Equipment help

[evolcoms]

Whats up fellow hobbyists! I would say fellow brewers, but unfortunately i haven't brewed anything yet!

I recently went to my local HBS and they have a decent kit ( i think ) and I wanted to see what you all think about whats included and the price its going for. I was also wanted to see if someone can suggest anything not in the kit I may need? I am going to upgrade my thermometer to a digital one, but other than that what else do I need?

Here is the link to the kit Murrietahomebrew.com

 

[k47k]

if you stick with brewing much past your first few batches youll want a bigger pot.

kit seems a bit pricy, cant really tell whats in it, but the two buckets are like $10 each, the carboy $20-30, pot $60. does the misc. other stuff add up to $145? probably not.

you may be better off doing some research and buying just what you need. generally with kits you are going to end up with some stuff you dont need.

 

[evolcoms]

K47K,

If rememberer correctly there was

6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Primary Fermenter with Grommeted Lid
6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Bottling Bucket with Spigot
5 Gallon "Better Bottle" Carboy
Beer makingrmaking" Book
Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser
Twin Lever Capper
Triple Scale Hydrometer
Siphon Hose and Shut-Off Clamp
Drilled Universal Carboy Bung
Liquid Crystal Thermometer
Lab Thermometer
Brew Paddle
Airlock
Fermtech Auto Siphon
Bottle Filler
Bottle Brush
Carboy Brush
Equipment Instructions
48 glass bottles and caps
5g ss pot
Plus any extract/mini mash recipe on their rack

 

[menerdari]

that's about what I paid for the same stuff, I don't use the easy clean any more and i don't use the thermometer, everything else in that kit gets used.
You can probably piece it out here and there and save a few bucks but that takes time and effort, for me getting everything in one neat bundle was well worth the extra I might have spent.

 

[evolcoms]

Hey menerdari,

Regarding the sanitizer, should I use Star-San instead? I also agree with you about buying everything at once. Taking the time to piece things together to save a few dollars might be to long for me.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

I use star San and would recommend that. I think that's a bit pricey for that kit as well I think I got one from my LHBS that had all that except the better bottle, thermometer, bottles, and kettle and was only around 80$ obviously was just the equipment no recipe kit either.

 

[evolcoms]

I think thats the best I can do as far as price goes. If I buy online, shipping could cost allot. I just want to brew!

 

[Goldback52]

I think thats the best I can do as far as price goes. If I buy online, shipping could cost allot. I just want to brew!

Check amazon and eBay might find some equipment cheaper including a carboy and fermenter buckets. Who trying

 

[axacrusis]

I obtained my home brew starting equipment from an ad on Craigslist. Great resource give it a try. Sometimes it will be new but mostly used equipment. Just give a a good clean and that will start you out with your new sanitation chops!

 

[menerdari]

I use Star-San myself for brewing but prefer Iodophor when bottling. Personal thing.
When I bottle I leave the caps sit on top of the bottles loosely for about 20 minutes before crimping to allow CO2 to displace the O2 in the headspace, I don't want the foam to inhibit that process. Again that is a personal thing.

 

[unionrdr]

Check midwest & Northern Brewer. Shipping & all on a like kit might be a tad cheaper.

 

[evolcoms]

I'll check them out. Thanks guys for the advice and tips. Ill hopefully be brewing within the next month if my plan goes right.

 

[evolcoms]

After checking both Northern Brewer and Midwest, I might go with Midwest. I didn't go far in the order to find out what shipping would be, but they seam to be cheaper in regards to their brewing equipment kits.

 

[unionrdr]

Figured they would be. That $245 sounded a bit inflated to me.

 

[Hernando]

I agree with axacrusis though, I would search Craigslist for beer making/winemaking equipment and just pick up what you need from there. With the money you save you could pick up the extra pieces from the LHBS.

 

[evolcoms]

Figured they would be. That $245 sounded a bit inflated to me.

Makes me wonder now about all their prices.

I agree with axacrusis though, I would search Craigslist for beer making/winemaking equipment and just pick up what you need from there. With the money you save you could pick up the extra pieces from the LHBS.

I might check around my area. I just don't feel like driving 20 miles for small stuff. Especially with my beast.

 

[WoodJRx]

Check out bell's homebrew section. That's where I got my kit for like 110-120 shipped. All the stuff to brew minus a pot and ingredient kit. I went with glass carboy.

I would then look for a turkey frier or big pot from walmart for your extract kits... and look to getting a bigger pot when you want to do full boils. My first stock pot became my pasta pot for cooking.

Link:
https://bellsbeer.com/store/product...Brewing-Equipment-Kit-w{47}-Glass-Carboy.html

PS. Starsan is a godsend. DON'T FEAR THE FOAM.

 

[menerdari]

I should have mentioned that I bought my starter kit from a local merchant, I expect to pay more (within reason) to the mom and pop store, they have to pay the bills to stay in business and I like having a place close to home to buy last minute supplies or an emergency sachet of yeast on brew day.

 

[WoodJRx]

I completely agree on the LHBS. I'd easily pay probably 15-20% more for most things, to buy local. Sadly, my nearest store is over 2 hours away. So it's buy in spurts (SWMBO doesn't like seeing those receipts), or find places with good shipping.

I also forgot to say that I also agree on kit prices. Could you get everything for cheaper? Probably. Worth the time digging, comparing, and assembling? Up to the buyer on that one.

 

[kh54s10]

Makes me wonder now about all their prices.

I might check around my area. I just don't feel like driving 20 miles for small stuff. Especially with my beast.

I might suggest skipping the five gallon Better Bottle. I have one and rarely do a secondary anymore so I only use it for occasional smaller batches.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

I might suggest skipping the five gallon Better Bottle. I have one and rarely do a secondary anymore so I only use it for occasional smaller batches.

They are good for long term aging of imperials, ciders, meads, etc...
I use my better bottles all the time just for storage of beer that's finished fermenting and aging or waiting for a spot in the keg rotation, so i can use my buckets for fermenting.

That said, OP if you live near a Walmart you can get a 8 Gallon IMUSA Tamale Steamer aluminum pot for $20.