So I am new to brewing. I have only started drinking what I would consider real beer over the last year or two. I heard about brewing beer and thought it would be an excellent hobby to get into. I am the type that goes a little overboard when I get into something. I probably should have just brewed my first batch using what I had but instead I kept buying and building things to make my first batch a lot better. I started out buying a kit from Midwest Supplies that included a Better Bottle carboy, bucket, and quite a few of the other normal things, and I bought an Autumn amber ale kit but upgraded to the White Labs WPL001 yeast.
Then I decided I didn't want to borrow my father's aluminum fish fry kettle thing so I bought an 8 gallon stainless kettle with thermometer and ball valve so I could do a full boil instead of having to add a few gallons to top off.
Then I decided I didn't want to try to use a double burner "tip-over or some other screw up waiting to happen" so I bought a Bayou classic SQ14 and a propane tank to handle my boils. I know most would already have a propane tank for grilling but I am a firm believer in charcoal and hardwood lump. I believe if you are grilling using propane you should just be in the kitchen, but that's not really relevant so...Next I was doing some reading here on HBT.com and came to the conclusion that fermentation temps were one of the most important things when it comes to brewing an excellent batch of beer. So I decided to drop a "little" more money into this hobby and started searching craigslist for a mini fridge. I decided I only wanted to build a chamber to hold three carboys at a time. I feel like if I have more than three beers fermenting at a time I should just open a brewery and bar/pub. Also the dimensions I came up with would fit perfectly in my computer room closet, which has an outlet. So I spent way too much money, time, and effort and I built myself a pretty nice fermentation chamber, if I do say so myself.
Next I was reading about doing yeast starters instead of just dumping the vial in there. I didn't really research it or anything but I figured what the hell and decided that I was going to build a stir plate and get a flask from amazon. All of that stuff is on order so no pictures of it at this time.
So for the money and time I have invested I feel like I should have a year's worth of batches under my belt and I sincerely hope my first batch will be AMAZING!!! I realize this is a long post and kind of pointless to be honest, but I wanted to get some of this off my chest (you know, can't keep it bottled up) and also wanted to brag about my fermentation chamber because I put quite a bit of time and effort into it. I am getting a little older (30 this year) and I can feel it. I realize I am not 50 or anything, but I remember being able to get out there and do almost anything and feel no soreness much less stiffness, aching, or fatigue the next day. I just finished that chamber today and I feel like I was fighting in the UFC for the past week! I have had quite a few beers today and that probably doesn't help. It is also definitely the reason this post is so LONG!!!
So to end this super long noob thread. Is there anything else I should invest in before I brew my first batch other than all-grain? I have now bought two more kits to brew after my first batch so all-grain will have to at least wait until I brew those batches, not to mention my wife has now become interested and wants me to start making her some wine...
Then I decided I didn't want to borrow my father's aluminum fish fry kettle thing so I bought an 8 gallon stainless kettle with thermometer and ball valve so I could do a full boil instead of having to add a few gallons to top off.
Then I decided I didn't want to try to use a double burner "tip-over or some other screw up waiting to happen" so I bought a Bayou classic SQ14 and a propane tank to handle my boils. I know most would already have a propane tank for grilling but I am a firm believer in charcoal and hardwood lump. I believe if you are grilling using propane you should just be in the kitchen, but that's not really relevant so...Next I was doing some reading here on HBT.com and came to the conclusion that fermentation temps were one of the most important things when it comes to brewing an excellent batch of beer. So I decided to drop a "little" more money into this hobby and started searching craigslist for a mini fridge. I decided I only wanted to build a chamber to hold three carboys at a time. I feel like if I have more than three beers fermenting at a time I should just open a brewery and bar/pub. Also the dimensions I came up with would fit perfectly in my computer room closet, which has an outlet. So I spent way too much money, time, and effort and I built myself a pretty nice fermentation chamber, if I do say so myself.
Next I was reading about doing yeast starters instead of just dumping the vial in there. I didn't really research it or anything but I figured what the hell and decided that I was going to build a stir plate and get a flask from amazon. All of that stuff is on order so no pictures of it at this time.
So for the money and time I have invested I feel like I should have a year's worth of batches under my belt and I sincerely hope my first batch will be AMAZING!!! I realize this is a long post and kind of pointless to be honest, but I wanted to get some of this off my chest (you know, can't keep it bottled up) and also wanted to brag about my fermentation chamber because I put quite a bit of time and effort into it. I am getting a little older (30 this year) and I can feel it. I realize I am not 50 or anything, but I remember being able to get out there and do almost anything and feel no soreness much less stiffness, aching, or fatigue the next day. I just finished that chamber today and I feel like I was fighting in the UFC for the past week! I have had quite a few beers today and that probably doesn't help. It is also definitely the reason this post is so LONG!!!
So to end this super long noob thread. Is there anything else I should invest in before I brew my first batch other than all-grain? I have now bought two more kits to brew after my first batch so all-grain will have to at least wait until I brew those batches, not to mention my wife has now become interested and wants me to start making her some wine...
I wish I had a fermentation temp controled rig something like that to fit the top of my fermenter stand (repurposed large primter stand).
