Help me decide-all grain or a kegerator

[newbrewr4fun]

I have tried a few of my extract beers and they aren't bad for batch number 1. I am interested about the added benefits of kegging and brewing all grain. Kegging seems like it might make for a little better beer, and easier storage,carbonation etc. I am pretty sure of the all grain process but don't know much about kegging. I am thinking that after a few more extract beers it will be time for me to start stepping up to either kegging or brewing all grain. I can't decide which to save money for.

Also, does anyone know of a good ready to use kegerator? I would like one that holds a couple kegs, maybe even 10 gallon kegs if possible. Two taps. What else will I need besides the fridge the tank and the kegs? Is it hard to setup?

 

[BarleyWater]

All-Grain will definitely improve the quality of your beers. Kegging really just makes it easier to store and serve.

 

[Neunelfer]

Subscribed for similar situation.

 

[dataz722]

My advice is that if money is the issue then go all-grain. More than likely when all is said and done all grain will be cheaper to get it started and it will actually end up saving you money whereas a kegerator will continue to cost you at least a little money every month on your electric bill.

 

[TheH2]

Just debated the two myself and ended up going all-grain for a few reasons.
I really like the process and wanted to start making beer basically from scratch. I had already done a few partial mash batches.
It is supposed to improve the flavor and quality (still waiting on the first all grain batch to age).
You have more control over the beer, color, flavor, dry, malty, etc. I'm of course still figuring all that out.
Bottling isn't that bad.
If you want to share your beer you need to bottle it, or get a bottle gun.

 

[Kegerator]

I say go for the Kegerator! Work on improving your process for extract, maybe try some partial mash. All Grain is the direction you want to go, but enjoy the path. If you need a bottle or two, just put a hose over a tap and into a bottle. Quick and easy.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I'll second the kegerator. While going all grain will give more flexibility and likely a better product, the kegerator saves work, improves quality through cold storage, and adds enjoyment. The benefits of cold crashing, conditioning, and the joy of tapping a brilliantly clear pint win out for me!


Just say not to bottling. Used cheap / free fridges are available if you search them out.

 

[Turkeyfoot Jr.]

I made the jump to AG first and then kegging and if I had to do it over again I'd probably reverse the two. Bottling was always the most tedious part of the entire brewing process. That and it never felt like I got consistent carbonation in my bottles. That drove me crazy. Kegging is SOOO much easier and the fact that I can walk into my basement and pull off a perfectly carbonated pint of any one of the three beers I currently have on tap just makes me all kinds of happy.

 

[Choguy03]

All grain. You will be able to enjoy your beer and make it from scratch. This will allow you to better adjust your receipies to find a beer that you will like. Who cares if you have to bottle? If you can only do one or the other I would go all grain.

It's a lot more fun too!!!

 

[Laurel]

I'm an extract/PM brewer, and I decided to go with kegging. I'm super sick of bottling and kegging seems like a good way to save space. (excuse to stop bottling).

I'm gonna switch to all-grain after a few months anyway. I guess it comes down to how many more batches you want to bottle, and how long you want to refine your general process before adding more complexity to it.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

BOTH!!!

The comments already given are right on. Kegging makes part of the brewing cycle MUCH more enjoyable, but costs much more than going all grain. All grain can (probably) improve your beer, decrease the per-batch cost, but adds time (and sometimes frustration) to your brew day. I don't think it really matters which one you go with first, though. I'd say do what you've got the $$ for.

 

[Special Hops]

I did the jump to Kegging first because I hated bottling.

If you are short on time kegging is the way to go. Simplifies the process tremendously.

All-grain will take more time to brew. But if you are serious about improving your beer and have the time, do all-grain first.

 

[SporkD2]

I did the jump to Kegging first because I hated bottling.

If you are short on time kegging is the way to go. Simplifies the process tremendously.

All-grain will take more time to brew. But if you are serious about improving your beer and have the time, do all-grain first.

+1 exactly what I did. I had a kegging setup before my first extract batch was ready to go

 

[lcf8088]

I would go with kegging first. Take your time. Improve your sanitation/brewing techniques first before going all-grain. Once you've gotten it down pact and can consistantly brew beer exactly how you want it and enjoy it out of the keg step up to all-grain. From what I read on the forums too many people make the mistake of going all-grain too soon.

 

[BierMuncher]

I went to AG first…but only one week before I started building my sanyo kegerator.

You’re probably only a turkey fryer and a wort chiller away from doing an all grain batch.

Why don’t you compromise…get your AG shizzle on immediately and pick up a couple of corny kegs to age/condition the beer. Then you set out to build a DIY kegerator out of a Sanyo (it’s easy).

By the time your taps are ready…your AG batches will be ready.

