Can I get some opinions on my setup?

[elayman]

I'm just getting into homebrewing since I've always thought it would be fun/rewarding, and a few of my friends do. I also live in a fraternity, and thought it would be enjoyed by all of my fellow fraternity mates!

I have so far gone on craigslist and bought the following:
-5 gal and 3 gal glass carboy
-miscellaneous tubing
-bucket fermenter
-some airlocks with carboy plugs
-bottle capper/caps (though I probably won't bottle much - read on)
-The Brewer's Companion book by Randy Mosher

Already had:
-Air regulator
-5lb CO2 tank
-miscellaneous tubing to attach
-kegerator tap (probably won't use since don't have a fridge yet)

I plan to buy the following:
-1 or 2 corny kegs (used on craigslist) for serving
-2x keg o-ring set http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MRVBO0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-1 large funnel http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BXKYYI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-3/8" auto siphon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E60JF6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-2x ball/lock coupler sets http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005SLT0G6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-6ft. 3/16" tube for serving (may already have this- need to check)http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064OIABC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-2x carboy cap for siphoning/blowoff http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064OED86/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-Baster for grabbing sample http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U9JSIE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-5/16" tube for siphoning http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E62TCC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-32oz Star San sanitizer (is this too much quantity for a small homebrewer?) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064O7YFA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-hydrometer http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E60U6Y/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-hydrometer test jar http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NDHGEM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-carboy brush http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064O9ECQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

-digital thermometer (I picked this one b/c it has external probe which I assume is easier to put in a pot - if not, direct me to a good pocket one?)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00937TZ9I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I think I have a picnic tap laying around too for serving - but please let me know if I'm missing anything important and if there are better or cheaper options than the ones I posted.

I will be going to my LHBS in a day or two to discuss with them too and pick up ingredients for my first brew.

 

[unionrdr]

Well,the 5 gallon & 3 gallon carboys are too small to ferment in. Most batches are 5 gallons,some like Cooper's are 23L,or 6.072 gallons. So you'll need 6 or 6.5 gallon carboys if you want to ferment in them. Otherwise,the 5G carboy is the right size to secondary in for a 5G batch.
If the "bucket fermenter" has a spigot on it,it could also be used as a bottling bucket. So get a bottling wand & 3/8" tubing to fit it as well. You'll be thankful later,trust me.
An auto siphon comes in handy too.

 

[elayman]

Sorry I'm somewhat of a noob. Is it not possible to fit the 5 gallons split over a 5 gallon and 3 gallon carboy? Ie, put excess from 5 gallon in the 3 gallon?

 

[TonyR]

Most people ferment the full batch together in a larger carboy or bucket. You can split it up into both your carboys, you will also have to split up your yeast. With multiple fermenters you could experiment with different yeasts or dry hopping.

 

[iambeer]

If you want to go with 5 and 3 gallon carboys, you can also try to split recipes in half, which is possible if you use recipes available online. Most recipes are for 5 gallons, so you can split them in half for 2.5 gallon batches. You can easily use a 5 gallon pot on the stove this way; no need to buy a huge pot and gas burner, etc. Another good thing about recipes is that you are forced to buy ingredients separately which teaches you about... ingredients.

Only problem is, given your living arrangements, 2.5 gallons won't last long. Well, 5 gallons probably won't last long either. Good luck and have fun!

 

[elayman]

Thanks Tony! That sounds like a good option for me. Once I get the hang of it, I could just brew 7 gallons of my own blend right?

@iambeer - you are right! that is why I am trying to get started asap so we can eventually upgrade to satisfy all of my housemates!

 

[Matt3989]

Do you have a put large enough to brew in? At least 12-15 liters for a partial boil (aluminum would work best - best heat transfer, since a college stove probably isn't the strongest), or a propane cooker and a stainless steel (preferred) or enamel pot at least 29 liters, 39 would be better.

Also, if you plan on kegging all your beer you won't need that capper out the bottling wand. But bottling is a cheaper option to start out with.

