Ordered a MRB, but got some extras! Help ID them PLZ?

[rodwha]

As is the recipe states:
OG (Original Gravity) 1.038-1.045 and gives likely output as 1.043
FG (Final Gravity) 1.010-1.012 likely 1.012
3* SRM (color, which is very light yellow)
12.5 IBU's if all the DME is added in the beginning. It ought to be 15 or more for the style, which I can get if I add the wheat DME at flameout (end of boil)
4.1% ABV

If I add 1 lb of honey at flameout it brings the likely alcohol % to 4.9%.

I don't care much for the hop schedule, but this is what they designed.

 

[freisste]

Ok, so the shopping list thus far is:

Auto-siphon $9.95
5 Gallon Plastic Carboy $24.00
Carboy Handle $5.50
Carboy Lid $2.75
2 Foodgrade Bucket Lids $3.90
Fermometer $3.50
2 US-05 Yeast Packs $5.98 ($2.99ea)
Blueberry Flavoring $4.95
American Wheat Extract $25.75

Totaling $86.28

Considering what items I already own, does this sound good?

You have a carboy handle listed. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe these are mostly used with glass carboys. They CANNOT be used on a full carboy (glass or plastic) and an empty plastic carboy should only weight a pound or two.

It was my understanding you basically only use it on an empty glass carboy. Unless you have one that I didn't notice somewhere in this thread, you may want to save the $5.50. That is if you call to adjust the order as someone mentioned.

 

[unionrdr]

Fer sher man,I've read stories on here where the neck broke where the handle grips the carboy. I think a milk crate would be better for carrying it. Safety first man. I hate to see anyone get hurt from trying to save a buck. Like tires on my tuner,I value my hide more than saving a few bucks.

 

[S2005]

Delete this, Double Post

 

[S2005]

So, I found two lids at Walmart! They are food grade, and are HDPE (2)! Now I just gotta drill one, and find a grommet at home depot that works!



Also, I'm guessing my bottling bucket is 5 gallons, and the fermenting bucket is 6.5?



**Both Images are clickable-thumbnails**

 

[BigFloyd]

So, I found two lids at Walmart! They are food grade, and are HDPE (2)! Now I just gotta drill one, and find a grommet at home depot that works!



Also, I'm guessing my bottling bucket is 5 gallons, and the fermenting bucket is 6.5?



**Both Images are clickable-thumbnails**

Right you are Sir.

Golly - I need to find someone like that who wants to unload all their old brewing equipment.

 

[rodwha]

I'd be more inclined to think the other bucket is a 6 gallon bucket.

Something I did to all of my buckets was to mark them in 1/2 gal increments to ease top off for me. I started at 3.5 gals and would pour it from bucket to bucket and use a flashlight with the lights out and mark the water line on the outside of the bucket. It may not be perfect, but I'm not either...

IIRC I drilled a 1/2" hole in the lid, and the ID of the grommet is 3/8".

 

[S2005]

3/8 is awesome. They made everything standardized. I love this hobby.

I'll go to homedepot tomorrow and pick up a grommet

*****

BigFloyd, I know right?! When he came around the corner with buckets, I was like, what is that?!

A friend of mine started brewing the day after I did, Mr. Beer kit and all. One of HIS buddies gave him free Carboys he had laying around and never used!

THAT I'm jealous of.

 

[rodwha]

You do need to check and make certain the measurement is correct. I may be wrong. It's happened a time or two!

 

[S2005]

Lol for sure I will. I'll go buy the grommet before drilling the hole, and I'll make sure it fits the airlock in the store before I buy it

 

[BigFloyd]

BigFloyd, I know right?! When he came around the corner with buckets, I was like, what is that?!

A friend of mine started brewing the day after I did, Mr. Beer kit and all. One of HIS buddies gave him free Carboys he had laying around and never used!

THAT I'm jealous of.

Score!

Since getting my Mr. Beer kit for Christmas, I'm finding out about more and more folks around here (who I know) that have been brewing for years.

I'm hoping that one of them gets envious of my digitally controlled fermentation chamber (chest freezer with an STC-1000 and DIY paint can heater - it's da stuff:rockin and wants to set one up. I've already offered to make the controller/outlet box for a couple of established brewers. Maybe they'll reciprocate with some surplus equipment they have outgrown.

 

[S2005]

There ya go man! Thats a good plan!

I need to build one of those... I've been scouring craigs list for a chest freezer or mini refrigerator...

 

[BigFloyd]

I need to build one of those... I've been scouring craigs list for a chest freezer or mini refrigerator...

Keep scouring. Sometimes it takes weeks, especially in smaller cities like where I am. If you're patient, it seems like the right one will just fall in your lap. Just have the cash on hand and the vehicle ready to go fetch it right away.

