Begginer thinking about tools for brewing

[sadowski25]

Hello

As a new guy here I have some equipment questions.

1. Is Brew-Boss 15gal (53 liters?) a good idea to get ?
I think about 240V 1Phase version for Europe, with BIAB and CIFO + Chiller.
With 240V Stainless pump and whirpool. And with 3,5kW heater element.

I want to make 20-45 liters bathes of beer.

2. I think about to get 2x FastFerment 30l conical fermentors and 2x 46 liters conicals from DomowyBrowarek.pl its a good idea ?
3. I already have chinese Refractometer scaled in 0-32*Brix
4. Electronic pH-meter will be also ok ?
5. What type of digital thermometer will you sugest ?
6. StarSan HB + NaOH will be ok for cleaning and sterilization ?

Mostly I will start with beers like : Grodziskie, Cream Ale, Baltic Porter, Pale Ale, Red Irish Ale etc.

I would be gratefull for all tips and suggestions.

Cheers,
Konrad

 

[adamdillabo]

You should take half the money you want to invest in brewing and send it to me.

 

[MattyIce]

How many batches under your belt?

 

[sadowski25]

2 ( Brew kits >.> ) and about 4 years of making wine etc.

But long time ago, and I want to get batck in this

Of course first I will start with 36l kettle + BIAB + 33l classical transparent fermenters.

But here I asking, is that stuff mentioned before would be a good investment

 

[RM-MN]

2 ( Brew kits >.> ) and about 4 years of making wine etc.

But long time ago, and I want to get batck in this

Of course first I will start with 36l kettle + BIAB + 33l classical transparent fermenters.

But here I asking, is that stuff mentioned before would be a good investment

I like your idea to start with the 36L kettle and BIAB. I'm not so sure about the classical transparent fermenters. I use the white HDPE buckets and have for about 8 years. They have been good for me, nice handle to move them around, big opening for easy cleaning, no breakage even if bumped onto the concrete.

I personally don't see much advantage to using conicals. Dumping trub and collecting yeast seem like such a good idea but I just let the trub settle out in the bucket and rack off above it and if I do decide to harvest yeast, I just wait until the beer is racked off and then wash the yeast cake or just put the yeast cake into jars.

Fancy brew equipment just isn't my thing. I'd rather put that money into grains and hops and yeast since that is what makes beer, not the shiny equipment.:rockin:

 

[sadowski25]

About Fancy equipment.

I just want nice semi-auto/auto system
And this brew-boss look nice to me, but I need to know opinion of someone who use it.

Thermometer ?
a.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/brewing-measuring/1172-thermometer-digital-alarm-50-300.html
or
b.) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Splash-Proof-Super-Fast-Thermapen-Digital-Food-Thermometer-/281641301378?
or
c.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/brewing-measuring/1169-digital-probe-thermometer-brewferm.html

Malt Mill : ?
a.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/...wing-equipment/150-maltmill-in-cast-iron.html
or
b.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/...quipment/1031-adjustable-roller-maltmill.html

This type of fermenter I think to use at start:
http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/fermentation-equipment/1081-fermentation-bucket-with-airlock.html

Bootling and Sanitizing:
1.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/bottle-brushes-bottle-drainers/190-bottle-rinser-avvinatore.html
2.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/...crown-capper-table-model-26mm-heavy-duty.html
3.) http://twojbrowar.pl/prestashop/en/taps-and-siphons/846-automatic-syphon-jumbo-fermtech.html


That stuff will be ok ?

 

[MattyIce]

Seems like a solid list since you have some experience.

I have this thermometer and really like it http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0021AEAG2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Since you are doing biab, you may consider how you are going to lift and strain the full grain bag. My bag has a draw string. I hang it from a ladder placed over my MLT/kettle to let it drain.

 

[sadowski25]

This will be good for lifting that stuff http://vetrol.pl/img/p/21-67-thickbox.jpg

And about Brew-Boss, probably I will just make eBIAB setup like this with PID controller and manual pump control. And also modyfied COFI filter, I have a nice better idea for this.

And today I made Podpiwek (Sub-Beer) from:

Left Bucket:
- 200g cereal coffee "Kujawianka" ( http://www.bakalland.pl/Products_.p...02&PHPSESSID=d611c15447fdd7e46c16577cdbf3d0ea )
- 10g of Lubelski hops (20min boil)
- 100g of Pajarito Yerba Mate ( non original part of podpiwek )
- 600g of sugar
- 10l of water
- Gozdawa POKV yeast ( some upper yeast for porter and stout)
This have about 6,4*Brix now.

First I made all this without yerba, and I let this sit to cold down to 75*C, then I added 2,5l of Yeba mate brew from 100g of that made in 75*C water. And filled up to 10l.


Right Bucket:
- 200g Gozdawa Podpiwek Staropolski with probably Marynka Hops
- 300g candized sugar
- 200g sugar
- 5g lubelski hops ( 20min boli)

about 4,8 Brix.

 

[sadowski25]

I was thinking about what 3 beers to make.

And I think about:
1. Cream Ale - Cream of Threee Crops
2. Oatmeal Stout - ??
3. Red Irish Ale - ??

Some sugestions for 25 liters brews ?

 

[sadowski25]

Working now on eBIAB with pump on ArdBir Nano