If you had $150?

[jEld]

Hi all, just won a biggest loser competition at work so I have some money the wife can't touch! I'm trying to figure out my next move in acquiring equipment. I'm a pretty big DIY guy...Anyway although I'm still a newb, I know this is a hobby that is going to stick. Here is my current equipment: 10 gallon Rubbermaid MLT, 7 gallon aluminum kettle, 40' 1/2" copper IC, turkey fryer burner, using a 6.5 gallon bucket for primary, have three 5 gallon secondaries (2 are better bottles), and all other minor things to bottle/sanitize etc..

Initial thoughts:

I need a bigger brew kettle...father in law may have an old keg for me to cut, otherwise I'm thinking a winware aluminum 20 gallon (eventually like to do heavy 10 gallon batches).

Yeast starter and stir plate, already have a pc fan.

Thinking about jumping on a groupon for Midwest to pick up an extra primary basically for free ( I have a $15 groupon certificate).

Am I on the right track or is there something else I should consider? Thanks!

Edit: I should mention that I am getting into AG

 

[bad67z]

Do you have a temp controlled environment to ferment in?

 

[JuanKenobi]

Go for the kettle.

 

[jEld]

Depending on the season, winter I've got a large closet I can use that stays around 68. During the summer I expect my basement to be around the same temp. This is my first summer as a novice brewer so we will see soon enough.

 

[bbrim]

Buy a grain mill and convert the keg to a kettle. An ugly kettle makes great beer but poorly milled grains makes for a frustrated brewer.

 

[jEld]

A grain mill was my other other initial thought as well, but I can see that leading to a world of bulk grain and needing storage vessels for it!

 

[snccoulter]

I say build a stirplate, find a keg and cut it, get the primary and you probably can order some grain, maybe do as I did and find a carona style grain mill and build up a grinder.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-fancy-mill-314525/

Do you have any weldless fittings. maybe a sightglass.

 

[jEld]

A corona mill may be an option. Definitely plan on cutting the keg as long is it is a 1/2 barrel. I don't have any weldless fittings laying around, but I could always add the extras to the keggle later.

 

[bad67z]

Depending on the season, winter I've got a large closet I can use that stays around 68. During the summer I expect my basement to be around the same temp. This is my first summer as a novice brewer so we will see soon enough.

Controlling fermentation temp and proper yeast pitch rate are two of the most important variables when making a consistent quality finished product. I would recommend either a refrigerator or a freezer form CL and a rancho type unit to control the temp, if you have the space. Or buy the rest of the parts for your stir-plate, a 2L Erlenmeyer and a couple of stir bars.

 

[Zamial]

I say build a stirplate, find a keg and cut it, get the primary and you probably can order some grain, maybe do as I did and find a carona style grain mill and build up a grinder.

This.

 

[kh54s10]

Build your stirplate $20
Buy a 2L flask $20
Stir bar $5
put a valve in the keggle $35
Swamp cooler for temp control $20
Corona mill $25

This will leave you with $25 toward a 50lb sack of 2 row base grain.

 

[Brewskii]

Depending on the season, winter I've got a large closet I can use that stays around 68. During the summer I expect my basement to be around the same temp. This is my first summer as a novice brewer so we will see soon enough.

You'll never make consistently good beer in these conditions.
I vote fermenting freezer/ Ranco

 

[the_bird]

If it were me, I'd buy like a hundred double-cheeseburgers.

 

[eanmcnulty]

Mmmmmm... double cheese burgers

 

[bottlebomber]

The kettle. THIS kettle. And congrats
http://www.waresdirect.com/products/Restaurant-Supply/UpdateInternational-/80-Qt168826[/URL

 

[jEld]

Thanks for the great advice. This is a great website, even though the wife is less than happy with my new "addiction" Per your advice, I will definitely start looking into some sort of temperature control (even if it is a swamp cooler for now), a corona mill setup, DIY stirplate and flask, and converting a keggle.

Oh yeah, and several double cheeseburgers...

 

[urbanmyth]

I just put together a corona mill station for <$30. Discount Tommy has mills shipped to your door for $25 and the bucket was $2 I think. I got somewhere in the range of 70% efficiency last night with the mill. Didn't take too long to figure out where the sweet spot was on the mill.

 

[bottlebomber]

Oh yeah, and several double cheeseburgers...

Hey, you've got to make sure you'll win it next year too. Time to start beefing up

 

[jEld]

Hey, you've got to make sure you'll win it next year too. Time to start beefing up

Haha well the reason I won is because I am running a marathon in May...somehow running 35 miles a week makes overweight people lose weight! Maybe after May though!

 

[jEld]

Ok well here's what I went with:

"Corona" style mill from discount tommy ($26)
Getting keg from FIL (free)
Getting used commercial front loading freezer from FIL for fermentation (free)
Building my stir plate tomorrow ($35 in parts including flask)
Found a nice rolling cart for grain mill on trash day (free)
Dual stage temp controller from amazon($60) but thinking I should've gone with the eBay aquarium controller for $30...thoughts?

Will be getting this all set up this week thanks to spring break (being a teacher is awesome).

The mill plates seem to be VERY poorly made as the plates are far from flat. I wonder if I'd even have any luck getting a replacement.

All in all, thanks for the advice, especially with regard to the ferm control. I am sure this will go a long way in making better beer.

 

[jEld]

Updates with pictures...now the question is what will be a wife pleasing beer! Leaning towards a honey Weiss for after our first child arrives in <4 weeks!

 

[asidrane]

Updates with pictures...now the question is what will be a wife pleasing beer! Leaning towards a honey Weiss for after our first child arrives in <4 weeks!

Congrats on the child on the way. My wife and I are expecting in July. In my experience, jewelry is a better option for the wife, especially if she isn't thrilled with the brewing.

 

[Dr. Francois]

The Williams Oxygen System is high on my list, if you have any money left over.

 

[jEld]

Lucky me...she loves beer, especially trying out new ones, and hates jewelry...I may be the luckiest man on the planet

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Lookin good!