New to brewing. Evaluate my hypothetical equipment.

[redraider]

I've never brewed before, but I'm very eager to get into the hobby. I've spent the last couple weeks reading and building a hypothetical equipment setup. Here's what I'm thinking. Let me know if I'm missing something, if I've screwed up, or if you have a better idea. I haven't ordered any of this equipment yet, so it's not too late to offer up your opinions!

Books:
I've already ordered two books: (1) How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time by John J. Palmer, and (2) The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charles Papazian. They should be in my mailbox soon.

Starter Kit:
Deluxe Beer Starter Kit (glass fermenter option) - Item Nu: U7603
Northern Brewer Home Supply
Deluxe Beer Starter Kit - Starter Kits

Brew Kettle:
Heavy Duty Brew Kettle – with Ball Valve - Item No: BE308
MoreBeer!
Heavy Duty Brew Kettle - With Ball Valve (32 Quart/8 Gallon) | MoreBeer
Features:
32 quart/8 gallon
Two ½” threaded couplers
Tri-clad bottom
14” diameter x 12” tall

Bottles:
Beer Bottles 12 oz. - Item No: 7013
Northern Brewer Home Supply
Beer Bottles 12 oz.
Features:
24 bottles per case
Brown glass pry-off beer bottles
Standard crown cap

Burner:
Square High Pressure Propane Burner - Item #: SQ14
Bayou Classic Depot
Single Propane Burners, Square High Pressure Propane Burner
16” x 16” cooking surface x 13” tall
10 PSI regulator
55,000 BTUs

Wort chiller:
Any suggestions? I haven't looked into these much yet.

Other stuff:
Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks for any input guys! I'm hoping to make this a long time hobby so I thought I should get quality components from the start. I'd rather spend my future money expanding instead of replacing. Do you think the equipment I've listed will achieve that objective? Will I have everything I need to get started?

 

[VTBrewer]

Well, you certainly have done your research. That's quite a bit and will grow nicely. I would wager that 90% of the brewers on here started with less.

Oh..and what...no bottle caps!?!?!

 

[shek]

I think the kettle could be a little on the small side if you eventually move on to high gravity all-grain beers in the future (but that day might be a long way off, depending on your preferences). Eight gallons will probably be big enough for your boils, but won't leave much or any room for error with respect to boilovers. I have a ~7.5 gallon kettle and I'm not allowed to brew inside anymore...

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Good choices on the starter kit and the burner. I have that same burner and it's been a champ. Plus it will work great for larger kettles if/when you upgrade in the future. Just a couple changes I'd suggest:

1. Get a bigger kettle, close to 10 gallons. With boiloff you're really going to have to watch it at the beginning of the boil, or you'll get a messy boilover. A 10 gallon will give you plenty of room for a 5-6 gallon batch size. This one here is nice: http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/10-gallon-megapot.html

2. Bottles: don't buy them, unless you don't want to drink the beer inside or would rather not delabel them. Lots of bars will let you dumpster dive if you're not a freak. Alternately, you could always buy a couple cases of yummy microbrew and just save the bottles.

3. For the chiller, build your own immersion chiller sized correctly to your kettle. If part of your chiller sticks out above the wort, then it's not doing a good job cooling. Copper prices are so cheap right now, you could build two 25' chiller and sell one. They are pretty easy to build, you just need some common fittings from the hardware store.

3/8" x 50' = $35
1/2" x 50' = $45
CopperTubingSales.com :: ICS Indsutries ::

Guides to build your own:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/immersion-chiller-tutorial-video-60522/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/simple-immersion-wort-chiller-33036/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-immersion-chiller-build-108608/

Good luck, seems like you're off to a good start!

 

[ajf]

Books.
Excellent choices. It will take you a while to learn everything in those books.

Starter kit.
I have a few minor problems with this.
Every time I've used a 6g carboy as a primary, I've needed a blow-off tube. I much prefer 6.5g (but they only come in glass).
A secondary fermenter is nice for the few occasions that you need it, but an extra primary is so much better.
Fermometers are great, because they will show you need to invest in a freezer with a temperature control.
Buy at least 2 extra fermentation locks. They're cheap, and when you eventually break one, you'll have a spare.
Get some StarSan or Iodophor. The One Step won't last long.

Kettle.
8g is plenty for extract brewing. You may want to go for 10g if you're considering all grain.
Why do you need a spigot? They cost money, and I can't see the point unless you have a false bottom and use a counter flow chiller.

