This is the equipment i am planning to get - any thoughts?

Guys

I am in Woodbridge, Nj and this is the equipment I am trying to get. I am interested in simple beginner's brewing to start with and then build it from there:


1. Fermenting Bucket(with lid) with Spigot(6.8 gal)
- I dont want to invest in a bottling bucket right now. Thats why i want one with a spigot.
2. 3-piece stopper
3. Hydrometer
4. Floating Thermometer
5. I already have a 4-gal POT(Can i use is as a brew pot?)
6. Hose
7. Bottler.
8. Plastic amber bottles with lid

I think this should be good enough to start with. I am looking to brew using the canned pre-hopped extracts(with corn sugar) and carbonate using corn sugar. I will work my way up from here

any thoughts/suggestions?

jayaprathap_psg said:

1. Fermenting Bucket(with lid) with Spigot(6.8 gal)
- I dont want to invest in a bottling bucket right now. Thats why i want one with a spigot.

Click to expand...

I would strongly recommend getting a fermenting bucket (ale pail). After you ferment in your bottling bucket and spend a ton of time getting the trub out of the spigot, you will thank me

AZ_IPA said:

I would strongly recommend getting a fermenting bucket (ale pail). After you ferment in your bottling bucket and spend a ton of time getting the trub out of the spigot, you will thank me

Click to expand...

So should I get a bottling bucket also, or can i siphen directly into the bottles?

yes. ferment in the ale pail and then siphon into the bottling bucket (leaving as much of your yeast cake behind as possible) when you add your priming sugar. Then bottle

Also, I have heard many tales about the spigot being loaded up with bacteria after setting with beer in it for a month.

Deuce said:

Also, I have heard many tales about the spigot being loaded up with bacteria after setting with beer in it for a month.

Click to expand...

I've been using a bucket with a spigot for quite a while now for my fermentation vessel without much problems. A lot of people do this with buckets and better bottles.

Most people don't bottle directly from the fermentation bucket since you can't really mix the priming sugar in very well without stirring up a mess of trub. If you are set on bottiling from the fermenter you can use carbonation drops like these (click here). I've never used them but I know people do with good results.

I'd get a fermentation bucket, WITHOUT spigot.

And get a bottling bucket WITH spigot.

The spigot is nice when you are dealing with bottling, but completely unnecessary IMO for fermenting. You can then transfer the settled beer into bottling bucket and mix sugar easily without worrying about stirring up yeast cake.

But, with a spigot, you will run into the potential for gross growth in the spigot, so wash it well each time you use it and I have even started taking it apart each time to clean well. I've heard of them leaking a bit after a while, but you only use the bucket long enough to get the beer bottled, so it's no big deal IMO.

A bottling bucket is very much worth the cost. MUCH easier to deal with than adding sugar or carb drops to each bottle and siphoning from primary.

I also think you should have a seperate fermenter from bottling bucket.

Your pot should work. As long as its stainless, aluminum or ceramic (check for any chips in the enamel first howerver).

I would suggest an auto-siphon so you don't have to get put your mouth on it to get the flow going.
other than that have fun!

The thing is, after your primary ferment, you'll want to mix that beer with your priming sugar and you don't want to do that in the primary or you'll stir up all the sediment. That's what the bottling bucket is for. Also, I'd recommend a simple handheld digital thermometer that you can get from Target or Walmart because we read a ton of "broke my thermo in the brewpot" posts.

I personally think prehopped canned kits are just below a good starting point. Get simple extract + steeping grain kits from only places instead.

http://www.pronto.com/mpm/shop/beer-kits/p-3/ ,take a look here, some of them even have the beer kits.

Whatch out with the spigot lots if stuff ca be lurking in it

I use this bucket with a spigot and have no problems. It's designed to keep the wort out during fermentation by using this.

Do yourself a huge favor and get an auto siphon. If/when you get a separate bucket for fermenting if will save you huge headaches. Also a bottling wand

brewhymn said:

I would suggest an auto-siphon so you don't have to get put your mouth on it to get the flow going.
other than that have fun!

Click to expand...

+1 on the auto-siphon, but here is a good video of siphoning with a regular racking cane without using your mouth if that's what you want to go with.

+1 for autosiphon and seperate bottling bucket. I have used my bottling bucket before for fermenation and I hate looking at that unsanitary spigot for a month. I have found the bottling spigots, even when they seal right, leak very slowly. Just enough for a steady feeding of beer to bacteria, mold and whatever else. Additionally, if you plan on using a swamp cooler to maintain fermenation temps you would be really pressing your luck to put a fermenation bucket with a spigot in there.