Necessary & Optional Equipment List

[Shred]

Hey All,

I received a number of requests for a list of everything one would need to start home brewing. I posted a list on my blog (from the top of my head) of stuff I have purchased and what I consider optional vs. absolutely necessary.

Take a look and let me know if I missed anything, please!

Here's an excerpt:

Since diving headlong into this new addiction, I've annoyed a lot of people with my constant Facebook updates. I've also intrigued some. People have started asking me how to go about getting started and what is the minimum equipment they should have.

If you read my first post you know that I started with a $100 kit for Christmas. You also know I immediately began purchasing additional equipment. I've since lost my job, my car, sold my house and pimped out my girlfriend to cover the costs of my "hobby". Okay - only some of those are true.

This post will give you my opinion of what equipment is absolutely necessary and what equipment might make life a lot easier, but you can get away with not purchasing (or building) right away.


http://www.shredshomebrews.com/2013/03/everything-you-need-to-start-brewing.html

 

[Foosier]

Not bad. You capture things pretty well.

One comment. You mention a stainless steel pot as required. I would recommend pointing out Aluminum pots also. They are much cheaper to obtain and produce the same results.

Just my $0.02

 

[Shred]

Good call. I'm actually not sure what material my pot is, come to think of it.

 

[shaggy727]

I am still a total noob that is currently hoping my second batch that is currently fermenting is going to be drinkable. That being said, I have been doing a lot of research over the past couple of weeks. From what I can tell stainless steal is highly preferred over aluminum because over time aluminum softens more and becomes a little pourous. I have seen pleanty of info saying do not use aluminum because of this and pleanty saying it doesnt matter.

 

[kombat]

Carboy Handle (makes moving full carboys much easier)

Note that those carboy handles are meant for EMPTY carboys, not full ones! You should NEVER use one of those handles to carry a full carboy, as the glass neck of the carboy is not meant to be strong enough to carry all that weight and can easily snap off.

If you want an easier way to carry a full carboy, use a plastic milk crate or a BrewHauler strap.

 

[Shred]

One thing you'll learn as you read around is that nearly everything someone tells you will be contradicted by someone else. I've decided to read as much as possible and just apply what little common sense I have to my actual practices.

I honestly have no idea what my pot is made from. It probably is aluminum as I think it was really cheap (I bought it years before I started brewing). That said, if it's used exclusively for boiling wort, there isn't much to worry about. Any contaminant that makes its way into the porous surface will be killed by the heat anyway.

 

[Shred]

Note that those carboy handles are meant for EMPTY carboys, not full ones! You should NEVER use one of those handles to carry a full carboy, as the glass neck of the carboy is not meant to be strong enough to carry all that weight and can easily snap off.

If you want an easier way to carry a full carboy, use a plastic milk crate or a BrewHauler strap.

Good point. I'll just remove that to avoid confusion (and smashing someone's beer all over the place).

 

[shaggy727]

Good thoughts. Seems like having a designated boil only pot is the way to go. Its what I plan on doing fairly soon. Boiling should in theory kill all the nasties but I am still too new to know the real ins and outs.

 

[unionrdr]

I noticed that you didn't mention a bottling wand. Necessary for bottling to keep o2 out of the beer when filling the bottles. And I think PBW is a better brewery cleaner,but it costs a bit more.

 

[Shred]

I thought about including the wand, but I don't use one. I just attach my siphon hose to the spigot and run it to the bottom of the bottles so there is no splashing. And agreed on the PBW.

 

[unionrdr]

The thing is,the bottling wand has a pin valve on the end to stop flow when the bottle is full. A siphon hose can't really do that without extra effort. could make things a bit busy for two hands with some folks. And making the job as easy & quick as is possible is a better way to look at it.

 

[dstranger99]

I thought about including the wand, but I don't use one. I just attach my siphon hose to the spigot and run it to the bottom of the bottles so there is no splashing. And agreed on the PBW.

How many do you fill at a time doing that? And you'd also have to turn the spigot on/off. A bottle filler is so much easier when it's attached to the tubing, it turns itself on when you press down, and turns off when you let go.

 

[the_trout]

Its always a judgment call on some of these need vs want type things. I wouldnt bottle without a wand and a vineator. They are so cheap and save so much time that I consider them a need but clearly people are bottling without them. Id put a 1/2in autosiphon in the same catagory. Most would say an airlock of some sort is absolutely needed but there are many people who do open fermentation also.
Heat source, large pot, spoon, fermenting bucket, length of hose, bottles, caps, and a capper are all you really need. Everything else just make your beer better or your process easier.

 

[STEVESKI]

Its always a judgment call on some of these need vs want type things. I wouldnt bottle without a wand and a vineator. They are so cheap and save so much time that I consider them a need but clearly people are bottling without them. Id put a 1/2in autosiphon in the same catagory. Most would say an airlock of some sort is absolutely needed but there are many people who do open fermentation also.
Heat source, large pot, spoon, fermenting bucket, length of hose, bottles, caps, and a capper are all you really need. Everything else just make your beer better or your process easier.

I'm only on my 2nd batch, but I have yet to use an airlock even though I bought them. Reading all the horror stories of explosions and lids popping off was all I needed to realize sticking a tube in the bucket and making a blow off tube was a better solution for me so I don't have to worry.

 

[DaNewf]

Optional:

Chest Freezer and 2 stage temperature controller built from an STC-1000. Combine these with the heat pad you've listed and you have a very precise way to control temperatures all year round.

I ferment in my basement which can get pretty cold at night but my wife and kids jack the heat up down there while I'm at work during the day. So even in the winter I need heating and cooling capabilities.

 

[Shred]

How many do you fill at a time doing that? And you'd also have to turn the spigot on/off. A bottle filler is so much easier when it's attached to the tubing, it turns itself on when you press down, and turns off when you let go.

My hose has a little clip that pinches the hose... I figured that was standard. Maybe I should add the wand as it seems not everyone has that nifty little hose lock thingy.

 

[Shred]

Updated to include bottling wand. Thanks all.

 

[NadoHawk]

What about additives? Like what we should buy and what is a waste of money.

 

[Shred]

What about additives? Like what we should buy and what is a waste of money.

That may come in a later post. In a lot of cases it really depends on the specific brew... For example, I feel like any clarifying additives would be a waste in a stout but a little gelatin, Irish moss, etc... in a brew meant to be translucent could make all the difference.

 

[Cyclman]

Nice list. I like having an extra bucket with lid, and recycle my sanitizer for several batches. Blow off tubing is a must, just look @ how many threads people blow through their airlock. Contrary to the rhetoric, aluminum is a safe, lower cost pot material- restaurants primarily use aluminum pots. I would also include a couple of bins to store all your stuff.