$350.....Kegs? Grains?Hops?

[cheezydemon3]

It looks like 4 kegs and get the brews as I can to me!

But I am not completely convinced.

 

[humann_brewing]

I'm confused

 

[cheezydemon3]

You are fast!There is a poll now.

 

[humann_brewing]

how many kegs do you have now, if any?

 

[cheezydemon3]

0, zip, no kegs at all.

Good question.

Yeah, "By 3 kegs and Co2, enough for 3 batches" I mean: 3 kegs, 5 lb co2 tank, all lines and taps, and grains yeast and hops for 3 batches.

 

[kpr121]

Tons of factors involved here. Obviously if you buy all kegs, your going to need to buy ingredients at some point, bringing you over $350. How long will it be before you are able to buy those ingredients? If its 2 months, then I say you get 3 kegs and 3 kits, and start saving for more kegs further down the line. If you'll have money for ingredients next week, then opt for the 4 kegs.

If you've found an excellent deal on kegs, which I suspect you haven't given the prices (I got 2 used cornys for 60 bucks a couple months ago, you could have 4 plus the CO2 for less than 200 I would suspect) then my answer would be to get them while theyre hot. Otherwise get a couple kegs, couple kits and start brewing!

Edit: Didnt see that your buying the kegging kit as well. Still doesnt seem like a crazy deal on the kegs. I would get some ingredients.

 

[humann_brewing]

I would say the 3 keg option but I also know there is a big price break when you get 4, so I'm surprised you could sneak another brew or 2 with the 4 option.

 

[cheezydemon3]

The 4th is the biggest price break, and I may not have ingredients next week, but over the holidays, I should fill all 4.

I want (ideally):

1 dedicated stout
1 dedicated SWMBO pale ale
1 dedicated simple IPA
1 seasonal or whatever strikes me

That is 4, but would 3 just suck? No.

Plus, I may get tired of stout or IPA on hand all of the time.

I just figure that if I bite the bullet and get 4 kegs, I will fill them before too long.

Also, free shipping is temporary and ingredients can be bought down the road when I get an unexpected $20.

 

[TomSD]

3 and 3... you will want spare kegs later on anyway so getting to 4 plus some spares later won't be that hard. 3 and 3 will get you your keezer started and something to fill it then you can expand from there. That is what Christmas and Birthdays are for.

 

[SweetSounds]

Get at least 3 kegs. It's good to have an extra one laying around for sanitizing the lines, transferring from secondary (In a keg) to a serving keg.

Make sure you can make a couple batches - 1000 kegs are useless if you can't afford to brew.

But, you can NEVER have enough kegs! I keep 3-5 kegs on tap or aging at any given time, plus 2 or 3 for cleaning and transferring beer around.

 

[motobrewer]

poll failure

 

[cheezydemon3]

poll failure

Sorry!

Too many choices for ya?

So far 3 and 3 is winning. No failure in that. It is changing my mind.

 

[schweaty]

4 kegs = $80
C02 w/regulator = $100
Brewing Supplies = $170

Why not do all three? A $350 budget is more than enough.

 

[humann_brewing]

The 4th is the biggest price break, and I may not have ingredients next week, but over the holidays, I should fill all 4.

I want (ideally):

1 dedicated stout
1 dedicated SWMBO pale ale
1 dedicated simple IPA
1 seasonal or whatever strikes me

That is 4, but would 3 just suck? No.

Plus, I may get tired of stout or IPA on hand all of the time.

I just figure that if I bite the bullet and get 4 kegs, I will fill them before too long.

Also, free shipping is temporary and ingredients can be bought down the road when I get an unexpected $20.

that is good ambition, you must not have kids I take it

 

[cheezydemon3]

4 kegs = $80
C02 w/regulator = $100
Brewing Supplies = $170

Why not do all three? A $350 budget is more than enough.

As a kegging NOOB, I like the idea of an assembled KIT. I am sure I could figure out all of the parts, but where do you suggest I get $20 kegs? Do they ship free?

that is good ambition, you must not have kids I take it

3 Kids , I just know SWMBO will loosen the reigns a little with her APA on tap!

 

[schweaty]

$100 with shipping, sorry.
http://www.homebrewing.org/5-Gallon-Cornelious-Keg-Ball-Lock_p_70.html

I bought all 10 of my kegs from there and have not had any problems. They pressure test all kegs before selling and they are usually in good shape. They just need some elbow grease and a good cleaning. In your original post you didn't say anything about a kegging setup, just CO2. A kegging setup, on the other hand, will probably gobble up your entire budget easily. Figure in ball locks, hosing, clamps,manifold, and fridge if you don't already have one. Oh, and don't forget the faucets and shanks. If you want to go the cheap route for now, just use picnic faucets. They are much cheaper and do the job just as well. Just not as shiny.

 

[steinsato]

I agree with sweetsounds, I started with 3 kegs and quickly jumped to 11 but I would say 3 minimum, this way (considering you have a kegerator) you can have two on tap and a third sitting in the kegerator nice and cold ready to tap when one of the others kicks.

 

[david_42]

Enough cash to make a batch of beer is relatively easy to come by, but getting started in kegging takes real money. You'll also need something to chill/store the kegs. $100 will get a used refrigerator. Taps can be done later.

 

[SweetSounds]

Enough cash to make a batch of beer is relatively easy to come by, but getting started in kegging takes real money. You'll also need something to chill/store the kegs. $100 will get a used refrigerator. Taps can be done later.

It doesn't even take that - You can get a fridge on CL for $25 or free if you watch, and picnic taps will serve beer just as well as shiny stainless perlicks

 

[cheezydemon3]

I HAVE THE FRIDGE, lol.

Yeah, like I said, 60 or so batches, but all bottled. So kegging noob.

The choices are full set up, lines, connects, picnic taps, dual guage thingy.
http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=438

 

[cheezydemon3]

$100 with shipping, sorry.
http://www.homebrewing.org/5-Gallon-Cornelious-Keg-Ball-Lock_p_70.html

I bought all 10 of my kegs from there and have not had any problems. They pressure test all kegs before selling and they are usually in good shape. They just need some elbow grease and a good cleaning. In your original post you didn't say anything about a kegging setup, just CO2. A kegging setup, on the other hand, will probably gobble up your entire budget easily. Figure in ball locks, hosing, clamps,manifold, and fridge if you don't already have one. Oh, and don't forget the faucets and shanks. If you want to go the cheap route for now, just use picnic faucets. They are much cheaper and do the job just as well. Just not as shiny.

Didn't want to seem like I am arguing, that is exactly the kind of info I wanted.

Check out the link above. Looks pretty spooktacular to me.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Pulled the trigger, 3 kegs and all the trimmings and enough supplies for 4 batches. Thanks ALL!!

Poll fail? Not for me, but if I knew more about kegging I would have been more detailed. But how could I know what is typical when buying kegs when I never have?

Thanks everyone!