Hi, hopefully this won't be an offensively stupid quesition that's been addressed before (I did search the forum with no results).
I'd like to try homebrew with minimal investement, and the ability to use whatever I do buy if I stay with the hobby. My thinking was to start with a 2.5 gallon batch, as that would allow me to use equipment I have on hand.
1) I've read that with 5 gallon batches you can get by with a 3 gallon pot to boil the wort. Can I use my 1.5 gallon (6 quart) copper bottom pot to do a 2.5 gallon wort?
2) I have clean, white plastic bins (how can I tell if they are "food safe"?) that I plan on using for the fermentor and bottling bin
3) I plan to buy a bubble valve w/ stopper that I'd mount on the top of the fermenter. I don't want to have a cloth topped batch lying around my place for a couple of weeks which is why I'd spring for the valve.
4) I'd use 24 screw top bottles (I do have leather gloves so I won't rip up my hands putting on the caps).
5) plan to buy a pvc valve and pipe that I'd mount on the bottom of the bottling bin.
6) I'd buy a "mr beer" malt extract kit as they make a 2.5 gallon batch.
I'd follow the instructions at
http://hbd.org/brewniversity/brewing/firstbatch.html
Comments? Does my plan hold any water/beer? If I can use my existing 1.5 gallon boiling pot and plastic bins, I think my first batch/equipment costs would be under 20 bucks. Thanks, Jon
I'd like to try homebrew with minimal investement, and the ability to use whatever I do buy if I stay with the hobby. My thinking was to start with a 2.5 gallon batch, as that would allow me to use equipment I have on hand.
1) I've read that with 5 gallon batches you can get by with a 3 gallon pot to boil the wort. Can I use my 1.5 gallon (6 quart) copper bottom pot to do a 2.5 gallon wort?
2) I have clean, white plastic bins (how can I tell if they are "food safe"?) that I plan on using for the fermentor and bottling bin
3) I plan to buy a bubble valve w/ stopper that I'd mount on the top of the fermenter. I don't want to have a cloth topped batch lying around my place for a couple of weeks which is why I'd spring for the valve.
4) I'd use 24 screw top bottles (I do have leather gloves so I won't rip up my hands putting on the caps).
5) plan to buy a pvc valve and pipe that I'd mount on the bottom of the bottling bin.
6) I'd buy a "mr beer" malt extract kit as they make a 2.5 gallon batch.
I'd follow the instructions at
http://hbd.org/brewniversity/brewing/firstbatch.html
Comments? Does my plan hold any water/beer? If I can use my existing 1.5 gallon boiling pot and plastic bins, I think my first batch/equipment costs would be under 20 bucks. Thanks, Jon