Homebrew Kit, Brewpot, Keg, Wort Chill Questions

[jwerkb]

So I finally got a homebrewing kit! Merry Christmas ME!!!



I have so many questions my head is about to explode so I figured I would just start getting help here. First off here is the starter kit i got:

http://www.monsterbrew.com/Prod_GoldKit.cfm

I was just wondering if there is anything this is missing that I need. The only other thing is I got bottles but I plan on kegging since I have a kegerator. I was planning on just getting a 5 gal reconditioned soda keg. How well do these work? Any advice on where to get or how to handle them? What else will I need with the keg to make it work? I have a CO2 tank, regulator, and beer and gas hose (basically just everything to hook up a store bought keg to my kegerator).

The other thing I have questions about is the brewpot and wort chillers. I plan on getting both and was wanting advice on them. Whats a good entry level item for each of them? The brewpot is being bought for me so I could even go a little expensive on that . Should I get a spigot and/or temp gauge built into it? Should I get a copper or SS wort chiller? I have seen both.

I am so pumped about this. Thanks for the advice ahead of time.

 

[TXBeowulf]

Might want to get a siphon tube or auto-siphon, and a paddle, aeration stone/ and pump or wine whip for aerating your wort.

 

[Ziggybrew]

I feel your excitement. It doesn't really wear off with this hobby.

First off. Those basic kits are great and will make good beer. As I sit here and look at the thousand plus dollars worth of equipment -- most of this crap is just to make this hobby easier or faster. But I could still get by with the original kit.
I love bottles, but you won't be disappointed if you just come out of the gate kegging with cornies (those soda kegs). As far as this versus that-- preference, price and availability.
I have a SS chiller because it was the biggest they had and was on sale and cheaper than the copper. The bigger, the colder.
The only thing I would say about pots are. BREW BEER WITH WHAT YOU HAVE -- IT'LL WORK!!! If I had to do it over, I would have started with a ten gallon pot for 5 gallon batches of extract kits. But I actually got by fine with a 7.5 even with all grain. To me, a 20 gallon kettle would be ideal (giving me the option for ten gallons). But when you see the price for big kettles you may want to just make beer, enjoy the beer, and start another batch until you get a windfall for more equipment.
Our hero Carlie P said it best: "RDWHAHB = RELAX DON'T WORRY, HAVE A HOMEBREW!"

Just make beer with what ya know and what ya got to work with. The rest will fall into place. Also--Read the stickies in each forum. Most questions will disappear.

 

[Ziggybrew]

Might want to get a siphon tube or auto-siphon, and a paddle, aeration stone/ and pump or wine whip for aerating your wort.

+1 on the Auto Siphon. That is one gadget that is awesome. Also, did not see a bottling wand on that list. A cheap fix for some headaches. (After you've done a batch or two, you will actually be looking for a solution to whatever problem you encountered.)

Warning: Plan ahead. Some gadgets are only cool until you take the next step. I have a 90 bottle tree with bottle rinser that sits idle next to my kegging accessories

 

[mightynintendo]

Copper wort chiller. Stainless steel is a terrible material for heat conduction.

A spigot installed on a brew kettle would be awesome. Don't know who would do this... maybe a good DIY project.

Corney kegs are awesome. They are all I use (I don't bottle). Just be sure to test the seals on them every so often or you could end up draining your CO2. Oh, and make sure you get a long enough beer hose. They need to be pretty long if you want to keep your beer under the proper serving pressure without spraying it into your mug when serving.

The only other thing is you might want another bucket. It makes aeration after the wort cools a breeze (just dump back and forth).

 

[jwerkb]

I was thinking about this brew pot:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/polar-ware-brewritetm-40-qt.html

and this wort chiller:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/copper-immersion-wort-chiller.html

Its a 10 gallon which seems like a good starter size and also the pot seems like its of good quality. I can always add to it later.

 

[mightynintendo]

That's an awesome pot! I have a crappy enamel pot

Immersion chillers are pretty awesome too. In the wintertime when the water is cold, it will cool 6 gallons of wort in under 15 minutes. Heck even under 10 sometimes.

 

[Ziggybrew]

Looks good:

I was thinking about this brew pot: I think you would be happy with that. It would see you through high gravity beers too!!

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/polar-ware-brewritetm-40-qt.html

and this wort chiller: I never used a 25 foot so I can't knock it. I saw they had a 50 foot tube and went with that. If they make a 25 ft, then it must work.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/copper-immersion-wort-chiller.html

Its a 10 gallon which seems like a good starter size and also the pot seems like its of good quality. I can always add to it later.

 

[dandw12786]

If you have a sams club membership (or know someone who has one) you can get a 40 qt aluminum pot for about 40 bucks. I have one from there, its great!

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=102996&variance=40+qt.

I see you're thinking of stainless steel, but at least consider aluminum, especially to save a hundred bucks, just think of all the extra stuff you could buy! You'll hear a lot of opinions on the subject, and there is a pro/con sticky somewhere in the beginner or equipment board. All opinions aside, bottom line is this: A pot is a pot is a pot.

 

[PorterIdontknowher]

I was thinking about this brew pot:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/polar-ware-brewritetm-40-qt.html

and this wort chiller:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/copper-immersion-wort-chiller.html

Its a 10 gallon which seems like a good starter size and also the pot seems like its of good quality. I can always add to it later.

Another option on the pot, a little smaller, but still SS, I've got one and its pretty solid...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYUA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[coffeegod]

+1 on the autosiphon, a vintinator and bottle tree is really nice as well for sanitizing bottles, buy a spare hydrometer or three they break like crazy, and a floating thermometer as well...oh and don't forget the brewing books, must have more books...

 

[coffeegod]

Question, what are you supposed to do with the bottling spigot?

 

[Ziggybrew]

Question, what are you supposed to do with the bottling spigot?

hook 'er up to the bottling wand

 

[TXBeowulf]

It also keeps beer from falling out of the hole at the bottom of the bottling bucket

 

[coffeegod]

right but the kit shown does not come with a bottling bucket, just the spigot...is the fermenter ported?

 

[jwerkb]

Yes it is

 

[coffeegod]

ok now I am less confused