Brand New Brewer

Brand new brewer here. Looking to get some information on what equipment I need.

What all do I need exactly, to do a 5 gallon brew, to start with? (Not counting ingredients, just equipment).

I'm looking for a kind of chart list thing, something like:


Fermenter -- 20$
Airlock -- 5$
etc. -- $
etc. -- $
etc. -- $


Also, where the best possible places to buy this stuff would be. (I'm located in Central PA).


Also what all books does everyone recommend?

I'm looking for books on brewing, growing hops, and just general beer related.


Thanks!

Cheers!

 

Look into one of the beginner kits. They are usually pretty comprehensive and don't have a bunch of extras you won't need.

How to Brew is a good resource, it is an older revision of the popular book by John Palmer.

MoreBeer, Midwest, Northern Brewer, Rite Brew....all of the online shops will have the kits.

 

Adventures In Homebrewing is another good online and retail shop. Welcome to the highly addictive hobby. You'll need a kettle, fermenter, thermometer, airlock, something to stir with, sanitizer and I'd suggest a hydrometer. There are loads of other things you can get too, but I think this would be ample to get started.

 

As for books, the generally-recognized brewer's bible is "How to Brew" by John Palmer. Fortunately for you, the entire book has been made available online.

I'm also a pretty new brewer, and a friend loaned me "Radical Brewing" by Randy Mosher. I got a lot out of it, but some of it is more aspirational than practical.

Good luck!

 

Where is the Palmer book online? (Thanks for that heads up! Though I still prefer physical books, I'll at least start taking a look at the online version).

How much for the starter kits (typically)?

 

And by "Bible" I mean that it's got a lot of really instructive and useful information, but it can be a little outdated and it's full of overly-restrictive rules and commandments, so maybe you shouldn't take it 100% literally.

 

I linked it above, but it's at http://www.howtobrew.com/

 

Thanks! Didn't see the link.

I've also been told "The Joy of Homebrewing [4th Edition]" (don't know the author) -- is that any good?

 

I second a kit. Most of them have everything you need. But if you don't want that here is a rough list of what I started with. Also I would suggest starting out extract brewing for your first time, unless you truly want to go all grain from the start.

Stainless steel/aluminum Pot capable of holding about 6-7 gallons
Muslin bag(holds grain)
Dry hop bag if you plan to dry hop
Carboy or fermenting bucket
I suggest when doing a 5 gallon batch, using a blow off tube into a bucket of sanitized water/star san for the first few days. If it becomes really active you could overflow your airlock and risk infection
reliable thermometer
Airlock/bung
Either a large funnel to pour the wort into the fermenter , or a racking cane/auto siphon, may need tubing.
Sanitizer, star san and one step I've found to work well.
Hydrometer and beaker, or a refractometer(to read OG and FG)
Fine mesh strainer to sparge
and at the end you'll need bottles/keg, a racking cane, and a bottle capper and caps.

The prices can range with all of these, I'd shop around and look for the best reviews and prices. You can also post on this thread or another if you don't know the quality of a product. I'm sure someone has used everything out there that's on here.

 

If you want to go all grains, you'd want a mash tun. Most are made from igloo/rubbermaid liquid dispenser coolers. Its just modified to have a ball lock valve and some sort of filter like a bazooka screen/false bottom. Its called Single step infusion mashing.

 

What exactly is a 'mash tun' ?

 

If you're going to be starting by brewing with extract or with the process they call BIAB (Brew in a Bag), you won't need to worry about a mash tun yet. It's a big, insulated cooler where you put loose grains in really hot water in order to extract sugars and starches and enzymes out of them. If you're using one of the two processes I mentioned, that will all happen in your kettle.

