Newbie here with some questions!

[mrgoochio]

Hey guys, I'm new here and also new to home brewing. I have been reading up on some starter kits and have come across a Used Coopers Microbrewery Kit for sale. Owner says he has only used it twice and it comes with everything in the original kit minus the ingredients. I think I can get it for $30 shipped, what do you guys think?

As far as sanitation, what do you guys recommend? I haven't decided on a specific brand, maybe one of those 1-step solutions?

This may seem like a dumb question, but am I required to use Coopers beer kits only? There are tons of different beer kits available from different companies and although Coopers has a wide selection, I was wondering if for some reason I can't venture off into other brands with my setup. (Can't see any logical reason why I cant.. but I'd like to make sure)

What else would you recommend for my setup? I was thinking maybe a floating thermometer to take my wort's temp, but theres already a sticker thermometer on the fermenter. Do I need a floating one for the wort itself? What else would you recommend?

Almost forgot, I'll need to pickup a big boiling pot!

Any other feedback would be highly appreciated

Happy brewing

 

[Dunerunner]

Welcome to HBT!

Shop around! Look at some of the restaurant supply houses for Stainless Steel brew (Stock) pots, look for a burner that will boil the wert in your brew pot easily without engulfing it in flame or scorching the wert in the kettle. My first pot was a 10 gallon SS pot from a restaurant supply house. When wert is boiling, it is at 212 degrees F. A small dial thermometer from the grocery store is sufficient if you're extract brewing. Get a decent stainless spoon, again; look at the restaurant supply stores. You will need a racking cane, wert chiller and a fermentation vessel (plastic bucket, carboy or better bottle) and an air lock.

Look at some of the home brew supply stores online. They will give you an idea as to what you might want. Then look around to see how you might be able to improvise a system, if you want to. You can always just buy one from the home brew store (HBS).

Then decide if you want to bottle or keg!

Cheers and welcome to the addiction!

 

[SumnerH]

As far as sanitation, what do you guys recommend? I haven't decided on a specific brand, maybe one of those 1-step solutions?

To me, StarSan and Iodopor are head and shoulders above the alternatives for sanitizing. StarSan's my choice because it stores well, but both are fairly fast acting--you can put them in a spray bottle for touch-up sanitizing.

1-step isn't technically a sanitizer, and certainly needs much longer contact time (ie not a spray down,but a long soak) if you're going to try to use it for that purpose.

I use oxiclean for cleaning, but have no strong feelings there, and 1-step, PBW, and lots of other things are reasonable options.

YMMV.

 

[akryder]

I've just begun brewing, but thought I'd give you my opinion based off my recent starting experience. The kit looks like it should work (and the HBT users with more experience will correct me if I wrong.....), but you'll probably keep upgrading your equipment as you go, but the kit looks like a good start. I'd think you'd want at least a 12 qt (3 gallon) brew kettle if you're planning on starting with partial boil extract kits (available from a variety of HBS). I actually started with 30 qt pot (craig's list find) and enjoyed that because I eventually moved to full boils with it. I've also found that a long spoon is a necessity (steam+hands=sucky). Some type of thermometer is important to let you know when you've cooled your wort enough to transfer to your primary fermenter and pitch the yeast. I've used both floating and dial thermometers in the past, both with good results.

A secondary fermentor is not necessary, but very handy if you want to add things such as dry hopping, purees, or perform longer fermentations, etc. Lots of people on this forum have also had good luck with clarity using secondary fermentation as well. I've used them for additions as well as freeing up a primary for another brew.. If you go that route, you'll want at least some tubing for transferring (3/8" ID is what I use), although a lot of people use racking canes and auto-siphons, both of which can be helpful.

It looks like that particular kit is set up to bottle directly from the primary fermentor and that would likely require using fermentation drops/tabs. If you want to use priming sugar, which where I'm from, is much cheaper (and possibly more consistent), it would be good to invest in a bottling bucket, so you can add in the priming sugar and mix it up. This is also handy if you want to mix in extracts at the last minute.

As far as sanitization goes, I feel really confident using StarSan. Iodophor is also frequently used with excellent results. The important thing with both of those items is to follow the manufacturer's directions and get the solution to the right concentrations. I'd watch out for "1-step" Cleaners/Sanitizers. You'll need to use it in two steps, rinse between the cleanse and sanitize. From what I can tell, there's no such thing as a 1-Step cleaner/sanitizer.

Some of the best advice I believe I received when I started was to brew something that will be ready quickly...like a wheat beer. It was ready (and good) quickly, so I was less likely to "sample until ready". That and Have Fun! There is lots of excellent advice on these forums, and you'd be surprised at what you can find using the search function....just about everything!

Cheers!

 

[mrgoochio]

Welcome to HBT!

