not trying to get ahead of myself...but need equipment advice

So I have brewed my first batch yesterday! I was an exciting experience and now its sitting in the primary fermenter bubbling away! :rockin:

But there are some things that I picked up on last time that I might want to change up next brew day.

First, I wanted to try to be economical with all my purchases. I try to plan ahead so I wouldn't have to buy bigger pots (as per suggested on the forum). But I brewed with an 11 gallon pot this past weekend. It was a bit too big for my 3 gallon extract recipe. LOL but I got a good deal on the stock pot so I couldn't say no. It would allow me to move up in recipe size when needed but on top of my stove, it was huge. Almost too big to put a thermometer in and get it back out.
Should I get a smaller pot?

This leads me to think that I should get a smaller pot OR brew outside. Wouldn't mind the pot if it was a bit shorter.

If I brew outside, I would need to buy all necessary equipment (burner, propane, some sort of outdoor type chiller)
The burner and propane is kind of standard, not too many choices.
The chiller is one that I have a question about. I was able to chill my wort in 20 min with 3 bags of ice and some water in the sink. Not too bad at all!

I was looking into an immersion chiller but I feel like it would waste a bit too much water to chill 3 gallons. I was thinking about doing a recirculation method but when I think about the money thats going to be spent on a 50' IC + pump, I can get a cheap plate chiller from dudadiesel.

I could get a smaller IC and call it a day too. (getting a head of myself with all the options!)

All options considered are trying to prepare/not have to buy/upgrade equipment in the future. Any advice is appreciated.

 

With all due respect.......(head shake)


I'm really not trying to be rude but 90-95% of homebrewers go big or stay home.
That doesn't mean that you should continually upgrade; but it does mean try to figure out what a respectable goal is and then go for that. You will need equipment....period. I find an IC to be the best be for me but I have an unlimited supple of year around 60-65 degF well water. You will need/it's better if you cool the wort as quickly as possible. Ice in a bath tub works...a pump and some kind of recirculation works...an IC and well water works. What resources do you have available? How much of your disposable income are you willing to shell out to this hobby?
If you're using an 11 gal pot on gas/propane, you will eventually brew outside.

Ask yourself some questions and then answer them.

 

I think a plate chiller is a big leap for you now. Get an immersion chiller and then sell it when you want to upgrade to a plate chiller. I used me immersion chiller up to 10 gallon batches then upgraded because I was doing up to 20 gallon batches.

 

Of course, I mean I do not mind spending money on equipment or rather upgrading. I just wouldnt want to spend money on one and then figure that I should upgrade into another in the near future when I could have started out with it. I know its all apart of the fun and process of getting better. I enjoy brewing thus far and look forward to enjoying this brew. Water is pretty cold, If I were to guess, it'd be about 65 degrees or so. IC would work well, as long as I do a recirculation. water efficiency is big for me.

Hmm sounds feasible. Looks like i'll be going with my original plan of an IC + pond pump

 

Also....don't forget that if your recirculating water in an Immersion Chiller and not wort, you can use any old pump......



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XHZ25G...20&ascsubtag=4a251a2ef9bbf4ccc35f97aba2c9cbda

 

I don't like wasting water either. Besides an ice bath, I sanitize a Rubbermaid food container and freeze bottled water in it. It tops of my wort and cools it rather quickly. I have brewed about 15 batches so far and have experienced nothing negative.

 

I was cooling 3 gallons of wort in 20 min also. When I started doing all grain my wort doubled and it took about an hour and fifteen minutes... I'm getting myself a wort chiller soon