Many questions ahead, maybe I can get it right from the start (not live in regret) as well as thefuture generations of homebrewers =) I did to lots of research but I still have questions. Thanks in advance.
Hey guys, so here's the scope... I have been trying to go all-grain for months but I'm on a very busy schedule and I have performed ZERO all-grain batches (the undying desire still lives on)!! I only have a 2.5-3 gallon pot so I have been using extract which tastes GREAT... but I have the itch to learn more like most of you probably... (I want to even try grains in a laundry dryer like papazian did)
The Bowery in NYC has some cheap POTS and I was going to convert it to a HL, MLT and BK but decided not to after researching more... I'm going 15.5 gallon kegs baby!!!! Why did I decide to go kegs? Well, the main reason it just looks WAY COOLER!! Goes with the theme... second, it may come out cheaper (need the same parts later but starting cost is cheaper)... third... you guys are... hehehe has to be good
so now I have 3 kegs all in pretty good shape (I bet a lot of you's wished you didn't convert that beat up keg? that's what this post is about!!) I sold a keg that was a little beat up to a guy who wanted to use it to work out... plus it didn't match the other kegs... (call me a control freak)... but I did this because I had months to reflect and didn't start converting YET
I think I'm going to go gravity setup and then convert to brutus slowly when I get more money and time... I WANT TO DO AN ALL GRAIN ASAP! Help me get the kegs ready and well start a new post on the brutus when the time is right =)
First, let's talk about parts...
What should go on the HLT?
Research + Jay suggested...
theromometer, sight glass, ball valve and diptube
why do I need a diptube? to get all the liquid out? Do you suggest more or less hardware?
You don't need a false bottom because it's expensive and it's only water (many people may not know that, took me some time to figure out... I was going to make 3 identical kegs)
What should go on the MLT?
Research + Jay suggested...
theromometer, ball valve and diptube, false bottom and lid
Can you make the lid from the one you just cut off the top of the keg?
definitely need the false bottom here. A sight glass isn't practical, is it? Can you explain why? I sort of get it.
What should go on the the BK?
Research + Jay suggested...
ballvalve, diptube, lid (once again can I make it?)
you don't need a thermometer because it will be boiling DUH! 212 degree F always. Now the sightglass and false bottom are optional. What do you suggest. I think "NO" for sightglass because it gets too hot and "NO" to false bottom because it is too expensive and doesn't really keep hop pellets out right? I was thinking of just swirling and using a bazooka... what do you think of that? Can you attach a bazooka to a diptube?
Some other questions...
Welded or Weldless? What's your take? Do I have to disassemble and clean after I brew everytime? When someone makes stainless steel weld what should I be looking for? What solder should they be using? I read a post about going to someone who is a food grade stainless steel welder? Is that necessary? I don't know about welding...
How big of a hole for the top of the keg? What do you recommend?
Where would you put all the holes for sightglass, temp, valve? I heard some people putting it on the wrong place and it heated up too much. What's the ideal location after it has been said and done?
I was going to buy from jay or morebeer.com .... need to see prices and your advice first =)
is this a good sightglass
http://morebeer.com/view_product/18699/102218/Sight_Gauge_-_16
might as well get a chiller...
http://morebeer.com/view_product/19523/102204/Wort_Chiller_-_B3_5_10_Split
this seems good... i can do 5g and 10g.. what do you think?
for false bottom...
http://morebeer.com/view_product/19812/102318/Welded_Mash_Conversion_-_Stainless
Which valve? 3/8 or 1/2? Can't really pick since i'm not sure of welded or weldless.... I'm either going to order all from Jay or all from morebeer... unless u guys suggest otherwise....
bazooka
http://morebeer.com/view_product/9685/102309/Bazooka_T_Screen
I'm not really feeling that copper... is the T better or straight one better? SHould I even get it? It says "(Pellet hops can clog the screen)."
What kind of tubing are you guys using? I can't just using tubing made for fish tanks... can i?