Read more here: http://brewwiki.com/index.php/Mash_Tun

 

Its basically a converted cooler to do all grain brewing in. The insulation on them keeps your wort at a certain temperature to help the grain convert into ferment able sugars. You can buy them already converted or do it yourself, here is a thread on how to create one but even if you don't want to you'll get the idea of what it is http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23008

This one doesn't have a false bottom but all that is is a metal bottom you put in that has a screen and a valve on it that connects to the ball lock valve to allow it to strain out any grain/adjuncts while it drains out.

 

+1 to BIAB, its a much less expensive way to get into all grain/partial mash's. There is a forum on here that has a lot of info under all grain.

 

I'm graduating from extract brewing (I've done 4 so far) to BIAB this weekend.

 

Its a good way to go. I actually segwayed into BIAB about 2 weeks ago for the first time but my set up is a little hard to control with one person so I'm building my own mash tun this weekend to make it easier. The only thing different about BIAB is you need add more grains to equal out but of course beersmith and other programs account for that.

 

This is the first time I've seen the words "mash tun" and "make it easier" used together in a sentence.

 

I just got started with a 1gal BIAB kit from bespoke post that was only $45 (search "bespoke post brew" if you want to find it)
It came with supplies to brew 2 batches and I thought it was a great primer for me, and a good step on the way to 3gal batches (I dont have the space for more than one 5 gallon carboy at the moment, and Id rather have less quantity of more types of beers personally)
Only things I dont like about the kit are the brown glass carboy (I like clear so I can see inside easier!) and a C thermometer instead of F (not the end of the world)
Once I have some beers finished I can comment on the recipes they sent.

 

I recommend starting with BIAB (Brew in a Bag). Order a bag from Wilserbrewer. Here's a link, http://biabbags.webs.com/. You also need some form of temp control, such as a mini fridge or chest freezer with a temp control unit.

 

It's mainly the sparging part and the ability to keep it at the same temperature with less manipulation that makes it easier for me. Plus filling the fermenter at the end with the valve is easier. Everyone is different though, so just find what works for you of course.

 

My 2 cents,if you are just gonna start brewing,look into Mr. Beer. I know everyone hates it,but you can get a 2.5 gallon resuable fermenter for 10 bucks. Start with brewing extract recipes first.Then into steeping grains,and hop additions.You can experiment and get the proper brewing techniques as well as sanitation processes down. If you brew something you don't like,you only have 2 gallons to drink/dump instead of 5.Also doing smaller batches allows you to have a lottsa different brews.If you out grow that fermenter,there is a Homebrew store in Chambersburg Pa. One in Leymoyne,and one in York where you can get ingredients,equipment and advice.By all means read the internet brewing blogs,and don't be afraid to ask questions. Again my 2 centavos to a beginner. Welcome to the hobby
addiction.....cheers!

 

Welcome to the hobby!

While you are learning and research what you want to do get a simple starter kit and an extract recipe kit.

You are in PA there is a good online homebrew store in your state your state - Keystone - and there are several homebrew shops in central PA.

You are looking for a kit with a bucket for a fermenter, perhaps a second bucket to be used for bottling, a capper, caps, cleaner/satintizer, hydrometer etc.

For an extract kit start with something that sounds good to you but stay away from a lager (difficult fermentation temperature requirements) or something intended to produce a high ABV like a double IPA, RIS or Belgian Quad. A nice American Pale Ale or a Dry Stout would both good places to start.

Then make that beer following the kit directions leveraged with advise from here. While you are waiting for it to be ready read everything you can get your hands on and start thinking about what you want to do eventually. Maybe you will only do the 1 extract kit, maybe do several. You are brewing and learning a lot about fermentation, sanitation, packaging etc. Once you have some experience you will better know whether you want to get into mashing or or some other aspect of the hobby. Maybe for you it will an investment in fermentation temperature control, maybe it will be kegging.

Just don't assume first step from newbie is all grain. There are lots of choices on how to progress and no real hurry to get to the end of the journey.

 

Thanks Eric!