 

[elayman]

We've got a large industrial gas stove. We may have a pot large enough or I will buy one. I don't plan on bottling - waste of time and money because it will probably be gone on serving day with 40 other people living with me

 

[Matt3989]

You might want to keep your eyes out for another bucket, the ones for wine are a little better quality (bigger, better seal, supposedly better plastic) they're called vino buckets or something. That way you can have 2 primary fermenters going because no one wants to wait 5 Weeks for one beer.

The 32oz of star San is probably note than you need to start, I'd go with a smaller one and a thing of pbw (for tough gunk and sediment).

 

[elayman]

I was considering buying 2 5 gallon kegs and ferment one batch in the 3,5 gallon carboys and the other batch in the bucket. Is the 5gallon bucket also not good enough for 1 batch haha?

 

[boxofjibboo]

If you're going to be serving a lot of people, you're going to want to do as many batches as possible to always have something on hand. Keep in mind it takes about 6 weeks after brewing to have something to drink. (at least with bottles, maybe 4-5 if using kegs.

I would say get fermenter buckets. They're about 6.5 gallon sizes and you could buy 5 or so and just brew 5 batches, one or two every week. Have a batch available every week.

Just my opinion. Or have the pledges brew every day haha

 

[elayman]

Well maybe in the future - but for now it is more of my personal project (ie I am paying for all of the equipment). I think once I make a batch and see if it's good, can I convince the house to chip in to make more batches.

 

[Matt3989]

I know it's getting off topic from the OP, but with that 5 gallon carboy you can make one batch in the bucket, and after a week of fermenting you can rack that into the secondary and be able to brew another batch for the bucket.

Also, if it's a 5 gallon fermenting bucket I'm pretty sure it has head room so you can make a full batch in it.

As far a thermometers go, i just use a stainless meat thermometer most of the time, it's not too important unless you are brewing AG (all grain) or are steeping specialty grains. The only time you'll need it is to check the temp of the wort before you pitch your yeast. If it's boiling it's 212 dF.

You'll want a big trashcan or a bathtub full of ice to cool your wort down faster. something big enough to hold your brew pot along with ice water.

 

[Boleslaus]

Basically you need roughly a gallon of extra headspace in your fermenter (depending on how vigorous the fermentation will be). So in a 5 gal carboy you can ferement 4 gal. As you said, you could split a 5 gal batch over the two fermenters, but then would you keg them seperately or mix them back together into one 5 gal keg? The chances are high that the beers will be slightly different based on the yeast and if you dry hop etc. However, there are some beers that are blended like that on purpose so that is your call!

I would definitely go ahead and get at least one 6.5 gal bucket fermenter so you can have the option of fermenting it in one vessel.

 

[elayman]

Is a 5 gallon kettle large enough?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fod/3244859034.html

Or I could get this huge one haha http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/3258183828.html

 

[iambeer]

I was considering buying 2 5 gallon kegs and ferment one batch in the 3,5 gallon carboys and the other batch in the bucket. Is the 5gallon bucket also not good enough for 1 batch haha?

I'm deep into 3 gallon carboys so I have asked this question myself and received great advice. The advice is you can get 5 gallon kegs for your 2.5/3 gallon batches because
a.) 5 gallon kegs cost less if you buy them used (and are about the same new)
b.) CO2 is cheap and if you blow the oxygen out, the 5 gallon keg is perfectly reusable for all your batches. No need to upgrade later.

I only bottle condition. But if I ever go to kegs, 5 gallons sounds like the right choice. The only reason to go with 3 is because they might fit in smaller coolers.

 

[iambeer]

Is a 5 gallon kettle large enough?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fod/3244859034.html

Or I could get this huge one haha http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/3258183828.html

I use a 5 gallon pot and it's great for around 2.5 to 3.5 gallon batches. I heard some people will cook a concentrated wort and add water that wouldn't fit in the kettle but does fit in the 5 or 6 gallon carboy. I don't know how well it works but it seems to be an option if you want to go that route.

 

[elayman]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[drkaeppel]

Easiest cooling method for your fermentors is probably to set up a water bath with ice packs. I have been using this method since I started and it has worked well. I can maintain temps in the 65-70F range by swapping ice packs twice per day.