Okay many more questions to come... hopefully this helps me and others like me =)
are there better ones? cheaper ones? what do you suggest?
Hey guys, so here's the scope... I have been trying to go all-grain for months but I'm on a very busy schedule and I have performed ZERO all-grain batches (the undying desire still lives on)!! I only have a 2.5-3 gallon pot so I have been using extract which tastes GREAT... but I have the itch to learn more like most of you probably... (I want to even try grains in a laundry dryer like papazian did)
The Bowery in NYC has some cheap POTS and I was going to convert it to a HL, MLT and BK but decided not to after researching more... I'm going 15.5 gallon kegs baby!!!! Why did I decide to go kegs? Well, the main reason it just looks WAY COOLER!! Goes with the theme... second, it may come out cheaper (need the same parts later but starting cost is cheaper)... third... you guys are... hehehe has to be good
so now I have 3 kegs all in pretty good shape (I bet a lot of you's wished you didn't convert that beat up keg? that's what this post is about!!) I sold a keg that was a little beat up to a guy who wanted to use it to work out... plus it didn't match the other kegs... (call me a control freak)... but I did this because I had months to reflect and didn't start converting YET
I think I'm going to go gravity setup and then convert to brutus slowly when I get more money and time... I WANT TO DO AN ALL GRAIN ASAP! Help me get the kegs ready and well start a new post on the brutus when the time is right =)
First, let's talk about parts...
What should go on the HLT?
Research + Jay suggested...
theromometer, sight glass, ball valve and diptube
why do I need a diptube? to get all the liquid out? Do you suggest more or less hardware?
You don't need a false bottom because it's expensive and it's only water (many people may not know that, took me some time to figure out... I was going to make 3 identical kegs)
What should go on the MLT?
Research + Jay suggested...
theromometer, ball valve and diptube, false bottom and lid
Can you make the lid from the one you just cut off the top of the keg?
definitely need the false bottom here. A sight glass isn't practical, is it? Can you explain why? I sort of get it.
What should go on the the BK?
Research + Jay suggested...
ballvalve, diptube, lid (once again can I make it?)
you don't need a thermometer because it will be boiling DUH! 212 degree F always. Now the sightglass and false bottom are optional. What do you suggest. I think "NO" for sightglass because it gets too hot and "NO" to false bottom because it is too expensive and doesn't really keep hop pellets out right? I was thinking of just swirling and using a bazooka... what do you think of that? Can you attach a bazooka to a diptube?
Some other questions...
Welded or Weldless? What's your take? Do I have to disassemble and clean after I brew everytime? When someone makes stainless steel weld what should I be looking for? What solder should they be using? I read a post about going to someone who is a food grade stainless steel welder? Is that necessary? I don't know about welding...
How big of a hole for the top of the keg? What do you recommend?
Where would you put all the holes for sightglass, temp, valve? I heard some people putting it on the wrong place and it heated up too much. What's the ideal location after it has been said and done?
I was going to buy from jay or morebeer.com .... need to see prices and your advice first =)
is this a good sightglass
http://morebeer.com/view_product/18699/102218/Sight_Gauge_-_16
might as well get a chiller...
http://morebeer.com/view_product/19523/102204/Wort_Chiller_-_B3_5_10_Split
this seems good... i can do 5g and 10g.. what do you think?
for false bottom...
http://morebeer.com/view_product/19812/102318/Welded_Mash_Conversion_-_Stainless
Which valve? 3/8 or 1/2? Can't really pick since i'm not sure of welded or weldless.... I'm either going to order all from Jay or all from morebeer... unless u guys suggest otherwise....
bazooka
http://morebeer.com/view_product/9685/102309/Bazooka_T_Screen
I'm not really feeling that copper... is the T better or straight one better? SHould I even get it? It says "(Pellet hops can clog the screen)."
What kind of tubing are you guys using? I can't just using tubing made for fish tanks... can i?
Okay many more questions to come... hopefully this helps me and others like me =)
are there better ones? cheaper ones? what do you suggest?