Need to take my gear to the next level - recommendations?

[Rich_S]

Ok, here's what I've cobbled together over time thus far:

Brew Kettle: 10 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker
Mash Tun: 10 gallon orange Rubbermaid cooler w/ false bottom and ball valve (also have a sparge arm setup I hardly ever use)
HLT: 10 gallon orange Rubbermaid cooler w/ ball valve
Fermentation: 4 Better Bottle plastic carboys
Serving: 2 5 gal corny kegs, CO2 bottle, valves, dedicated mini refrigerator
Miscellaneous: bottle capper, thermometer, hydrometer, auto siphon, IC, all the other crap most people have lying around

I think I'm going to ask my wife to get me a Blichmann Top Tier for my birthday. I would also get another Boilermaker to use as a heatable HLT.

That got me thinking. Maybe I should go HERMS. I can get a plate chiller and repurpose my IC as a HERMS coil.

I have ZERO mechanical ability though. I'm assuming a manual setup with just a pump is easy to rig up. I know nothing about the temperature controller stuff though. Anyone done this with a Top Tier? Is there a HERMS For Dummies guide out there? I definitely don't want to mess with electrical heating.

 

[BrewMoreBeers]

I would get a chiller next (unless you have one and did not list it)
If yu already have a chiller, than the pump is the obvious choice. Cheap than the top tier and more versital.

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Get some sort of refrigerator/freezer and a temp controller for fermentation control is my .02! I am of the thought of spend to improve the quality of the beer, not of the equipment! If your current setup is working for you, being able to really control your ferm temps makes a huge difference in beer quality.

Again, just my .02. I realize some people want an easier process, some just want to make beer quickly, some want to experiment more, you get the point.

New stuff is fun though, good luck!

 

[HHP]

Get some sort of refrigerator/freezer and a temp controller for fermentation control is my .02! I am of the thought of spend to improve the quality of the beer, not of the equipment! If your current setup is working for you, being able to really control your ferm temps makes a huge difference in beer quality.

If you want to step up your beer to the next level, get fermentation temperature control. I have neglected this, and I am currently working on it, it is key.

 

[Zen_Brew]

I would also vote for temp control, and maybe expand your refrigeration for kegging. Refrigeration and kegs ends up being the bottle neck for many home brewers. There is a lot you could get used for the cost of a new top tier.

 

[944play]

+1 to temp control and more kegs. Also refractometer and pH meter.

The only reason I would get a (wort) pump would be to do a whirlpool chiller. I do use a pond pump for recirculating ice water through my IC and fermentation temp control.

 

[Rich_S]

I would get a chiller next (unless you have one and did not list it)
If yu already have a chiller, than the pump is the obvious choice. Cheap than the top tier and more versital.

I Have a chiller (IC) referenced in my post and I mentioned using it as a HERMS coil.

I also have a pump but did not list it as I've been too lazy to use it thus far.

 

[Rich_S]

Get some sort of refrigerator/freezer and a temp controller for fermentation control is my .02! I am of the thought of spend to improve the quality of the beer, not of the equipment! If your current setup is working for you, being able to really control your ferm temps makes a huge difference in beer quality.

Again, just my .02. I realize some people want an easier process, some just want to make beer quickly, some want to experiment more, you get the point.

New stuff is fun though, good luck!

I actually have thought about a fermentation chamber. However, 1) I really don't have anywhere to put another refrigerator and 2) there is a room in my basement that stays 65 +/- a few degrees year round where I do my fermentation.