Shop around! Look at some of the restaurant supply houses for Stainless Steel brew (Stock) pots, look for a burner that will boil the wert in your brew pot easily without engulfing it in flame or scorching the wert in the kettle. My first pot was a 10 gallon SS pot from a restaurant supply house. When wert is boiling, it is at 212 degrees F. A small dial thermometer from the grocery store is sufficient if you're extract brewing. Get a decent stainless spoon, again; look at the restaurant supply stores. You will need a racking cane, wert chiller and a fermentation vessel (plastic bucket, carboy or better bottle) and an air lock.

Look at some of the home brew supply stores online. They will give you an idea as to what you might want. Then look around to see how you might be able to improvise a system, if you want to. You can always just buy one from the home brew store (HBS).

Then decide if you want to bottle or keg!

Cheers and welcome to the addiction!

I am definitely shopping around for a stock pot.. However, I was planning on brewing in-doors and just using the stove for now. I'm still not familiar on the details of what full boiling or half boiling or whatever means and what effects it has on the types of beers you can brew. I'll need to look more in to that. As far as a SS spoon, racking cane (what is a racking cane?), wort chiller, fermentation vessel, and air lock, this is a picture of what I was thinking about picking up:

The kit comes with the following:
1 Plastic 30 liter fermenter with lid (and o ring),
makes 23 liters (6 Gallons)
1 Hydrometer
1 Sediment Reducer
1 Plastic Spoon
1 "Little Bottler" tube and bottling valve
1 Tap
1 Airlock
1 Airlock grommet
1 Thermometer
30 740ml PET bottles and caps
1 Instruction booklet
1 Instructional DVD

Comes with a bunch of bottles, so I plan on bottling for now.

To me, StarSan and Iodopor are head and shoulders above the alternatives for sanitizing. StarSan's my choice because it stores well, but both are fairly fast acting--you can put them in a spray bottle for touch-up sanitizing.

1-step isn't technically a sanitizer, and certainly needs much longer contact time (ie not a spray down,but a long soak) if you're going to try to use it for that purpose.

I use oxiclean for cleaning, but have no strong feelings there, and 1-step, PBW, and lots of other things are reasonable options.

YMMV.

I'll look into StarSan and iodopor, I've seen those two pop up numerous times while i was looking into sanitation. Thanks

I've just begun brewing, but thought I'd give you my opinion based off my recent starting experience. The kit looks like it should work (and the HBT users with more experience will correct me if I wrong.....), but you'll probably keep upgrading your equipment as you go, but the kit looks like a good start. I'd think you'd want at least a 12 qt (3 gallon) brew kettle if you're planning on starting with partial boil extract kits (available from a variety of HBS). I actually started with 30 qt pot (craig's list find) and enjoyed that because I eventually moved to full boils with it. I've also found that a long spoon is a necessity (steam+hands=sucky). Some type of thermometer is important to let you know when you've cooled your wort enough to transfer to your primary fermenter and pitch the yeast. I've used both floating and dial thermometers in the past, both with good results.

A secondary fermentor is not necessary, but very handy if you want to add things such as dry hopping, purees, or perform longer fermentations, etc. Lots of people on this forum have also had good luck with clarity using secondary fermentation as well. I've used them for additions as well as freeing up a primary for another brew.. If you go that route, you'll want at least some tubing for transferring (3/8" ID is what I use), although a lot of people use racking canes and auto-siphons, both of which can be helpful.

It looks like that particular kit is set up to bottle directly from the primary fermentor and that would likely require using fermentation drops/tabs. If you want to use priming sugar, which where I'm from, is much cheaper (and possibly more consistent), it would be good to invest in a bottling bucket, so you can add in the priming sugar and mix it up. This is also handy if you want to mix in extracts at the last minute.

As far as sanitization goes, I feel really confident using StarSan. Iodophor is also frequently used with excellent results. The important thing with both of those items is to follow the manufacturer's directions and get the solution to the right concentrations. I'd watch out for "1-step" Cleaners/Sanitizers. You'll need to use it in two steps, rinse between the cleanse and sanitize. From what I can tell, there's no such thing as a 1-Step cleaner/sanitizer.

Some of the best advice I believe I received when I started was to brew something that will be ready quickly...like a wheat beer. It was ready (and good) quickly, so I was less likely to "sample until ready". That and Have Fun! There is lots of excellent advice on these forums, and you'd be surprised at what you can find using the search function....just about everything!

Cheers!

As I stated earlier, I'm a little fuzzy on the details concerning full or partial boiling methods, but I will be looking into that shortly. I'll also have to find a suitable boiling kettle or stock pot or whatever I can find.

As far as the thermometer for the wort goes, I have heard people using floating aquarium thermometers without much problem, that sound about right?

I am not really looking at expanding my equipment to a secondary fermenter, etc. at the moment. I have never brewed before so I'm just getting the basics down. I'll be happy if I can brew just 1 batch to see how I like it. If I really like it, I will certainly expand my equipment in time.

The fermenter is indeed setup to bottle directly from it. The method they recommended was using their priming sugar in the form of hard cubes (kindof like candy) to drop 2 in each bottle. This method seems alright with me as I don't have large quantities of bottles to handle to start with. I may expand more on this later if I get tired of this method.

