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Help me get my hubby his Christmas gift!

SSBrew - 728
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Brittany0731 said:
What in the hell?!? I didn't know such an expensive thermometer existed!!
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Lol! Yes it does. They are fantastic for brewing. Mainly for all grain where mash temps are critical. That's literally the best one you can buy though. They sell some that are a little less expensive that are still great. I don't own one for obvious reasons, it's a bit outta my price range!!
 
+1 for temp controlled fermentation ( chest freezer and temp controller). Even if it's cold in your garage, controlling temp during fermentation is the way to go. And it upgrades later for legging

+1 for stir plate and flask and stir bar for starters. If he's a do it yourselfer you could get just get the flask and bar and he can make his own stir plate.

+1 for mash tun. Heck....just get the big igloo cooler and a $30 Home Depot gift card and he can do the rest.

For whatever it's worth I bought all 3 of those items at about my 6 month mark. They are all independently useful.
 
I gathered the kegging lol. I don't THINK he'd be too keep on making leggings... o_O
How can he make a stir plate? I was figuring that I would do the stir plate/flask, the temp controller, a heater belt (would he need the fridge just yet if it is 48* in our garage right now? He should just need to heat, yes? And then he can get a fridge later when needed?) He will need that tube thing that was linked by rev earlier for a mash tun as well, yes?
 
mrdauber64 said:
Get him a 10 gallon round beverage cooler so that he can start building his mash tun for all-grain. Also a large metal spoon(3 feet long) fir stirring the mash.

That would be a good start to get him moving towards all-grain.

A refractometer is also nice when making all grain batches.
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I didn't read all of this but from the pictures, it looks like maybe he is doing all grain brew in a bag? There were some paint strainer bags in those pictures.

For me, brew in a bag was a cheap way to experiment with all grain. Now that I've done that, I want a 10 gallon mash tun. Has he ever mentioned the words 'mash tun'? If so, the 10 gallon cooler is the way to go.
 
I think that those are the first grains he has bought? We just went out to dinner the other night and while I was trying to non-chalantly fish around he had mentioned that he wants to try whole grains but that it can be more complicated, I believe, and scares him.
 
Brittany0731 said:
bazooka screen?
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Yes! He will need a bazooka screen for the mash tun. Along with a weld less ball valve. In regards to the fridge/chest freezer question, your def right. I'm sure if he has his brew in the garage where it's 48, he won't need to worry about cooling for a little while so the belt would suffice. The only thing the fridge would do is insulate so the belt won't need to turn on as often. He can make a stirplate several different ways. It can get as simple and as complicated as you want. I would say this one is probably the most widely used build thread.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-stirplate-cheap-easy-build-86252/

This one is VERY simple and cheap, but it gets the job done.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-shamelessly-cheap-12-diy-stir-plate-338695/
 
Brittany0731 said:
I think that those are the first grains he has bought? We just went out to dinner the other night and while I was trying to non-chalantly fish around he had mentioned that he wants to try whole grains but that it can be more complicated, I believe, and scares him.
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Then I'd get him a mash tun (or a cooler to make a mash tun). If his only reason for not doing all grain is fear of its complexity, he will soon thank you for pushing him into it. It is nowhere near as complicated as most extract brewers think.
 
Ridire said:
Then I'd get him a mash tun (or a cooler to make a mash tun). If his only reason for not doing all grain is fear of its complexity, he will soon thank you for pushing him into it. It is nowhere near as complicated as most extract brewers think.
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+1 on this one. I was afraid of it for quite some time until I read DeathBrewers easy stovetop all grain brewing thread and wished I had a bigger brew pot to do that in. The cooler mash tun will serve him VERY well for many years.
 
I only need to buy him the cooler and the bazooka screen for it, yes? He can get everything else at HD from what I have gathered?
 
I've been dropping hints for my wife to get me a 10 gallon mash tun, already converted because I am of the minority around here in that I don't enjoy the DIY projects and would rather pay for a coolermthat someone has already modified.
 
the mash tun i linked is a great price, with free shipping.. and to answer your question, YES you will have to purchase a hose separately. a 1/2" inside diameter food safe (silicone or PVC) in about a 4" length.
also, it helps if you have a pitcher that will fit inside his brewing pot, to scoop water out.
 
how about a sabco 3bbl system LOL...yea right I am still waiting for someone to buy me one of these.

Seriously though, I would go with an chest freezer, or how about a grain mill? Does he have a half inch drill? Is he diy kinda guy? If so then maybe the parts for a stir plate,. I made mine for about 30 usd and I have seen them for over a hundred. What about a hop spider, or a nice scale? These should be under 100 usd. If he plans to be in the hobby for some time a co2 tank and regulator would be nice, but then he might want to put the chest freezer in the kitchen and I am not sure how you would feel about that. On the other hand if you have a garage then it would be a nice addition along with a corny keg. That way you would not have to worry about bottling (I know what a pain bottling is too). Lots of great ideas out there....... Anyway best of luck
 
Honest to God I have the worlds largest headache right now lol. I guess this is what my husband would feel like if started trying to understand my sewing stuff, huh? THAT must be why he hasn't bought me any sewing supplies ; )
 
You mentioned that you're in the Chicago area, you might want to stop in at brew'n'grow, or another homebrew shop in your area. Most of the people at the stores are very helpful. You might save a few dollars building a mash tun with things from Home Depot, but it might be more frustration than it's worth. If all else fails, a gift card to a homebrew store always works.
 
You do realize he's going to figure out you started a thread on here?
 
:smack: Well, I had kind of thought there was a way to delete a thread, I guess I will just have to hope that a thread labeled help me get my hubby a Christmas gift won't draw his attention and if it does maybe he'll go "Wow, I have the best most amazing wife ever. She is so thoughtful and considerate. She deserves a really AWESOME Christmas gift this year. Maybe I'll go buy her that Brother se400 sewing machine that only walmart carries. I know she's been eyeing it..." Not that I am hinting at anything, Mike....
 
Brittany0731 said:
:smack: Well, I had kind of thought there was a way to delete a thread, I guess I will just have to hope that a thread labeled help me get my hubby a Christmas gift won't draw his attention and if it does maybe he'll go "Wow, I have the best most amazing wife ever. She is so thoughtful and considerate. She deserves a really AWESOME Christmas gift this year. Maybe I'll go buy her that Brother se400 sewing machine that only walmart carries. I know she's been eyeing it..." Not that I am hinting at anything, Mike....
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LMAO!!! If I were your husband and I found this thread, I would make a fake account and tell you exactly what I want :D
 
Justdrumin said:
LMAO!!! If I were your husband and I found this thread, I would make a fake account and tell you exactly what I want :D
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"You should get me...I mean him...a mash tun and you should give it to me...I mean him...wearing nothing but a red bow around your neck, while carrying a medium rare porter house steak in your other hand. That is exactly what I...I mean he...really wants."
 
Ridire said:
"You should get me...I mean him...a mash tun and you should give it to me...I mean him...wearing nothing but a red bow around your neck, while carrying a medium rare porter house steak in your other hand. That is exactly what I...I mean he...really wants."
Click to expand...

Sounds like a dream come true to me!! Lol. That's too funny.
 
I am pretty sure he will figure out this thread sooner or later. If you wanted to delete this thread send a PM to the monitor and they might delete it.
 

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