Clearwater, FL

[Ltkenbo]

Hello from the Clearwater area of Florida! My wife and I moved here 6 months ago from cold Minnesota (and we're really glad we did considering the nice April weather they have right now ) and I recently decided to try out home brewing after getting an Amazon gift card for my birthday. I bought a 5 gallon starter kit that included an extract recipe kit from a home brew supply company and it has been fermenting for the last couple of weeks. I was surprised at how easy extract brewing was, almost too easy so I have decided that for the next batch I would like to try all grain. I have been reading the forums for the last several weeks and so decided to post.

I scored a 5.0 cubic foot chest freezer on Craigslist for $40 and setup a simple fermentation chamber with a temp controller that I will use to finish off this fermentation and then for the next batch I do.

I am working on collecting a couple more pieces of equipment I will need and using Craigslist when I can to save money. Today I actually got a 10 gallon cooler, practically unused for $10!

Hopefully my first batch turns out ok but I am definitely looking forward to interacting with more people here, there's a lot of good information.

 

[kh54s10]

Welcome, and read up.

You already made a step that will improve your beers - fermentation temperature control. Look up the ideal temperature range for the yeast you use. I shoot for mid or just below for my target temperature.

There is a lot to learn but if you can cook a meal by a recipe you should be able to make great beer.

If you go batch sparging with that cooler, and want a braid type filter, I suggest a water heater supply line for the braid instead of a sink supply line. It is bigger and stronger, it filters pretty well and you can bash the crap out of it without worrying about it collapsing.

 

[MaxStout]

Welcome to HBT, from someone still stuck in Minnesota! (We have 18" on the ground and it's still snowing.)

Nice find on CL!

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the hobby, and the group, from Colorado

 

[passedpawn]

Welcome to HBT, and Clearwater

 

[ncbrewer]

Welcome from NC.

 

[Ltkenbo]

Welcome, and read up.

You already made a step that will improve your beers - fermentation temperature control. Look up the ideal temperature range for the yeast you use. I shoot for mid or just below for my target temperature.

There is a lot to learn but if you can cook a meal by a recipe you should be able to make great beer.

If you go batch sparging with that cooler, and want a braid type filter, I suggest a water heater supply line for the braid instead of a sink supply line. It is bigger and stronger, it filters pretty well and you can bash the crap out of it without worrying about it collapsing.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind.

Welcome to HBT, from someone still stuck in Minnesota! (We have 18" on the ground and it's still snowing.)

Nice find on CL!

Yeah my buddy kept sending me pictures and video, pretty crazy.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

 

[Ltkenbo]

Just thought I would show off a couple more of the great deals I found from online classifieds

"Bru Gear" 10 Gallon Kettle & a wort chiller (and a couple other odds and ends) - $65!
It has never been used

Bayou Classic Propane Burner - $20

So now I have just about all the equipment I need to do a 5 gallon all grain brew.