Good deal.... or great deal?

[NewPA_Brewer]

So, a local homebrewer is getting out of the business and selling all of his stuff, here's the deal he's giving me:

10 gal SS pot with trub screen and valve
5 gal SS pot
Igloo cooler w/ SS false bottom and sparge arm
5 gal glass carboy
2 - 6 gal glass carboys
3 - corny kegs
Grain mill
Stir plate with flask
Copper immersion wort chiller
Dark star propane burner
Ale pale with lid
Misc parts - Spoons, air locks, clamps, fizz drops, priming sugar, bottle caps, Super Pro Zyme Sanitizer, racking cane, flip top bottles, bottle caps, carboy stand, funnel with strainer, SS mesh hand strainer......

(and then he listed some basic ingredients/stuff, and anything else he finds/remembers)



For 600$ flat. Straight up.



This is a good deal right?

 

[NeoBrew]

Seems like it would be at least a good deal. Whether it is a great deal depends a lot on what brand (quality) the stuff is. Pots can be cheap or very very expensive. Grain mills have a wide spread in quality as well. Stir plate can be a $10 homemade one or a $300 laboratory grade one, etc.

 

[GaBrewZoo]

I agree with NeoBrew. Depends on the quality of the products. You could probably piece together the same system or better by finding the pieces individually according to what you need. Have you done much brewing yet? Do you have your procedures figured out yet? After brewing a few times, you'll start thinking to yourself, I really wish I had this, or I wish this was bigger, or smaller, or somehow different. And if you're patient and look for deals on individual things, you can really make out, without a big outlay of cash. I was patient and found a brand new 13.5 gallon aluminum brew pot for $35. I also have 10 pin lock kegs bought at different times and I've never paid more than $25 for any of them. And never paid more than 15 for a carboy. I'm on the lookout for a grain mill now.

 

[IndyBlueprints]

So, a local homebrewer is getting out of the business and selling all of his stuff, here's the deal he's giving me:

10 gal SS pot with trub screen and valve
$40-$120
5 gal SS pot
$30
Igloo cooler w/ SS false bottom and sparge arm
$100++
5 gal glass carboy
$35
2 - 6 gal glass carboys
$90
3 - corny kegs
$145-$225
Grain mill
$79
Stir plate with flask
$50+
Copper immersion wort chiller
$60
Dark star propane burner
$80
Ale pale with lid
$15
Misc parts - Spoons, air locks, clamps, fizz drops, priming sugar, bottle caps, Super Pro Zyme Sanitizer, racking cane, flip top bottles, bottle caps, carboy stand, funnel with strainer, SS mesh hand strainer......
probably another $100

(and then he listed some basic ingredients/stuff, and anything else he finds/remembers)




For 600$ flat. Straight up.





This is a good deal right?

Those are just numbers I'm pulling out from a WAG. Not bad, but not a killer deal, by any means. Depends on brand name and quality of said items.

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

Ok, I messaged him backing asking what brands the pots, carboys, grain mills, and stir plate are. When I get his return message I'll post it here.

 

[mongoose33]

So, a local homebrewer is getting out of the business and selling all of his stuff, here's the deal he's giving me:

10 gal SS pot with trub screen and valve 150
5 gal SS pot 30
Igloo cooler w/ SS false bottom and sparge arm 75
5 gal glass carboy 30
2 - 6 gal glass carboys 70
3 - corny kegs 150
Grain mill 100
Stir plate with flask 40
Copper immersion wort chiller 65
Dark star propane burner 50
Ale pale with lid 7
Misc parts - Spoons, air locks, clamps, fizz drops, priming sugar, bottle caps, Super Pro Zyme Sanitizer, racking cane, flip top bottles, bottle caps, carboy stand, funnel with strainer, SS mesh hand strainer......100

(and then he listed some basic ingredients/stuff, and anything else he finds/remembers)

For 600$ flat. Straight up.

This is a good deal right?

I've put what I think things are worth in RED above. Probably in excess of $850, and I was using used prices not new generally. So yes, a good deal.

Personally, I'd sell the carboys and get plastic fermenters but that's me. In fact, I did come across a similar deal about 13 months ago, included two glass carboys that I sold.

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

The carboys are glass carboys from Northern Brewer. The stir plate is StirStarter. The mill is called Malt Mill and gets connected by a drill to crank. For the pots he said their "no name pots, not polarware or anything but in excellent condition".

 

[mongoose33]

The carboys are glass carboys from Northern Brewer. The stir plate is StirStarter. The mill is called Malt Mill and gets connected by a drill to crank. For the pots he said their "no name pots, not polarware or anything but in excellent condition".

That makes the carboys worth more then. It's still a good deal--provided you didn't have any of that stuff before. Any excess you can probably sell on here. The $50 price for the kegs is solid, that's what they go for.

If straps for carrying the carboys weren't included I'd buy them if I were you. The ones NB sells are about $20 each (wait for one of their 20% off sales). Carboys are heavy, slippery--anything you can use to mitigate that is a good thing.

