Initial Gear Purchase

Hi All -

I did some forum searches and didn't really find much that matched what I'm looking for.

What is it that I'm looking for....

I'm picking up another hobby despite warnings from SHMBO...

Been saving bottles for a few months and doing a lot of reading on here and Palmers online book.

Gotta buy gear now!

I'm going to purchase from NB since their extract kits seem the most appealing to myself. Here is the list of the gear I'm buying. I'll be using a turkey fryer / stock pot for boil and an immersion chiller.

Can any one offer advice toward or against my beginner set up??

Auto Siphon - 5/16" racking cane

21" Stainless Steel Spoon

Plain Gold Crown Caps - 144 count

Fermtech Bottle Filler

Economy Test Jar

American Amber Ale Extract Kit w/ Specialty Grains [2 w/ 2 bungs & air lock]

Beer and Wine Triple Scale Hydrometer

Star San 8 oz

Bottling Spigot for Bottling Bucket

Better Bottle Plain 6 Gallon

Large Dial Thermometer

Red Baron Capper

Post is long...I know

Any input is much appreciated!

-AT

 

Looks good to me. You have everything I have. I would suggest another vessel though, if not for a secondary (personal choice), then for a second batch to start your pipeline!

 

I think I'll get a second vessel if necessary from my LHBS after I get the 1st batch going and bottled.

Planning on not running a secondary for the 1st few batches.

 

get the 32oz starsan...way cheaper and lasts forever if you use with distilled water and reuse.

 

The list sounds good! I never use a secondary, even when dry-hopping and the beer still comes out clear. Make sure to brew up something SWMBO likes to get her on board. I always clean up the kitchen and dishes when I brew so my SWMBO associates me brewing with a clean kitchen so she can't complain as much.

 

You've got a nice list going there. Don't forget to buy some siphon hose (tubing) to go with your auto-siphon. Make sure you get the matching size.

 

I'm thinking I'll pick up the tubing at my local farm supply store w/ I buy copper tubing, thanks for the reminder Muncher.

I'm excited to get rolling, hopefully I can hold my anticipations for the next 6 weeks before its all ready to drink !

I'm going to try and get a food grade bucket from the local bakery to use for a bottling bucket as well

 

Northern Brewer has great starter kits and equipment, so does Williams, Midwest, Austins.
Northern Brewer has has flat rate, but not on some heavy stuff. Williams actual weight shipping works well for me because I'm in their cheap zone. Austin is more expensive on some things but has true flat rate and free over $100. all carry a few things others don't.

fill some shopping carts and see total price for your initial order.
I buy from all of the big guys for different things at different times.

 

I wasn't aware of Austin Homebrew Supply -

There are $10 cheaper once you figure in the free shipping!!

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

There are a few things missing on your list. These are invaluable.

Stopper with airlock hole for better bottle.
Airlock
Bottle wand
Bottle brush
A jet carboy and bottle washer. Get the nice brass one. The plastic ones break too easy..................

 

Airlock & stopper are hidden since they are included w/ the bottle

There's a bottle filler on there as well.

Forgot the bottle brush, although my bottles are clean, no debris, just need sanitizing when the time comes. Maybe I can get by without?

 

you can try to roll without it. I use one anyways just in case. Even if the bottles are rinsed clean after use I still wash them. Call me anal if you must but I do it just as added insurance.

I highly recommend the bottle washer. I went a long time without one. After one use I was kicking myself for being a cheap [email protected]@[email protected] and not buying one sooner. It cut my bottle washing time by 75%. It is also great for washing carboys and better bottles. Best cheap tool I have bought in a long time.

 

with cleanish bottles to start, you can for a batch or two. eventually you'll need it.

 

Is this what your referring to?

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_56_151&products_id=912

for $14, it might be a good investment

 

I'd recommend an 8 gal bucket for primary, that way you never have to worry about a blowout. I have 2.5g of a Belgian in my 5 gal better bottle and the krausen takes up a little over a gallon. If it was 5 gals in a 6 gal BB, it would have needed a blowoff tube or been a big mess!

Buckets are cheap, you could have 2 batches going at once! (by also using the BB) I don't use a bottle brush though one came with my start-up kit. I just rinse them after I pour them, Rinse again before filling, then sanitize and put them on the bottle tree. If I was getting used bottles given to me, I would definitely use the brush to get the gunk out.

 

If you can afford it, Keg. Save lots of times and lots of efforts. We started kegging right away so we were drinking out first extract in 10 days. Probably should have waited longer, but we were amazed at how good that beer was. We now try to leave it conditioning for a while.

 

I would certainly like to keg, and just might in a bit. I don't really have the refrigeration space now, only a space frig in the garage, and I dont have the capital to invest up front for kegging. i think there are certainly advantages to it though!

 

This is what I was referring to. It is way easier to use.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_56_151&products_id=2343

You will need to add a faucet adapter for your sink if you don't have one. They can be purchased at the same time.

 

Alright, so I made. My gear purchase, it'll be here next Tuesday. Schedule 1st brew is next weekend!

Pretty excited.

I did get some food grade buckets to use for sanitizing and bottling. Only problem is that they were used for dill pickles....I'm soaking bottles in them now in water and ammonia.

Any thoughts about wether the pickle buckets would be bad for bottling and or sanitizing bucket?

 

sanitizing is fine, the beer probably won't be in there long enough for it to matter, but they will smell like pickles from now until the end of time.

 

also try more beer.and doing a secondery ferment is very necessary.especially when you do lagers.nice clean beer is the result.and if you can cold crash your secondary towards the end this will really clear out your ales.cheers.

 

I soaked them over night.... Still smell like pickles.

Maybe I'll search for a bucket for bottling from a bakery. I don't think I can convince myself to use them.

 

why spend all the time and gas money looking for buckets, just order a prebuilt bottling bucket with lid and spigot?

 

We have a cafe where I work, required asking te chef for a bucket.

I also like making things on my own things too, challenges are always fun

 

i dont even have all that stuff i do all grain lol.

 

Do you have a suggestion as to what I had listed that's not necessary ?