Bottles.
Check out bars, beverage centers, and anywhere they recycle bottles. They should be much cheaper than buying them new. Just make sure you don't get screw cap bottles.

Burner.
Great choice.

Wort chiller.
I'd probably start with an immersion chiller. They're easy to use and maintain. You can buy them or make your own.
If you have a kettle with a spigot and false bottom, you may want to consider a counter flow chiller. They work faster than the immersion chillers, but are more difficult to maintain, and the time you save is more than made up for by the time taken to clean it after each brew.

Good luck

-a.

 

[redraider]

Wow! Glad I posted. Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. Keep the knowledge flowing everyone!

VTBrewer -
Thanks for the encouraging words. Your bottle cap comment was pretty funny. I've got those covered though. They come in the kit!

shek -
The 8 gallon kettle seems to be a major issue. I think I might look into a larger kettle instead. I'm just afraid of raising the cost up too much more. Maybe I'll abandon the ball valve and just get the bigger pot. Do you think I could add the ball valve later or is that usually more trouble than it's worth?

TwoHeadsBrewing -
(1) Like I mentioned to shek, do you think I could add a ball valve to a larger pot later? Maybe a home brew shop could do that for me at some point?
(2) I think your bottle idea is the way to go. Might as well get some enjoyment out of those things! Probably not a big difference in price after figuring in shipping anyway.
(3) I still need to research the immersion chiller some more, but I will seriously consider going the do-it-yourself route.

ajf -
(1) Those books seemed to be the most recommended across various websites and both had great reviews on Amazon so I'm sure they'll be worthwhile reads. I suspect they'll keep me busy for a while, too.
(2) Thank you for your critique of the starter kit. Yours was the first one I've seen like that. This is the kind of information I really need to know. Would you suggest I step down, get a lesser kit, and use the extra money towards a second primary? Also, it looks like I need to read some more about StarSan v. Iodophor. My quick searches have turned up some pretty heated debates on the topic.
(3) Same question as above for you about the spigot. Can I add it later? This 8 gallon v. 10 gallon point really seems to be important. I think I'm going to have to step up to the larger pot.
(4) I think I'm just going to take TwoHeads advice and buy some microbrew bottles. That will be more fun than buying new empty ones anyway!
(5) I've gone back and forth on the burner. I'm also considering the Bayou Classic SP2. Any thoughts? Jet Burners - Bayou Classic Propane Double Jet Burner
(6) I'm going to look into making my own wort chiller soon. That might be a fun project!

 

[dantose]

if you are buying bottles, I'd go with a larger size. 16 oz bottles mean 25% less filling and washing. 12 oz bottles should never cost you more than 5 cents. Other than that, good choices

 

[rico567]

I'm one of the ones who started with less stuff than you list.

I got the Midwest Supplies Intermediate Kit, which was a great way to go.

I bought a cheap $40 SS Proctor Silex 30 qt. brewpot. Still using it. If you use Fermcap-S in the boil, you'll have no trouble with 6.5 gal in that pot.

I've never fermented in a carboy, never will. I just use the cheap #2 plastic "Ale Pail," which works fine and is easy to clean and carry. My carboys are strictly for secondaries, and I'm going to primary-only for some beers.

I have about 450 12 oz. longneck bottles, and all of them are commercial nonreturnables from Sam Adams, Red Hook, etc. that we emptied of their original contents.

I use Grandpa's old Prohibition-era bench capper. Strike a blow for liberty!

 

[SmOfathaigh]

weldless fittings are easy enough to add if you drill a hole. make the immersion chiller itwill be cheaper, I use it with ten gallon batches and the temp drops very quickly. investing in the larger pot now will save down theroad if you expand.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Here is my suggestions for your situation:

http://blogs.homebrewtalk.com/Boerderij_Kabouter/Boerderij_Kabouters_Start_Kit_Suggestions/

An 8g kettle is just fine. Invest in some foam control drops (e.g., Fermcap-S) and you will have no problems with boil overs or blow off in the primary.

If you move to a bigger rig it is really nice to have a nice extra kettle for decoctions and other operations on brew day. I use my old intro kettle all the time.

Good luck and keep asking questions!

 

[DrMaddVibe]

Anyone just starting out might want to take a look at:

discount brewing equipment, brew kits, wort chillers, brew kettles, beer supplies

All you'd need is a campstove/turkey fryer, water and a kit and you're brewing beer!