I have straps for mine and they're a godsend. I used to carry them in milk crates but you have to hold them essentially away from the body which makes it harder. Lifting by the straps is far easier and safer.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/big-mouth-bubbler-harness

If you go this route, make sure you use the drop-down menu to get the right size (5 vs 6.5 gallon). I asked for one for Christmas a year ago, got the wrong size. Eventually swapped it at the NB store.

Finally, you can find carboy straps cheaper elsewhere, don't know how well they'll fit the NB carboy design. I think they'd work, though.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

A better deal @ $500.

Me, I would offer $450 for all, and work from there, up to $500.

Have the appropriate change on hand, when you start showing the cash, to make the offer.

 

[ericbw]

I think it sounds like a good deal, but I brewed for a couple of years before I even hit the $100 mark. Do you have a kegerator, CO2, regulators, etc. for kegging? Otherwise, that is about $150 you wouldn't spend on kegs OR a reason to spend another couple hundred dollars on the rest of it. I love kegging, but it is an expense and takes space for a fridge.

A cooler and braid (or bag) would be cheaper than the sparge arm and false bottom - and does the sparge arm require a pump to make it work right?

Are you going to buy grain in bulk to maximize the expense on the mill?

I would be hesitant to buy used plastic (ale pail or racking cane, etc.). Too much chance for infection, just because you don't know how the guy treated his stuff. And unless you're sold on the glass carboys, you're locking yourself into something heavy and a little dangerous.

Just my thoughts. Maybe pick what you think you will get the most use out of, then see if he'll sell it separately. I think you could spend less and get what you want/need. But if you really want/need all of it, then it sounds like a good deal!

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

Here's another deal I found on HBClassified:

650$:
5 kegs all in great condition
1 mini fridge that fits 2 kegs with all fittings and tap systems.
1 keggle
1 mash tun w/ bazooka screen
50 ft copper wort chiller
3 car boys
Ale pale
HLT with fittings and various sizes of hot water tubing
Copper spare arm
All bottling equipment
Racking canes
Carboy heating element
Tons of bottles (regular abd flip tops)
Cleaning supplies
Propane burner
10 gallon stainless steel pot

I'm sure I'm missing a few little odds and ends.

 

[mongoose33]

Here's the question that makes these things a deal or not a deal: do you need them?

If you don't have a mini kegerator and need/want one, the above deal makes snese. Do you need carboys? Or other things as listed?

You have been a member for a while now, are you brewing? What's your next move? What do you need? Buying stuff you don't need just adds to clutter, even if it's a "good deal."

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

I literally have nothing yet. I started this account to start my research, thats why its "old" (October 2016, 6 months old), been waiting and doing research to start. Finally at the stage where I start/plan on buying things to actually START my brewing.

 

[mongoose33]

I literally have nothing yet. I started this account to start my research, thats why its "old" (October 2016, 6 months old), been waiting and doing research to start. Finally at the stage where I start/plan on buying things to actually START my brewing.

OK, that makes it easier in many ways. Since you have nothing, here's what I'd suggest you start with:

https://www.morebeer.com/products/premium-fermonster-homebrew-starter-kit.html

$229 including shipping, and including your first kit. It's a stunningly good deal IMO.

I started brewing in November of 2015 (29 batches under my belt now). If I knew then what I know now, I'd have bought this kit hands-down. It has the plastic fermonster fermenter which means no glass, and you can reach inside it to clean. It has a spigot too.

It has a good kettle. It has an immersion chiller. It has a spoon, a hydrometer, a bottle of Star-San, a thermometer. It has transfer tubing, a bottling wand, a bottling bucket, bottle caps, bottle capper...the only thing you'd need is some sort of burner.

You can buy additional fermonsters for cheaper than you can get Bigmouth Bubblers. And....they...are....not....glass.....

By including a kit, they take away the decision of what to brew, what ingredients to include, and so on. You need only focus on the process which, IMO, is what you should do the first 2 or 3 times anyway.

You can see how you like brewing and then have a good idea what else you might want to buy. You can get kegs any time. Same with a lot of the other items, and you can do so from a position of knowledge and information, rather than stabbing at a package deal that may or may not suit you.

You were prepared, I think, to spend at least $600. This package, if you subtract the ingredient kit, is $200. That leaves you $400 to spend strategically in areas that make the most sense to you. Heck, for $400 you can build a keezer w/ a new freezer including a keg or two.

If you latch onto this hobby--and if you've been here six months I suspect you will--you'll find a desire to upgrade over time. I did. I sold some of my initial purchases to fund upgrades, and I'm actually at a point where I can't think of anything to buy. Scary.

So consider other sources of equipment. I suspect you may be happier with new to start. Anyway, good luck, and good on you for researching it all up front.

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

Ok, thanks for the advice Mongoose. Does anyone else have any advice, or agree with mongoose? Or anything? (No offense mongoose, just looking for as much information/opinions as possible.)

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

No other advice?

