Laminarman
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2017
- Messages
- 33
- Reaction score
- 6
Great forum here, just found it. Duh. I have done extract and some BIAB in small batch size stovetop to develop recipes. I am now interested in going to all grain 5 gallon batches. Of concern are cost, EASE of use, SPACE (small footprint) and using what equipment I already have. I really am drawn to the Blichmann BrewEasy system, but holy cow at $1600 I have other things to buy. I have a 7.5 gallon kettle I could probably get a false bottom for and use as a mashtun. I would like a 10 gallon boil kettle, the Blichmann coil element for that if 120v will work, and to be able to pump and recirculate the mash with temperature control. I am pretty good with a mig welder so am not worried about fabricating a stand/cart out of much stainless or steel I have laying around and I already have a half dozen stainless ball valves laying around, just need bulkheads. I have 240v but prefer 120v as it's more accessible. I was looking at brewhardware.com at components. I'd ideally like to be able to mash and recirculate, and in the boil kettle whirlpool before draining to a conical fermenter. I guess I'm leaning this way versus eBIAB for increased efficiency and cleaner wort. Any thoughts are appreciated. I don't know what it is, but I have sticker shock at a $260 kettle when I might be able to use the 7.5 I have and buy a cheaper 10 gallon and drill and outfit it myself. I have all the tools I need including bits. My wife said "When will you learn that it's sometimes easier to just pay for the finished product and save yourself time and money in the end." I figure if I can save $500 dollars it's worth it. If I'm going to save $100 not worth it. Any thoughts or advice or plans or images are appreciated. Thanks for reading this long post!