Moving to civilization - need list of equipment

[Venari]

I'm planning on returning to civilized lands shortly, and would like to make the switch to AG brewing.

What's a good "starter kit" list of equipment I'd need for AG brewing?

 

[JonM]

What do you have so far?

 

[kh54s10]

It all depends on what type of brewing you wish to do.

Least amount of equipment = BIAB

A pot big enough for your batch size.
A mesh bag big enough for the batch size.
fermentation vessel
A good thermometer.
A way to keep the fermentation temperature controlled
Mixing paddle or spoon
hydrometer
blow off tubing
siphon
bottling bucket
bottling wand
bottles, bottle caps, and a capper
Malts
Hops
water
yeast.

Patience.

Then enjoy your homebrew.

 

[McGarnigle]

Not sure why you'd want to return to civilization. Do you have any idea what's been going on here?

 

[Venari]

What do you have so far?

I'm going to abandon all the stuff I have here, and start anew in Ottawa.

@kh54s10 I assume my fermentation temp, I'll need to build a fermentation chamber out of a fridge and STC1000?

 

[lolcats]

Not sure why you'd want to return to civilization. Do you have any idea what's been going on here?

lol

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Shotgun, Insurance, security cams ...

Oh you said move to AG equipment. I thought move to civilization equipment.

 

[JonM]

If you want to do non-BIAB, then a 10 gallon kettle (I have found the ball valve and sight glass are invaluable) a couple coolers (a five and a ten work well. They nest together for easy storage) a burner, a chiller, and I've found that a metal shelf from Menards or whatever works great for gravity draining. Make a braid with a water heater hose braid (the dishwasher/toilet ones suck) and CPVC fittings, and get some ball valve/bulkhead assemblies for the coolers. Get some thermoplastic tubing and Brass quick disconnects from McMaster Carr will save you tons of headaches when moving hoses.

Keep your eye on Northern Brewer. They often have "buy a kettle, get a refractometer" sale or "spend $125, get a free burner" deal.

 

[Brew_Meister_General]

I'm planning on returning to civilized lands shortly, and would like to make the switch to AG brewing.

What's a good "starter kit" list of equipment I'd need for AG brewing?

I imagine your main learning curve then is grain and best of all: water chemistry!

Here's what I would recommend in terms of reading about grain: http://www.brupaks.com/BRUPAKS GRAIN GUIDE WEB.htm

All-grain purchases:

1. Phosphate acid (rather than lactic, for lowering mash pH)
2. pH meter (electronic ones are cheap on amazon)
3. Water report (contact local council or purchase a report from a HB store)
4. Silicone tubing (for transferring hot wort)
5. Beer paddle (preferably steel or wood for mashing)
6. Iodine (for checking starch conversion at the end of the mash)
7. Thermometer (for mash temperature)
8. Campden tablets (for neutralising chlorine and chloramine)
9. Water filter (ex. Aqua Optima, for reducing water alkalinity)

An alternative to a picnic cooler mash tun would be a stainless steel one as then you would be able to directly apply heat to it so you can do a multi-rest mash (ex. 104f, 140f, 158f) without any of the leg work.

Good things to learn about:

- The influence of water-to-mash ratios (thicker mash = more dextrins)
- pH levels of different grains (ex. black malt = 4.2)
- The effect of temperature on the mash (and relevant enzymes such as...)
- Beta amylase (104f) and Alpha amylase (140f)
- Different sugars present in the mash (i.e. glucose, maltose, malto dextrin)
- Tannin extraction (which will actually be covered in pH and temperature)

And there's always John Palmer if you need him!

General Recommendations:

10. FastFerment (eliminates the need for a syphon, bottling bucket and secondary fermenter)
11. Brupak electric boiler, 29 ltr (inexpensive and light in weight)
12. Wortchiller (can make one at home)
13. Protafloc (instead of irish moss)
14. Gelatine (instead of isinglass)
15. Dried-malt extract (for priming)

 

[kombat]

I suppose the easiest/cheapest way to dive in would be Brew In A Bag (BIAB). You'd need a pot, a burner, a bag, a fermenter, a hydrometer, a siphon, a bottling bucket, a capper, some bottles, some caps, some StarSan... I think that's it?