If you can only pick one…moving to all-grain will open up your brewing world and save you money on each batch…and give you beer like this:

 

[brrman]

I went with the kegerator first, then AG about a year later. The kegerator made homebrewing SO much more enjoyable than having to bottle.

If you have the cash to get the kegerator do it, going AG is not that expensive and you can do it anytime afterwards.

 

[quixotic]

+1 on going with kegging 1st. Just keep checking craigslist for a freezer/sanyo.

 

[MrFebtober]

I kegged first, but that may be because I had a kegerator before I ever started brewing. I would recommend kegging first for reasons already mentioned: it's not just draft beer, it's more control of carbonation levels and temp levels. Force carbing is great, as is being able to cold crash.

One word of advice though: plan for more than two taps, you won't regret it. Especially if you want to give up bottling as much as possible, plan a kegerator that has 3+ taps, plus room for conditioning a couple extra kegs to have "on deck." I only have two taps and that means I still bottle more than half my batches and often only have one beer on draft (when apfelwein is flowing on the other).

 

[RC0032]

Then you set out to build a DIY kegerator out of a Sanyo (it’s easy).

Link to DYI or final pictures?

 

[ajwillys]

Link to DYI or final pictures?

They don't make the Sanyo anymore so you may have a hard time finding it but the model is 4912. Do a search for 4912 and you will find lots of hits. You can also use the new Oster found at Best Buy. Here's a howto on that (and the 4912 is similar)

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=773806

 

[RC0032]

Thanks!

 

[Chriso]

I vote kegerator. You can always do partial-mashing for like $25 extra equipment (garage sale cooler + s/s toilet hose + ball valve) and get many of the same benefits of AG. Kegging, though, is so ultimately sweet that I can't live without it. I know many brewers that produce great high-quality brews through mini-mash extract.

That being said, if your budget is small, and a good full-out kegerator is out of reach, then I'd say do AG and save the kegerator for sometime when you're drowning in cash.

 

[malkore]

All Grain is my vote.

Once you go AG, you'll find a way to afford some kind of keg setup, because you'll be producing better beer.

 

[jds]

I bought kegging equipment first, but no kegerator, since I have a nice cellar-temp (or close to it) basement.

After that, I started AG brewing. Eventually, I'll come into a free fridge (one's on the horizon) that I'll convert for kegging. The less I SPEND on brewing gear, the less SWMBO can complain about how much basement space it takes up.

 

[Saccharomyces]

I jumped to all-grain on batch #3 for about $100 in equipment. My kegerator has cost probably ~$800. Unless you want to lager, you can do just fine with bottles. I went to kegs because I am brewing too fast and ran out of space for bottles.

 

[Tankard]

Depends.

Do you have trouble controlling fermentation temps? If so, a kegerator could double as a fermentation chiller if you get a johnson controller. You can then use it as a kegerator after the brew is done fermenting.

If you are getting consistent fermentation temps, go all grain.

 

[TheH2]

I think I might have changed my mind after bottling last night.... from beginning to end it took me 2.5 hours, including clean up to bottle 53 bottles and I was sober. I never remember it taking this long but maybe I just have a short memory.

 

[JimBell]

At the same point as the starter of the thread.

Decided that kegging is more expensive of a step to take, but I hate bottling so much that in weighs on my mind when I'm brewing (OMG! Jim what are you doing you know how long all this will take to bottle?)

Decided to do a keezer this fall, come on bonus check, and then ag in the spring. I might be able to talk the wife into a turkey fryer for Christmas. I did get a cooler for a tun when stores were marking down their spring and summer stuff a couple weeks ago...

 

[Mutilated1]

My advice - if you gotta choose between All Grain or Kegging - go with Kegging. All Grain won't make your beers that much better. The first couple All Grain batches I made were much better than some of my earlier extract attempts, but now that I've got my processes down I can make great beer with extract too, only easier. All Grain is fun, and you get more felxibility to play around and mix and match ingredients, but bottling beer is a colossal PITA. I'm just now getting my kegging system setup and I really wish I had done it sooner - All Grain is great, but its not the cats meow like some people would have you think it is.

 

[Homercidal]

This was a toss up for me, but I think that kegging makes more sense. Extract CAN make great beer, and you can fill up a couple of kegs while building the kegerator. Once you go that you can fill bottles easy enough if need be (check out the BierMuncher Bottle Filler) and save time over bottling.

Then again... It doesn't cost near as much to go AG if you've got the equipment for extract. Just pick up a turkey fryer kit and build a MLT and you're likely about ready. But, will that make you better beer to begin with? You might find it more comfortable to go AG after a few more extract batches...

Oh ehll, I don't know. I'm doing both and neither are done yet. (well, I *could* put my keg of fermenting Wit in the keg and then in the fridge, but my taps are not installed yet).