 

[Stealthcruiser]

No other advice?

Sound advice above from mongoose.

Do you need it, or do you not?

If new to brewing, follow the advice on a kit, and see if brewing is for you.

That said, I feel the best step you can take for brewing tasty and consistent beers, is controlling ferm temps.


It is also said : " you think long, you think wrong"......

 

[mongoose33]

You have all the information you need to make a decision. In the end, you need to please only yourself. Do what your gut says is the right thing to do, then own the decision.

You know what I would do if I could do it over again. If my reasoning made sense to you, then do that. If other options make more sense to you, then do those.

I wish you well regardless of what you choose, and I'm sure it won't be long until we're hearing how you're doing.

Brew on!

 

[swampbrewcrew]

I know what I paid for all that stuff buying it new and a piece or two at a time. He's not making any money off of you. Some stuff is unnecessary like glass carboys and what not but it's a solid offer. If he hasn't brewed in awhile I wouldn't put much value in the ingredients, I probably wouldn't even take them unless I could verify how they were stored. I'd try to work him down to around $500 or so.

 

[Enemygod]

That said, I feel the best step you can take for brewing tasty and consistent beers, is controlling ferm temps.

100% agree with this and I think mongoose makes some great points as well. Spend $200 on a nice kit and you still have $400 to spend strategically...for instance on a fermentation chamber.

Of course a lot of people on here have basements with consistent temps, so it depends on where you live. I live in the middle of CA and it gets really hot and really cold...and what's a basement?

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

I'm just curious, for a brand new beginner, what "start up kits" or "sets" or "whatever" is the best? I've looked over the one mongoose recommended, and it does seem nice, but I'm not super sold on it. (Do like that the price is a lot cheaper than the 600$ obviously).

Is there any other start-ups/kits/sets/etc that anyone recommends in that price range (200-250+S/H)?

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I agree with mongoose. I had an offer similar to what you are considering. I went that route and have stuff I don't need and stuff I'm not completely happy with. In retrospect I'd buy that kit and get the all grain MLT I really want.

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

Is there any kits or anything in the 200-300$ range that anyone REALLY recommends? (For a complete brand new beginner)

 

[ericbw]

If you have nothing yet, then that means you have not brewed yet? Get the basics, but include things that make it easier, like an autosiphon. I think the Brewer's Best kit will get you there for under $100 if you have to order it. I'm cheap and like to find ways to do things cheaply, but getting that kit would be the basics.

I would start with a 4-5 gallon pot - a stainless, heavy bottom pot that can be used for a lot of things in the kitchen. Walmart has several to choose from. You'll find uses for this even if you outgrow it.

To really try it out, I would suggest a 1 gallon Brooklyn Brewshop kit. You need to make sure that you have two big pots and a strainer (or paint strainer bag). And I think their kit is overpriced and not suitable for scaling up easily. But you learn the basics on a small scale, and you apply those principles to the larger batches. And it's all grain right from the start.

 

[KennyPowers55]

To really try it out, I would suggest a 1 gallon Brooklyn Brewshop kit. You need to make sure that you have two big pots and a strainer (or paint strainer bag). And I think their kit is overpriced and not suitable for scaling up easily. But you learn the basics on a small scale, and you apply those principles to the larger batches. And it's all grain right from the start.

Just don't go from doing a five gallon batch and then scale back down to the 1 gal brooklyn kit. I did it and it wasn't fun, but you might have more patience than me.

 

[aprichman]

In my opinion to make good hop forward beers you need temperature control during fermentation and a kegging system. As long as you have sanitation under control and pitch healthy yeast you can use the crappiest equipment to boil and ferment and still have great results.

 

[NewPA_Brewer]

No other kits/sets recommended?

 

[ericbw]

What kind of answer are you expecting?

 

[Frodo]

It seems like a decent deal to me, but there are things you don't need now, maybe you'd never use. Probably smart to start smaller.

 

[dsaavedra]

That MoreBeer kit that was linked earlier looks like a good startup kit. Most startup kits only come with a thin 5 gallon kettle, don't come with a wort chiller (which will be very useful to you!), and come with other stuff you likely won't need like 5 gallon glass carboys for secondary. Immediate upgrades I would make to the MoreBeer kit would be

• a propane burner so you can take advantage of that 8.5 gallon kettle and do full volume boils for 5 gallon batches
  
• an instant-read digital thermometer if it doesn't include one already (it comes with some kind of thermometer but I don't see what it is)
  
• a spray bottle for Star San (I like to make 1 gallon of Star San at a time using 6mL of the concentrate and topping off a spray bottle as needed to spray my equipment down, versus making 5 gallons at a time and submersing equipment as the bottle suggests)
  
• a big funnel would probably be a handy upgrade also, I use a funnel all the time

These are all small, easy upgrades (well maybe aside from the propane burner depending on which one you get) that are mainly for convenience versus necessity. The kit as-is is enough to brew your first batch of beer and see if it's a hobby you want to stick with.