Turning down a conical...

[stevedasleeve]

So I turned 50 & my wife said "lets get you the ultimate brewing system." I thought about it quite awhile and finally decided...well... maybe next year! I've dialed in and am making the best beers I have ever made, or even tasted... anywhere!

This afternoon I went to replace my cracked better bottle (don't ask) with a 6.5 gallon glass carboy and the brew shop had a conical on sale, displayed, and waiting to get taken home. My wife said, let's get it. And I said... nope!

I wonder how many of you have also felt the same way? I can make great beer with my igloo cooler and glass carboys and my not quite enough volume kettle and no fancy equipment "upgrade" seems likely to do anything more than take a whole bunch of time to get used to to make... great beer (which I already do.)

Happy black Friday weekend!

Steve da sleeve

 

[thughes]

Amen.

 

[Billybrewer09]

Would probably have done the same thing. I enjoy my simple little system. It makes great beer.

 

[matt2778]

I have to agree with your philosophy. I'll spend money on equipment I know will significantly improve my beer(Johnson controller, grain mill, various books etc.), but I don't think a $800 conical fermentor or a $300 kettle will make my beer significantly better. I'd rather spend my money on grain, hops and yeast.

 

[wailingguitar]

KISS! What works works... all the matters is what hits the glass!

 

[BigUgly]

I'd take the conical in a second! No reason to deny yourself a nice fermentor to make things easier...
Whatever floats your boat.

Hunter

 

[Chipman]

I have to agree with your philosophy. I'll spend money on equipment I know will significantly improve my beer(Johnson controller, grain mill, various books etc.), but I don't think a $800 conical fermentor or a $300 kettle will make my beer significantly better. I'd rather spend my money on grain, hops and yeast.

It's important to have your Johnson well controlled while brewing, stay focused! I feel the same way, having fine control over temp, grind, etc is way more important.

 

[rico567]

Best thread on the issues of "upgrades" I've read in a while. Personally, I brew 5 gallon batches. I can see little reason to move to a 5 gallon conical. So.... that means if I change, I go to a larger conical, and I have to accept everything that goes with that jump in batch size. The magical thing about 5 gallon batches for me is that everything -brew pot, mash tun, bucket, etc.- is physically manageable by an adult of normal size and strength. So- no transfer hoses, pumps, or etc. Go to 10 gallon batches, not only do you get double the beer, you will likely (from what I read everywhere on the forums) also have to accept a much more expensive and complex system. Then there's double the bottles at bottling time...and I don't mind 54 at all, but 108 bottles seems like an awful lot at one time. Soooo......I do what, go to kegging then, and accept all the associated expense and complexity? I think not.

K.I.S.S. all the way.....

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I like my simple system. And I did it on a college budget by being patient, enjoying the equipment I had, and only taking on a project when I could find the equipment free or for a steal. Here's what I'm working with:

- 12gal cooler with SS braid manifold ($15 in all, got the cooler at Savers)
- Stove-top boiling (high elevation makes it easy to get a boil on the stove)
- Plastic buckets
- Freezer fermentation chamber (freezer was free; with collar and controller ~$50)
- Two tap kegerator (again, fridge was free)


I have a sanke and BG-10 burner/stand (both were free) ready to go. All I have to do is cut the top of the keg and buy a 20psi hose. Total cost will probably be $35-50.

Don't get me wrong, when I have a real job and have the money to spend I will build a nice rig and everything. But I'm happy with what I have now.

 

[Huskysibe]

I have the opportunity to get a conical at an awesome price but I just don't see the benefit. What's the big deal? I can't swamp cooler it to regulate temps and siphoning from a carbon seems easy enough to not justify the added expense. Thoughts?

Billy

 

[AiredAle]

I've done the same thing, considered and rejected a stainless steel conical fermenter. I do have a polyethylene 7 gallon conical I bought with great anticipation, and have used maybe 3 times. Too difficult to sanitize to my standard -too many parts to give me peace of mind over sanitation. Also as was pointed out, harder to control fermentation temperature than a carboy. so anyone want to buy a plastic 7 gallon conical and stand?

 

[Teromous]

I have the opportunity to get a conical at an awesome price but I just don't see the benefit. What's the big deal? I can't swamp cooler it to regulate temps and siphoning from a carbon seems easy enough to not justify the added expense. Thoughts?

Billy

They sell ones that have a watercooling system attached.

I like the conical fermenters, but I don't brew large enough batches to need one.

I think a lot of people get them for the same reason that they get an expensive engine hoist, a drill press, or a large rolling tool cabinet. You don't always need things, but expensive toys are fun! The biggest problem that I have...well second biggest problem, is that once you buy it, where do you go from there? You can't dream about it anymore, and there's not much you can do to upgrade. The biggest problem is that the wife will say "where would you put that?" haha.

Kudos for having the willpower! Also...buy your wife something nice. Even if you didn't buy the conical, that sentiment deserves flowers at the least.

 

[billtzk]

Geez, whatever happened to coveting "bling" for it's own sake?

But anyway, what is this, a full moon or something? Everyone who has responded is missing the most important point. Steve da sleeve has a wife who WANTS him to spend more money on his brewing hobby. You don't just waste an opportunity like that. Steve, quick, buy something before she changes her mind! Figure out what would be helpful or cool to have, and buy it!

 

[PimpHandBrew]

I am new to this and all I see spending money on is more product to brew more beer. But, I wish I had a wife like yours. I catch poo for having to many bottles, to many buckets of fermenting beer, and spending too much time reading this site. Good times man. She deserves a special christmas present for being supportive to your hobby.

