New to brewing, my set up decent?

[ullose272]

Been reading quite a bit and trying to get a decent setup, want to make good beer early to not get discoraged. Anyway, im going to do a BIAB, i got a propane burner, 8 gallon stainless stock pot, a hop spider, some mesh bags, a 25' copper wort chiller, 6.5 gallon fermentaion bucket with spigot and airlock. Ordered a BIAB dead ringer ipa kit from northern brewer. Plan on fermenting in a deep freezer with a temp controller. Will be bottling in 22oz bottles. Couple months id like to get a keg set up. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[brewgar]

Your set up is way good. Now all you got to do is brew on. That's a good kit. You will like it. Best wishes.

 

[MT's AZ Ale Haus]

Been reading quite a bit and trying to get a decent setup, want to make good beer early to not get discoraged. Anyway, im going to do a BIAB, i got a propane burner, 8 gallon stainless stock pot, a hop spider, some mesh bags, a 25' copper wort chiller, 6.5 gallon fermentaion bucket with spigot and airlock. Ordered a BIAB dead ringer ipa kit from northern brewer. Plan on fermenting in a deep freezer with a temp controller. Will be bottling in 22oz bottles. Couple months id like to get a keg set up. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

Sounds like you are well on your way.
What are you going to mash in? How will you insulate?
I would invest in a couple extra bucket with lids and valves also some 3/8 tubing for liquid transfer also for me I purchased a couple 5 gal bottle for my water they are dedicated for just water.
Moving blankets make great mashtun wraps, I also have a couple large tubs with lids that I keep all my tools, accesories and such I dip everything in star san and then keep them in the tub with lid just to keep everything clean. I start my brew day with a 5 gal bucket of star san mix just have on hand so I can clean as I go.
I've also found it helpful to plan out your Brew Day and then stage all your equipment according to the process. I even do a dry run so that I don't have any hiccups along the way, it just makes for a more relaxing and easy Brew Day.

 

[ullose272]

Sounds like you are well on your way.
What are you going to mash in? How will you insulate?
I would invest in a couple extra bucket with lids and valves also some 3/8 tubing for liquid transfer also for me I purchased a couple 5 gal bottle for my water they are dedicated for just water.
Moving blankets make great mashtun wraps, I also have a couple large tubs with lids that I keep all my tools, accesories and such I dip everything in star san and then keep them in the tub with lid just to keep everything clean. I start my brew day with a 5 gal bucket of star san mix just have on hand so I can clean as I go.
I've also found it helpful to plan out your Brew Day and then stage all your equipment according to the process. I even do a dry run so that I don't have any hiccups along the way, it just makes for a more relaxing and easy Brew Day.

Good advice, i was just going to mash in the brew kettle, im doing BIAB, and keep light heat on to keep temp during mash?

 

[dstockwell]

I BIAB and just wrap with a couple beach towels and stir 3 - 4 times during 75 min mash. Never tried the heat, even on low setting not sure what temp that would be.

 

[MT's AZ Ale Haus]

Good advice, i was just going to mash in the brew kettle, im doing BIAB, and keep light heat on to keep temp during mash?

I was also going to do the mash in the Brew Kettle and after reading and various comments I took many people's advice and went against it. Because from my understanding it's super tricky to maintain the Heat and not possibly scorch.

Just get it to your temp turn off flame and then wrap it in a blanket.

 

[VirginiaHops1]

You didn't mention a bottling bucket. Do you have one that you're going to rack to before bottling or are you bottling straight out of the fermenter? Also bottling wands help a lot.

I did my first BIAB last weekend with a 2.5 gallon batch. I used the oven method to hold my temp. Preheated it to 170 then turned it off when I put the kettle in. Held the temp great. I started at 152 and was at 150 at 60 minutes.

 

[ullose272]

My plan was to bottle from the fermentation bucket.

 

[Tribe Fan]

My plan was to bottle from the fermentation bucket.

Personally, I transfer the cold wort from the kettle to a bottling bucket and aerate it by draining into a carboy by trickling it down the side. I ferment in the carboy and then transfer it off the yeast cake to the bottling bucket and leave all that gunk behind. Then I stir in my priming sugar solution (carefully without aerating) and bottle.

 

[hawkbox]

Only real issue is if you're mixing the bottling sugar in you're going to stir up the trub. If you're doing "Bucket -> Carboy -> Bucket" carry on then.