I am also looking into which beer kit I'd like to start with first, perhaps an easy ale would be suitable for me

 

[lumpher]

i started with this as my boil-pot years ago, and still use it for the occasional partial boils, and i still use it for strike water when mashing - same pot has lasted for years

http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...ng/fryers&start=0&selectedSKU=0265-02367-2500

 

[Neutrino]

I started with the Coopers kit, and it's not a horrific fermenter - for thirty bucks, I reckon you could do worse. I've made the Coopers kits, and extract plus specialty grains in it, and always been happy enough with the results. Like a few folks have said, you'll probably end up buying more gear once you get going, but as far as I can tell (with very limited experience), that seems to be par for the course The biggest trick for me has been trying to find somewhere to keep it where SWMBO doesn't see it all the time. My masterplan to take over the spare bathroom seems to have hit a few snags. On the plus side, she did say if I make her a Blue Moon clone I can do it there, so I guess I know what I'm brewing next.

On a sanitizer YMMV, but I used Iodophor on the Coopers gear, and haven't had a problem. (There's a good sticky here that has a list of pros/cons of all these things that gives a pretty balanced opinion - https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/vs-pro-con-analysis-109318/).

N.

 

[mrgoochio]

My girlfriend ended up winning the bid for the used coopers kit pictured above. Scored it for $10.50 + $19.95 shipping for a total of $30.45 delivered to my door.

Does anybody have any recommendations for the first type of Ale I should brew? Can I brew beer kits that other manufacturers sell or do I have to use the Cooper's beer kits?

Also, how can I find some local home brew stores so I can check them out in person? Haven't had much luck searching on google, not sure what types of stores sell this kind of stuff.

 

[stubbornman]

worth it for the sediment reducer alone IMO.

 

[akryder]

You'll be fine using another manufacturers kit. If you can, take a peek at the instructions before you get it. It'll let you know if you've got everything you need. If you end up ordering them online, most of the stores have their instructions with the kits that you can read. Here are a couple of lists of LHBS, so you might find something nearby.

http://www.brew-monkey.com/links/homebrewshoplinks.php

http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/shops.asp

 

[mrgoochio]

I don't really see anything nearby after viewing those websites..

What websites do you guys order from?

I'm looking for Coopers complete beer kits and star san at the moment. Amazon has some coopers kits I was interested with free shipping and no tax but they don't have star san available there. I haven't picked up a stock pot yet but I shouldn't have a problem finding something to boil in for these kits either in my kitchen or locally. Is there anywhere I can buy star san locally besides a brew shop?

Any recommendations?

The brewing kit + coopers beer kit + star san looks like basically everything i'll need to brew my first batch, i'll figure something out for temperature (swamp cooling or otherwise)

 

[akryder]

I've had good luck with both Northern Brewer and Austin Homebrew. There are lots of other good sites with kits, including the Cooper's kits. Don't feel like you're "stuck" using Cooper's, although, lots of people have had very good results using those kits, and said that they're a good kit to start with. On my first batches, I liked that fact that I could read the instructions online at NB and AHS (the only two I've used), and make certain that I had everything, and time estimates (which are nothing more than estimates....).

One note on shipping Star San and Iodophor, I don't believe that they can be shipped via airmail. This may not be an issue for you, but good to know.

 

[mrgoochio]

I was looking over at Northern Brewer and the bavarian hefeweizen caught my eye, however, the instructions say that i need a carboy to do secondary fermentation in.. I don't have a carboy and was wondering how the beer will turn out if i left that step out?

as far as austin homebrew, i saw that they have coopers canned beer kits but they include their own "add packs". How would you compare their add packs as opposed to using cooper's recommended DME + dextrose for their beer kit? I was looking at cooper's wheat beer kit in particular. It appears that the "coopers complete wheat beer kit" shows a different picture than the one listed on austin homebrews website as well:

as displayed from amazon (coopers selection)

as opposed to:

as displayed from austin homebrew (coopers brewmaster selection)

P.S. Is there really no place to buy star san locally besides a homebrew store?

 

[akryder]

The use of a secondary is a hot debate topic, from what I've seen. Here's a thread with varying opinions on the topic. I don't see why you would need one for the Northern Brewer kit.

I haven't used a Cooper's Kit before, so I'm just guessing, but it seems like the add pack would be better...but like I said, that's just a guess. It's definitely better than table sugar. Honey might also work, as was left in one of the comments there.

I don't know about picking up Star San or Iodophor locally. I've got a liquor store in my area that carries a small amount of homebrewing/wine making items, and they stock it. Might be worth calling around. If all else fails, morebeer.com (which has a store in Riverside, if that's close..) and williamsbrewing.com are both based out of CA so shipping should be quick. Good luck!

 

[mrgoochio]

I know the coopers beer kits are meant for brewing 6gal brews, but a lot of other kits I found online are meant to brew 5. Will the extra headspace in my fermenter be a problem?