 

[Revvy]

I've always like you Steve....I think I can see why now...I have the same philosophy...though I'm not adverse to bling....but you know something, I would rather by a plastic induction thank from us plastics, and make my own conical, prolly for half the price, and 500 times the satisfaction of having done it myself. Though having a conical, even a homebuilt one is way down on the list of life's priorities....Even brewing priorities. I have a simple system, that is more and more dialed in with each brew, and I make some pretty darn good brews with it. Having Bjcp master beerjudge friends is a good gauge of if I'm doing something right...If they enjoy my beer socially then I know I'm doing something right with my ghetto brew rig.

 

[Pappers_]

Not turning a hobby into another exercise in shopping and consumption can be challenging. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[boo boo]

I have the opportunity to get a conical at an awesome price but I just don't see the benefit. What's the big deal? I can't swamp cooler it to regulate temps and siphoning from a carbon seems easy enough to not justify the added expense. Thoughts?

Billy

I have a SS conical and a plastic conical and love both of them. One problem I have is space..... space to fit both in my fermentation fridge. I can fit one in there at a time, and the problem with this, is that I brew mostly lagers. I can fit 2 carboys in there... so until I get the bulk of my lager fermenting done for the year, I use them for ales.
This will change when/if I decide to build a space to chill beer that will hold both conicals. While I love the look of conicals in gereral, I also love to see the brew in action through the glass of a carboy. Both ways make the same beer.

 

[nukinfuts29]

I'm sending my wife to take lessons from your wife.

Sent from my Galaxy S 4G using Home Brew Talk for Android

 

[StittsvilleJames]

This is a disgusting example of anti-capitalism and poorly disguised attempt to subvert the economy! The Western way is to consume, dammit. You must be a commie or something.

All kidding aside, I applaud your decision.

I agree with Revvy, in that the best and most rewarding part of this hobby (besides the awesome homebrew) is the satisfaction of going the diy way. Building your own equipment is half the fun. Homebrew-ed equipment for making homebrew.

 

[richkev]

Over the years, I have absolutely drooled over the B3 systems. At one time, I was even setting aside money for one. Now, like a few of you, I have gotten dialed in to my el cheapo system, and have decided against going all out (I'd rather send my kids to college, lol). But, I still pull out my catalog and dream... Mmmm, beer porn...

 

[RunkRod]

Geez, whatever happened to coveting "bling" for it's own sake?

But anyway, what is this, a full moon or something? Everyone who has responded is missing the most important point. Steve da sleeve has a wife who WANTS him to spend more money on his brewing hobby. You don't just waste an opportunity like that. Steve, quick, buy something before she changes her mind! Figure out what would be helpful or cool to have, and buy it!

x2

SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!

 

[Yooper]

I'd take the conical in a second! No reason to deny yourself a nice fermentor to make things easier...
Whatever floats your boat.

Hunter

The reason I don't have a conical (besides the $$$$) is that I don't have a dedicated cool space for it for temperature control. A fermenter I can carry someplace or stick it in a swamp cooler or even my kegerator. A conical won't fit, and since I already have three fridges and two freezers at my house, and a fridge and a kegerator at my cottage, I don't see Bob saying "Sure honey- get another fridge! I think it's great!"

 

[osagedr]

Just about to start doing 10g batches; the plan for now is to split between two 5g fermenters. I can see buying or building a conical at some point. It's never been something I've wanted; on the other hand there have been a few cases where it would have been nice to drop the yeast cake at a certain point without having to move the whole batch.

Anyway good for you OP that is a responsible decision.

 

[mcarb]

I'll play devils advocate. I have aproblem keeping temps accurate. I have a shed in the back that I use for brewing, but temps fluctuate wildly. I got a great deal on a 14 g blichmann fermenter with freezer and controller. I've never made beer this good. And the added benefits of a conical, easier to clean, no carrying carboys.....
I love my conical. But I'd never have paid normal price for one.

 

[Airborneguy]

I have a conical (Minibrew 8), that I scored on here for $80 shipped. Probably my best score yet, but as with my 15gal pot score, it hasn't been used a single time. I just can't figure out a way to control the temperature to my standard, so more than likely, I'm going to sell it eventually.

I totally am with the OP on this. If something doesn't work into your system in a way that makes you comfortable, why spend the money on it?

 

[shutupjojo]

I know a few people that have conicals but they eventually go back to using carboys.

 

[stevedasleeve]

Good responses! About my wife - I never think of her as SWMBO, even though she is 2 inches taller than me and wrestled in the WWF in the 80s

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7efSXLlbnE]wrestling lift - YouTube[/ame]

But I will say I have to make an IPA every other brew since she is a hop head!

Steve da sleeve

 

[Pappers_]

Good responses! About my wife - I never think of her as SWMBO, even though she is 2 inches taller than me and wrestled in the WWF in the 80s

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7efSXLlbnE

But I will say I have to make an IPA every other brew since she is a hop head!

Steve da sleeve

Wow, that is outstanding!

 

[unionrdr]

Maybe you should reconsider your decision before you wind up on the wrong end of a German suplex! Why not let her get you some ingredients for beers you both like?

 

[samc]

I've spent way too much $$ on this hobby and I often look back on the simpler system from when I first started. I've dropped back from a 3 keggle to a single vessle BIAB, but even that has electronics so I have a ways to go to kick the habit.