 

[ullose272]

With my kit i got fizz drops, do these work allright? I

 

[VirginiaHops1]

With my kit i got fizz drops, do these work allright? I

I haven't used them but it will eliminate the problem of mixing the sugar in the fermenter. I don't know if people have issues with trub clogging their spigot, or pulling too much into the bottles because I've always racked to a bottling bucket but you can give it a shot and just adjust your process later if you see fit.

I'll re-iterate the bottling wand makes the bottling process easier, rather than turning the spigot on & off for every bottle. Every little thing you can do to make the process more efficient helps when you're filling lots of bottles.

 

[ancientmariner52]

The bottling wand has another advantage. When your bottle is nearly full, ease up and slow the flow. Bring the beer right to the tippy-top, as full as you can get without overflowing. Pull out the wand and presto! The perfect amount of head space, precisely the same every time.

 

[kh54s10]

Fizz drops work but you cannot adjust the carbonation to the style. And to me, dropping a tab in each of 50+ bottles (12 ounce) and making sure you don't miss one or put two drops in one bottle is a Royal PITA.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/bottling-tips-for-the-homebrewer.94812/

 

[kh54s10]

Another thing to consider, if you fill your bottles from a spigot you have to do something to stop oxidation. That is where a bottling wand comes in. Attach it directly to the spigot with a 1 inch piece of tubing. The raise the bottle until you open the valve on the wand.

 

[MT's AZ Ale Haus]

For under $20 you can put together a dedicated bottling bucket which will make life a whole lot easier.

 

[ullose272]

For under $20 you can put together a dedicated bottling bucket which will make life a whole lot easier.

I understand, but does the bottling bucket come in handy when going into a keg? Because that is the ultimate goal in near future. Id rather not invest in bottling stuff when im going to start kegging the majority of beer.

 

[VirginiaHops1]

I understand, but does the bottling bucket come in handy when going into a keg? Because that is the ultimate goal in near future. Id rather not invest in bottling stuff when im going to start kegging the majority of beer.

Even when you go to kegging, there may be a batch now & then that you want to bottle. Plus I find I can never have too many buckets around. I often find myself using the bottling bucket to hold my Starsan during brew days. For as cheap as one is and it's potential to make your life easier, I wouldn't worry about the sunk cost.

Why not just use your current bucket with spigot as the bottling bucket. Find a plain old cheap non-spigot bucket to ferment in that will fit the lid you already have. Or get a cheap carboy.

 

[ncbrewer]

Find a plain old cheap non-spigot bucket to ferment in

Opinions vary, but I agree with this. The spigot can be handy (no siphoning), but I've read lots of posts about infection problems that were traced back to a contaminated spigot. And siphoning doesn't have to be a problem - an auto siphon solves that problem, as long as you're going into a bottling bucket. Some brewers have problems trying to siphon into bottles, even with an auto siphon.

 

[kh54s10]

Unless you make a really big kegging system, or never plan to brew a really big beer, a bottling bucket, IMO is essential. It you plan to brew something like an Imperial Stout you would be tying up a keg for a very long time. My RIS lasted over a year. My kegerator only holds 3 kegs so I bottled the RIS. I emptied at least 3 kegs of average strength beers in that time. Bottling just once with a bottling bucket is worth having it, IMO

 

[Saunassa]

I chose fermenters without spigot because I could see one getting tweaked and having a slow drip on the closet floor for 2 weeks or having one of the kids open and drain it into the floor. Fizz drops do work well as that is what I used for beer in my profile pic

 

[Genuine]

Also read he description for NB’s BIAB kits. I believe they’re for 3 gallon batches, not 5. Just so you are aware

 

[Tribe Fan]

You can bottle out of the fermenter using tabs in bottles. You'll likely have some sediment in the first bottle or two. But get yourself a bottling wand. You will be thanking yourself after bottle 3.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

I will +1 the bottling wand. I have been bottling since '91 and its the best way to bottle from a bucket. They are cheap, easy to clean and use. I just wish I could find a SS version.

I dont understand the issues people have had with spigots and contamination. Buy this: https://www.morebeer.com/products/plastic-spigot-bucket.html

Its a 5 piece spigot that can easily be disassembled into 5 individual pieces that can easily be cleaned, dried and reassembled. Don't be a lazy brewer, keep your stuff spotless! Remember, cleaning and sanitizing should always be a very high priority.

 

[Tribe Fan]

I will +1 the bottling wand. I have been bottling since '91 and its the best way to bottle from a bucket. They are cheap, easy to clean and use. I just wish I could find a SS version.

