mugglesport
Well-Known Member
Ive been brewing for a couple of years now (starting with extract then moving to partial mash) and am ready to step up to all-grain brewing. Where Im struggling is on the equipment end and figuring out what all I need in order to make this move. Where I eventually want to end up is with a sturdy single-tier 10 gallon brewhouse along the lines of Brutus 10, Brew Magic, etc. in order to have a high level of consistency between my batches (and maybe one day could be the foundation of my very own nano-brewery!). I plan on building or buying something within the next couple of years, for what its worth. However, I think it would be smart for me to take an intermediate step in order to get comfortable with AG brewing, rather than dive head-first into an expensive and complicated system. So, the question is how do I get from where I am to being able to brew AG batches effectively and efficiently, and I can I do it piece-by-piece, or do I need to get several pieces of equipment all at once? My current brewhouse includes:
Pretty much all of this (except maybe the stove) is obsolete. I have been planning making a MLT out of a 10 gallon cylindrical cooler. But this opens a whole can of worms:
So basically, Im not sure I can just build a MLT and brew all-grain. I think Ill also need:
It seems like to effectively do AG brewing, Ill need to do full boils, which will require a larger kettle, which will in turn require an immersion chiller (or something other than an ice bath).
Any thoughts on all this rambling? Can anyone give me any examples of a basic AG setup that I can build upon (i.e., the kettle could be used in a future single tier three vessel brewhouse)?
- 30 Quart stainless steel brew kettle (a tall, skinny turkey fryer, actually and the thinnest stainless pot ever made).
- 8 Quart stainless stock pot for partial mashes / steeping (goes in the oven to keep it warm)
- 120,000 BTU propane stove
- Large cooler of ice-water wort chiller
Pretty much all of this (except maybe the stove) is obsolete. I have been planning making a MLT out of a 10 gallon cylindrical cooler. But this opens a whole can of worms:
- Is my brew kettle large enough for a full boil (I can boil 4 gallons but sometimes the hot break comes within a couple inches of the top of the kettle)?
- I will definitely need to finally get an immersion chiller, though Id want one large enough to cool 10 gallon batches since thats where I eventually want to be.
- What about hot liquor?
So basically, Im not sure I can just build a MLT and brew all-grain. I think Ill also need:
- A HLT (10 gallon cylindrical cooler)
- An immersion chiller (3/8 or ½ by 50)
- Possibly a new kettle (keggle, I guess)
It seems like to effectively do AG brewing, Ill need to do full boils, which will require a larger kettle, which will in turn require an immersion chiller (or something other than an ice bath).
Any thoughts on all this rambling? Can anyone give me any examples of a basic AG setup that I can build upon (i.e., the kettle could be used in a future single tier three vessel brewhouse)?