 

I am going to go against the grain and say no to the kits - if you are like most people you will probably end up buying most of whats in the kit again (only better quality). There's some difference in gear between all grain and extract brewing but assuming like most people you are starting out with extract brewing here's what you will need:

1. A 5 gallon pot (range from $40 aluminum to $60 stainless) when you get your 8 gallon pot for all grain you can still use this for heating sparge water
2. a 6 or 6.5 gallon fermenter (plastic buckets are cheaper but I use glass carboys)
3. A good thermometer (too many options here and depends on your budget)
4. airlock and bung for your fermenter
5. a hydrometer
6. a stirring spoon
7. an auto siphon - get the large
8. a bottling bucket and bottles ( i use ez cap or grolsch)
9. starsan or other sanitizer

You can go all grain now for which you will need a 48qt rectangular ($25) a 16 inch stainless steel braid ($5), a brass 1/2 inch coupler ($4) an inline nylon valve ($4) and some tubing and then watch this video [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e24WLKJgCXc[/ame]

 

Where abouts in Central PA theres an awesome LHBS in Lemoyne - hard to find cheaper online

 

How to build a mash tun
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuIKHC57ROQ[/ame]

 

I can offer you some tips/lessons I learned.

First here is some advice: #1 get a starter kit. not just any starter kit, but the deluxe model (I think my wife paid $100 for the one she got me). It came with every single thing I needed plus my first extract kit which turned out to be a very good beer! (we got the block party amber kit with ours). That kit had cleaner, sanitizer, boil kettle, bottle capper, caps, siphon, hoses, fermenter, airlock, bottling bucket and anything else you would need to cook the beer that came with it.

The only thing I needed in addition was some bottles. I also had an outdoor turkey fryer cooker that I used, but you can get away with doing that kit on the stove as long as you monitor the boiling.

When I mentioned to some friends that brew that I wanted to get into it, they gave me the book you mentioned "The joys of home brewing" which I soaked the whole book up in about 2 hours...

now for some lessons I learned:

This hobby is ADDICTING!!! I made the kit beer mentioned above, and that was the one and only extract kit I made, in fact the day after brewing I was online ordering another burner, some ball locks etc as I knew immediately that I wanted to do all-grain. So having that said, be prepared to spend some money for more stuff.....for me I enjoy making the equipment and stuff just as much as making the beer...In fact, I don't even drink that much TBH, I have given away more beer I made then I have drank.

If I could start my home brewing all over again, I would have done a couple different extract kits a few more times before going to all-grain....but the all grain is SOOOOO much more fun!!

Good luck!!

 

If I knew now what I knew then in the beginning.

Home Depot 5gal buckets/lids $5each. (Limit to 3.5-4gallon batches, perfect for beginners)

Drill a hole for a grommet/air lock. $2 each bucket.

10gallon aluminum kettle from Academy $60. Will double as your ultra cheep temperature control. Just add couple trays of ice every 12hrs.

1/2in racking cane, hydrometer, temperature probe. $50

If your going to do all grain, home depot 10gal cooler, fittings, false bottom (better then toilet hose imho), water chemistry chemicals, gram scale. $150 (Brew'n Water spreadsheet $0)

 

DrunkPoetry: I'm in the Hershey/Hummelstown area.

 

+2 for BIAB. I do no sparge full volume mash BIAB. Couldn't get any easier to brew all grain.

 

I still can't figure out where this comes from. I've brewed both kits and recipes using BIAB. Have never added any extra grain, have never crushed extra fine, and have came within a point or two of OG every time.

 

To be honest I'm not sure of the equation that calculates that, although I'm sure you could find one. It'll affect you more if your brewing very large batches. I know for instance with beersmith it just calculates it for me if I switch the mash style to BIAB medium, but if I were to switch it to partial mash or all grain the SG numbers change using the same ingredients. I've just gone by that and it's done me well for hitting OG's and FG

 

Scotzin Brothers in Lemoyne is an awesome LHBS. Prices are hard to beat even online.

 

Awesome, thanks, I'll have to check them out.