Ultimate Starter Kit with Brewpot and Chiller

Item# ultimate-starter-kit-with-brewpot-and-chiller
Regular price: $69.99
Sale price: $64.99

Product Description

This is everything you need and then some to get started making beer at home.

New Kit contains:
6.5 gal brewing bucket with lid drilled and grommeted for airlock,
6.5 gal bottling bucket w/spigot,
sanitizer,
rack and bottling kit,
capper,
hydrometer,
fermometer,
brewers hand book
plus a 16qt stainless pot and wort chiller!
This is complete!

PS: 6 bucks...flat shipping!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/cheapest-suppliers-common-equipment-84456/index5.html#post1426884


That's a thread that NEEDS to be stickied and revisited but is flying low under the Mod radar.

 

[VTBrewer]

If you move to a bigger rig it is really nice to have a nice extra kettle for decoctions and other operations on brew day. I use my old intro kettle all the time.

Couldn't agree more. I can't think of any piece of equipment that got retired as i grew out my brewery. Things get repurposed......

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Couldn't agree more. I can't think of any piece of equipment that got retired as i grew out my brewery. Things get repurposed......

I can think of one thing...my 8 gallon aluminum kettle. I know lots of people re-use them for HLT or whatever but I'm in favor of buying once and buying the right equipment. If you think you might outgrow it in a year...don't buy it! If you think you might go to doing 10 gallon batches, don't buy a small kettle you'll just be filling up all the time. Spend the extra $20-50 and buy the bigger one, and keep it for many years to come. Just my opinion of course, YMMV.

I think the main reason I'm advocating a bigger kettle is that I prefer to do 6 gallon batches, which means boiling up to 8 gallons of wort at the beginning of the boil. Even with a 10 gallon pot, it gets tight in there. The other big reason is for moving to 10 gallon batches. I figured, it takes the same amount of time...why not brew twice as much beer??? If you decide to jump to bigger batches, then the 10 gallon pot will make a great HLT or even an MLT for beers up to 1.060.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I can think of one thing...my 8 gallon aluminum kettle. I know lots of people re-use them for HLT or whatever but I'm in favor of buying once and buying the right equipment. If you think you might outgrow it in a year...don't buy it! If you think you might go to doing 10 gallon batches, don't buy a small kettle you'll just be filling up all the time. Spend the extra $20-50 and buy the bigger one, and keep it for many years to come. Just my opinion of course, YMMV.

I think the main reason I'm advocating a bigger kettle is that I prefer to do 6 gallon batches, which means boiling up to 8 gallons of wort at the beginning of the boil. Even with a 10 gallon pot, it gets tight in there. The other big reason is for moving to 10 gallon batches. I figured, it takes the same amount of time...why not brew twice as much beer??? If you decide to jump to bigger batches, then the 10 gallon pot will make a great HLT or even an MLT for beers up to 1.060.

This is my ideology as well. As I said in my blog and have repeated many times, I wasted a lot of money in the process of getting to my current brewery. My biggest piece of advice to you is to really think about where you want to go with your brewery and start building toward that. You will never get the full price back for used equipment, and most times it is only worth pennies on the dollar the minute you buy it (not always true, just most of the time).

 

[Synovia]

If I was going to start over, here is what I'd buy:

SQ14 : $55
40ish Qt Aluminum stock pot: $35 or so. I bought my 34 Qt for $22 a Menards.
3 6.5g Ale Pails w/ lids + airlocks :$40
2 Hydrometers : $10 (for when you drop one)
50 ft Copper immersion chiller : $40 worth of copper and such at HD.

If you have ANY thought about going all grain, buy the bigger pot right now. Even if you think it will be a long time, a bigger pot is almost always better (until you start looking at 100+ qt pots and 5g batches) I brewed about 5 extract batches before going AG, and I've got this 5g Stainless pot thats pretty much useless now.

 

[Synovia]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/cheapest-suppliers-common-equipment-84456/index5.html#post1426884


That's a thread that NEEDS to be stickied and revisited but is flying low under the Mod radar.

That chiller is junk. The pot is too small, etc. Its not a good deal because half the stuff will be replaced in the first couple months.