I dont understand the issues people have had with spigots and contamination. Buy this: https://www.morebeer.com/products/plastic-spigot-bucket.html

Its a 5 piece spigot that can easily be disassembled into 5 pieces that can easily be cleaned, dried and reassembled. Don't be a lzy brewer, keep your stuff spotless! Remember, cleaning and sanitizing should always be very high priority.

+1000 Key is to do it right away. Don't even give the bugs a chance to get comfortable.

 

[MT's AZ Ale Haus]

I will +1 the bottling wand. I have been bottling since '91 and its the best way to bottle from a bucket. They are cheap, easy to clean and use. I just wish I could find a SS version.

I dont understand the issues people have had with spigots and contamination. Buy this: https://www.morebeer.com/products/plastic-spigot-bucket.html

Its a 5 piece spigot that can easily be disassembled into 5 individual pieces that can easily be cleaned, dried and reassembled. Don't be a lazy brewer, keep your stuff spotless! Remember, cleaning and sanitizing should always be very high priority.

100% Agree.
Almost all my vessels/buckets(exl. star san) have spigots or valves.
Prior to, during and after brew, I clean everything.
For valves and spigots I submerge and repeatedly open and close them to ensure solution has entered every knook & cranny.
Hoses I flush, eveything else gets a good scrubbing.

Also, having a bin with a lid on hand is invaluable to hold all your gear in waiting.

 

[mongoose33]

I think you'd be happier with a 10-gallon kettle rather than an 8-gallon kettle. I used have an 8-gallon kettle, but bought a 10-gallon kettle when I switched to BIAB. It would be a very close thing to do some recipes in an 8-gallon kettle.

 

[ullose272]

Did my first brew today, only thing that didnt go as planned was the recipe says start with 5.5 gallons and end with 3 gallons. Well i guess not enough boiled off because we ended up with about 3.75 gallons going into the fermentor. I would imagine this will cause a low ABV beer? I need to get a hydrometer so i can actually measure gravity. Should i have started with less water to begin with. Also when bringing water up to 160 for mashing and up to a boil im afraid of applying too much heat and "burning" the wort. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[eltorrente]

Did my first brew today, only thing that didnt go as planned was the recipe says start with 5.5 gallons and end with 3 gallons. Well i guess not enough boiled off because we ended up with about 3.75 gallons going into the fermentor. I would imagine this will cause a low ABV beer? I need to get a hydrometer so i can actually measure gravity. Should i have started with less water to begin with. Also when bringing water up to 160 for mashing and up to a boil im afraid of applying too much heat and "burning" the wort. What are your thoughts on this?

As long as you top off in the fermenter to 5 gallons (or whatever amount your shooting for), your post boil amount won't matter. With .75 gallons more than you thought, it will be lower gravity than if it was 3 gallons, but as long as you top off to 5 gallons - the gravity will be the same.

After brewing a few beers, you'll get a handle on your system's boil-off rate. You will boil off usually somewhere between 1 and 2 gallons per hour.

You'll only "burn" the wort if you have a thin bottom to your brew kettle and high heat. Good quality kettles have multiple layers on the bottom and several millimeters of thickness. You'll see if you scorched the wort though, as it leaves marks on the bottom of the kettle.

 

[Tribe Fan]

As long as you top off in the fermenter to 5 gallons (or whatever amount your shooting for), your post boil amount won't matter. With .75 gallons more than you thought, it will be lower gravity than if it was 3 gallons, but as long as you top off to 5 gallons - the gravity will be the same.

After brewing a few beers, you'll get a handle on your system's boil-off rate. You will boil off usually somewhere between 1 and 2 gallons per hour.

You'll only "burn" the wort if you have a thin bottom to your brew kettle and high heat. Good quality kettles have multiple layers on the bottom and several millimeters of thickness. You'll see if you scorched the wort though, as it leaves marks on the bottom of the kettle.

I think you're a little confused here.

You don't want to top up a batch designed for 3 gallons to 5 gallons in the fermenter.

If you have a recipe designed for 5 gallons and you wind up with 3.75, then you could top off to get to the original recipe OG.

In this case, you're just gonna have a lower gravity beer. Multiple the recipe's OG /ABV by .8 and that is circa what you will get.

As far as burning the wort, you should bring the strike water up to temperature before adding the grains. If you apply heat during the mashing process, stir constantly. You don't want concentrated heat pulling tannins out of the grains. Once the grains are out, manage a steady, patient heat to get up to a boil and stir every few minutes.