When I do get a beer kettle I am looking at decent quality 10 gallon, and from my research so far, am shooting for 5 gal batches. As with most kitchen stuff I have bought, these can get a bit expensive, but I have a decent budget and want to get something that will be around for the long haul. I would even like to brew smaller than 5 gals as I learn. Does the size of the fermenting unit need to be scaled somewhat to the amount of brew I am making? IE can I just brew 2.5 gal and use all my same gear as I would for 5? How many beers does a 5 gallon yield (rough estimate of course).
Again, I am really looking forward to this new hobby!