 

[ajf]

Don't take my critique as gospel. It's based on my preferences and prejudices.
I brew about 25 batches a year. About 20 of those batches go straight from primary to keg, and the other 5 batches need a secondary. As the primary fermentation time (for me) is usually 3 weeks, I need at least one extra primary, and if I need to make some cider for SWMBO, I need another. That's no problem. I have 4 glass ones and an 8g bucket for emergencies. As for secondaries, I use them for dry hopping and lagering. I used to have 6 when I used to secondary everything, but I sold 3 of them when I gave up secondaries for most brews.
As for 6 vs 6.5g primaries, I prefer not to use a blow off tube, simply because I'm worried about how to clean it after use. There are plenty of others who don't suffer from my paranoia and use them all the time.
Bear in mind that a starter kit is just that. It is something to get you started, not to keep you in full and continuous production. Just make sure you don't get a kit that contains a bunch of stuff that you don't need or which will become redundant a year or so later. If you're happy with a 6g primary, I don't see anything in that kit that will fall into that category, but you could probably talk them into making substitutions for a small price adjustment.
As for StarSan vs Iodophor, they're both great products, and I use both.

I've never tried using a weldless spigot, so I won't comment about that.
I do have a 10g pot with spigot, false bottom, and CFC. It works great.
I did use a 7.5g pot for many years, and never had a boil over, but I had to watch it like a hawk (but that was before foam control drops were invented). I do find the 10g pot is much easier to use.

Buying microbrew bottles isn't much fun. Emptying them is, but you will probably find you will need more than 2 cases

The Bayou Classic looks much more flimsy than the SQ14. I got my SQ14 at Home Depot for a good price, and it works very well.

-a.

 

[redraider]

Thanks for all of your help. I ordered my gear and I'm headed to Home Depot to pickup some immersion chiller parts. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[Hang Glider]

don't forget about Fermentation Temperature control - very important!

many methods - fridges with controllers, swamp coolers (evaporative), ice chests filled with cool water and frozen water bottles -

All this is great stuff, but when you ferment your wort, get your temps right for the yeast you're using.

Good luck!

 

[redraider]

don't forget about Fermentation Temperature control - very important!

many methods - fridges with controllers, swamp coolers (evaporative), ice chests filled with cool water and frozen water bottles -

All this is great stuff, but when you ferment your wort, get your temps right for the yeast you're using.

Good luck!

My first batch will be a Dry Irish Stout made from a Northern Brewer extract kit. Dry Irish Stout Extract Kit - Extract Ale Kits - Extract Kits - Recipe Kits
I chose Yeast the Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale and Priming Sugar options. The yeast website, Wyeast Laboratories. Irish Ale™ 1084, says 62-72F. I figured I could keep room temperatures in that range in my small apartment. Think that'll work?

My next project will probably have something to do with fermentation temperature control. What are your recommendations? Links? Thanks!

 

[phatuna]

Red, your fermenting beer will be a few degrees warmer than your apartment temp due to all of the activity inside. Typically 5 -10 degrees warmer.

You will want to search "swamp cooler" on this website to figure out how to manage your temps during the active fermentation. This is one of the most important things to read up on. Fermenting out of your yeast temp range is a bad thing.

Use the search tab at the top right of this page.

 

[dantodd]

Your setup sounds pretty good to me. As noted, if you go all grain you might want a 10 gal. kettle for some of the bigger beers. Personally, I really like 5 gallon batches as I can brew more different beers but I know that some guys really like brewing one kind of beer frequently and for them 10 gallon batches make sense.

The books are both great, they cover very similar territory but are both worth the price. The next book I would strongly recommend is "Designing Great Beers" by Ray Daniels. It is an excellent reference book on many different beer styles and includes a lot of historical information which I find fascinating.

If you have a decent beer kit and fresh ingredients the two factors that will most dramatically affect your beers are sanitation and temperature control.

 

[redraider]

Thanks, guys. I just spent a little time reading up on fermenting temperature control. I think I'm going to have to go cheap and small for now, but eventually I'll do something nice. Until more funding comes in and I get some more space, I think I'm going to employ a cheap swamp cooler setup. I'll let you know how things go.

dantodd - I'm waiting to post on what I ordered until I get my hands on it and can do a little review. Until then, I ultimately decided to go with a 15 gallon kettle. So many people seemed to think that a bigger kettle was absolutely the way to go. The 15 gallon will probably be overkill, but at least I'll be somewhat prepared in case I want to do a larger batch sometime. As it turns out, quite a few friends of mine and my girlfriend's are to be married relatively soon. Homebrew at their receptions might make for nice wedding gifts. In order to do that though, I'll need to get more carboys at some point.

I'm looking forward to doing a thorough reading of those two books. They came in the mail the other day, but I haven't got a chance to do too much with them yet. I think I'll probably take your advice and get "Designing Great Beers" after I finish those two.