Looking for help deciding on my equipment setup

[MajorPowell]

Up to this point I have been brewing with a buddy on his setup which mainly consists of a double burner camp chef stove and a KAB4 floor burner. For christmas my wife is getting me my own equipment to brew at home (woohoo!) and I have come to a decision point. We currently have budget to either go with a Blichmann floor burner + leg extensions or go induction and get a Avantco IC3500. I have an electrician buddy who will run the required 240 line to the garage if I go that route for nothing more than some beer in trade, so that cost is not a factor in the decision. I have a SS Brewtech 10 gallon kettle which can do induction if I go that way.

It seems like a lot of people's migration on heating equipment is kitchen range > camp chef or other small burner > bigger banjo-style burner > Blichmann or similar burner > and sometimes on to induction. Since I am fortunate enough to have the budget this christmas for it, I want to skip right to the long-lasting high quality efficient equipment from the get-go. I know both are not cheap, but it seems like from what I've read people who either have the Blichmann burner or the 3500w induction really love the speed and efficiency and have no regrets.

So, do you all have any advice on which way to go? What would you do if you were building out your setup now and had this choice? Something else entirely? Thoughts?

 

[Toejam792]

I'd go electric for the long term savings. Gas is expensive and I'm guessing its going to keep going up. Also you don't need nearly as much ventilation, nicer in the winter months.

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

I'd go electric, and it would most likely be even cheaper than induction to go with a RIMS tube setup, or do elements in the kettle. Whats your actual $$ budget?

 

[MajorPowell]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into it. My budget is around $200 for this part of the build - the heat source. I think the blichmann burner is 149.99 + $44.99 for the stands, so that's $200. The avantco IC3500 is $179.99 + shipping, so that's about $200 as well. How much would the RIMS setup cost and what are the advantages over the other options?

 

[Bellybuster]

if you're getting 220v anyway, maybe consider adding an element right to your pot. You can go the DIY route on the cheap or ready made BoilCoil for similar money to above options
The one advantage of the induction is it already has control built in.

 

[Rhumbline]

I agree go electric, it's just less bother. At some point in the future if you want to add an element to a pot that's a good idea as well.

Happy Brewing!

 

[DurtyChemist]

You could probably buy a bango bg14 burner and hose kit and get the blichmann floor BURNER without the blichmann stand and save yourself about $70. Check out the build threads because one guy makes a BIAB stand with the burner and you could probably build a stand if you can use a welder. If not I bet any welding shop or rock crawler could build it using some 2x2 box tubing and a couple welding tabs. They might even be able to use it from a scrap pile.

 

[Bellybuster]

this is probably one of the best induction systems Ive seen. well thought out and easily done around the $1k mark
three-vessel-induction-brewing-system

 

[MajorPowell]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Sounds like most people suggest electric. I'll look into what all it will take and check it out.

 

[MajorPowell]

You could probably buy a bango bg14 burner and hose kit and get the blichmann floor BURNER without the blichmann stand and save yourself about $70. Check out the build threads because one guy makes a BIAB stand with the burner and you could probably build a stand if you can use a welder. If not I bet any welding shop or rock crawler could build it using some 2x2 box tubing and a couple welding tabs. They might even be able to use it from a scrap pile.

I have a welder and could go that route pretty easily. So you are saying rather than buying the blichmann legs put that money toward building a brew stand? That could work.

 

[DurtyChemist]

I have a welder and could go that route pretty easily. So you are saying rather than buying the blichmann legs put that money toward building a brew stand? That could work.

I'm saying make the legs from some box tubing and the mounts for the burner from some flat iron and BAM you have a Blichmann burner without the Blichmann price. Amazon is your friend.

 

[MajorPowell]

I'm saying make the legs from some box tubing and the mounts for the burner from some flat iron and BAM you have a Blichmann burner without the Blichmann price. Amazon is your friend.

Oh, gotcha. I wondered if about that. Awesome I'll look into that today. Thanks.

 

[B29]

I have a blickmann burner and absolutely love it: I've used other banjo burners for crab boilers and other purposes but the Blickmann is tough to beat. Of course, I use it with a breweasy setup, and with the control it is great. That said, I am looking at electric so I can brew inside my barn/workshop during the winter. However, I won't give up my Blickmann burner. It is fast.

 

[logdrum]

I got my burners here: http://www.agrisupply.com/cast-iron-burner/p/64494/
Built the stand out of bed frame steelView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1449794930.976865.jpg

 

[MajorPowell]

I got my burners here: http://www.agrisupply.com/cast-iron-burner/p/64494/
Built the stand out of bed frame steelView attachment 321762

Wow, nice price on those for sure. Thanks for the link.

 

[logdrum]

I drilled the supplied orifices to 7/64th for NG, works like a charm.

 

[crane]

If you are on a budget there is absolutely no reason to buy blitchman equipment. You can get a burner that functions just as good for under $100. This will free up some money for more equipment.

 

[MajorPowell]

If you are on a budget there is absolutely no reason to buy blitchman equipment. You can get a burner that functions just as good for under $100. This will free up some money for more equipment.

Thanks for the advice. I have a pretty significant budget for the whole setup, but had decided to allocate ~$200 to this piece - the heat source. Good call on keeping it cheaper and putting money towards other items.