Help me pick what equipment to buy next

[cl330b]

Plate chillers are a great investment.

 

[theonetrueruss]

What do you mean? I don't plan on lagering. And my house stays around 65-70 year round. So what would I use that for?

For me temp control made a big difference.. I also have a closet that stays about 65-70 but controlling the temp helped... especially with high grav beers. I do also make an occasional lager as well.

 

[mxpx5678]

Ok so I sacrificed one of my bottles to test the FG it came out at 1.010 and OG was 1.035 (temp corrected) so I think I should be ok as far as bottles bursting. There was already a decent amount of carbonation in the bottle, not a ton as it has only been about 2.5 days. But I think I should be in the clear for bursting bottles, but I learned my lesson and will leave in primary longer next time

 

[bob1006]

Was there a question your beer was bad? Or it was over carbonated?

 

[mxpx5678]

Was there a question your beer was bad? Or it was over carbonated?

Yeah I though I might have bottled too soon.

 

[bob1006]

Average time for beer is a couple weeks primary, then bottle. I just pulled a sample of a pale ale I brewed on 2/5. Gravity is where it should be, its pretty much clear. I'll bottle it on Saturday. Tastes awesome even though its flat. The cider that's going now will take a couple more weeks to clear. I'll rack that into the secondary on Saturday as well.

 

[mxpx5678]

Average time for beer is a couple weeks primary, then bottle. I just pulled a sample of a pale ale I brewed on 2/5. Gravity is where it should be, its pretty much clear. I'll bottle it on Saturday. Tastes awesome even though its flat. The cider that's going now will take a couple more weeks to clear. I'll rack that into the secondary on Saturday as well.

Yup. This is my first batch so I am still learning. But my gravity was about where it should be anyways, just could use fermented a lot longer. My next batch is going to be an IPA and I am going to do 1 week primary 2 in secondary so I can dry hop.

 

[JoshuaW]

You NEED a hydro and thermometer. They are essential equipment, and they are cheap. After that go for a larger pot then a bottling bucket (if you dont have one) hold off on the keg stuff, its the most expensive and you can bottle a little more while you get used to your new equipment. Work on full boils and partial mash, that will really help improve your beer. Also, try some other stuff like cidar and mead. They are simple and a nice break.

 

[bob1006]

Right on. Take your time, master the process and out will get so much easier.

 

[mxpx5678]

You NEED a hydro and thermometer. They are essential equipment, and they are cheap. After that go for a larger pot then a bottling bucket (if you dont have one) hold off on the keg stuff, its the most expensive and you can bottle a little more while you get used to your new equipment. Work on full boils and partial mash, that will really help improve your beer. Also, try some other stuff like cidar and mead. They are simple and a nice break.

I have both of those. I just need to learn to use them

 

[ShinyBuddha]

+1 vote for a larger pot for the boil first then a chiller. The DIY section has a lot of great tips.

 

[mike_23us]

Buy a bigger pot perferably a 10 gal so you can do full boils and won't out grow it unless you plan on doing 10 gal batchs in the future.

 

[mxpx5678]

I have settled in a bigger pot (and more fermentation buckets so I can have more than one going at a time).

Now I just need to find a good deal on a 10 gallon.

 

[Wreck99]

You can make a wort chiller pretty easily. I just made one for other day from materials at Home Depot. Spent $25 and the thing works wonderfully. I just brewed an Irish Stout the other day and went from 212F to 75F in 10 minutes

 

[VonAle]

I'm in a similar spot as the OP, except I have 3 brews under my belt.

Thanks to all of the great advice here on HBT, but none better than, “be Patient and Enjoy”

For now, I'm going to work with what I have. I can do partial mash's and half AG batches in my 20 qrt pot and make beer that I can enjoy. I can chill from 212 to 70 in 10 min in an ice bath. I can mash in my pot in a paint strainer bag. I can use my plastic 15 gal tub to control my fermentation temps. I can play with recipe software and research and learn more about the ingredients and yeast strains.

Eventually, I'm going to brew enough batches and be ready to figure out how big a pot will work for me, and how many Btu’s I'll need, and what type of wort chiller, and how and where my fermentation chamber is setup, and if BIAB or mash tun is my style, etc.

I have ideas and still have my eyes open for deals on pots and burners and fridges and stuff, but funding is part of the issue.

I rank my needs this way:

1. Experience, brew and avoid mistakes, experiment and pay attention to SWMBO.
2. Knowledge of the Fundamentals, Brewing Science, Ingredient properties, Beer styles, etc.
3. Fermentation temperature control.
4. Additional Fermenter(s).
5. Larger Pot, Heat source, Wort chilling method, Mash tun / BIAB
6. Kegging

 

[mxpx5678]

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I just got a turkey fryer set from Walmart that had a burner, thermometer and a 30qt pot. So I think that should be large enough for me right now. It was buried in their garden dept and was only 34 dollars. The burner even seems well constructed.

Next I think will be a wort chiller, to cool my now bigger pot.

 

[Dhruv6911]

When buying whatever it is you're buying just make sure everything is stainless steel and not aluminum.

umm its already been shown countless times aluminum is fine for brewing kettles as long as its allowed to oxidize. Don't spread FUD...

 

[Dhruv6911]

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I just got a turkey fryer set from Walmart that had a burner, thermometer and a 30qt pot. So I think that should be large enough for me right now. It was buried in their garden dept and was only 34 dollars. The burner even seems well constructed.

Next I think will be a wort chiller, to cool my now bigger pot.

you can make a 30 dollar wort chiller by getting some copper tubing 3/8'' OD works for 20 bucks at home depot and some vinyl tubing that you can squeeze on there tight with clamps for another 6 or 7 bucks and put on some hose clamps and you're good to go. If you got the cash might want to consider making a counterflow chiller which is much more efficient in time and water but ~60 or so dollars from what i can recall.

 

[usshanebond12]

Just walk in a restaurant supply store and get a new stainless steel home brewer. This will match your needs and simplifies your work.

 

[mxpx5678]

Just walk in a restaurant supply store and get a new stainless steel home brewer. This will match your needs and simplifies your work.

Found a restaurant supply store nearby. They had a lot of good stuff. Their stainless pots were still pretty spendy though. I did get some more food grade containers and a turkey baster for pretty cheap. Great store will def go back when I need something.

 

[usshanebond12]

It’s interesting to shop restaurant equipments. Last time when I visited the restaurant supply store for buying stainless steel brewer, I bought a latest commercial countertop oven also. Wow it helps me in all emergencies. Now I am suggesting my pals to buy that oven.