Go ahead and order the controller and build the box while you're waiting. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get the STC-1000 shipped free in 2 days. Otherwise, you have to buy a small item to get the order over $25 and get free freight, but it's not 2 day. The other option is to get one on eBay from China a few bucks cheaper. Wait time on that is about 2-3 weeks.

 

[S2005]

Solid. Thanks for the advice man!

I'm thinking about the chest freezer. I found a few on CL in the $100 range that are 7 cubic feet. Is that enough to fit 2 carboys? I'm thinking in the future if I want to do two brews at once.

There is also a 5 cubic foot, for $75

 

[rodwha]

Are those 2 brews for the month? I had to make room for as many as 4/mo, though 3 is typical.

i can't help you with the chest freezer question. I've yet to get one to put food into.

 

[S2005]

I was going to rotate 2 so yeah that would be 3 or 4 per month

But 2 in the freezer at a time, then on to bottling, which will also need to condition in the freezer as well... so it'll need a bit of room...

 

[rodwha]

I generally do 1 per week. It ends up being a lot to do with brewing and bottling. You'll want room for 3 in there I'd think.

 

[rodwha]

I was backed up once and was in a brew frenzy. It made for a lot of work on the other end come bottling time! I like it all spread out. But that's me.

 

[S2005]

Yeah thats what I was planning, one per week, or one every 2 weeks. That way I have time to drink em in between batches

I have another question about this STC-1000. Will it work on ANY freezer / mini fridge?

I notice it has a heat option! I don't think I'll need it to heat... but I was unaware you could even make a chest freezer / mini fridge heat...

 

[rodwha]

I'm not familiar with it. But I'd think that it replaces just about any thermostat in a fridge/freezer.

I asked about the heat mode, which is for winter if it's in the garage. It keeps it from getting colder than desired.

Once you've brewed plenty you'll have a small stock pile. That is until all of your friends and family start showing up!

 

[S2005]

Anyone know the dimensions of a 6 gallon carboy?

Diameter/Height?

 

[S2005]

God I love the internet.

What did we do before the internet?!

Haha, its on the website I bought the carboy on. 19.25 inches high, and 11.25 inches diameter

 

[BigFloyd]

The STC-1000 is simply an electronic thermostatically controlled switch that's wired into a normal, everyday 2-plug wall outlet to create a "control box".

It senses the temp via its temperature probe that I attach to the side of my LBK. If the temp falls below the set value by 0.5C (the tolerance that I've set), it sends power to whichever plug you've wired for "heat" until the temp goes back up to what you had set, then it turns it off. If the temp goes up to 0.5C higher than the setting, it then turns on the "cold" outlet until it has cooled. If the temp is in the correct range, neither of the outlets have any current to them.

You need to have the freezer or fridge (turned all the way cold) plugged into the "cold" outlet. You also need to have a heat source (like the light bulb inside the paint can) plugged into the "heat" outlet and sitting inside the freezer/fridge.

It's shweet. I can ferment at whatever temp I want at the touch of a few buttons. My next batch, I plan to use Nottingham yeast and will set it for 61F since it's an ale yeast, but reportedly does better at cooler temps.

 

[S2005]

I don't get the part where you said: "Like the light bulb inside the paint can" part...

I think I'm getting a 15 or 20 cubic foot chest freezer in the next couple weeks...

 

[BigFloyd]

I don't get the part where you said: "Like the light bulb inside the paint can" part...

I think I'm getting a 15 or 20 cubic foot chest freezer in the next couple weeks...

Glad to elaborate. Take a look at this link - http://brewstands.com/fermentation-heater.html I simplified their design a little by running the cord through a hole drilled in the lid and mounting the socket to the lid using only the self-tapping screws (no pancake) to mount a porcelain light socket to the lid (make sure that you insulate the contacts from the metal lid if you do that).

The compressor for your freezer can only cool. If the fermentation chamber sits anywhere where the temp may get below your desired temp (like my garage this time of year), you've got to have a heat source. A 90 watt bulb inside the paint can makes a lot of heat. Once it warms up here, I'll simply remove the paint can for the summer months.

 

[Medicbrewer]

Looks like you're getting a ton of good info. I'm in the Dothan area but I travel through Mobile pretty frequently. Used to work up around Citronelle/Saraland area.

 

[S2005]

Cool man! Yeah tons of great info here!

Floyd, thank you for the link! I'll get busy on that right away. I'm still hunting a big chest freezer for now though. I could put the bottles in there too for the carbing phase

Medic, Dothan is a cool place I had some friends who used to autocross up there. I have some family out in Saraland.

I just hit up Dennis at the Winesmith a couple days ago, and picked up some goodies I forgot to order from an online home brew store.

(PS How bout that Tide! Killed Notre Dame! Alabama is the home of the crystal ball!!!)

 

[BigFloyd]

Floyd, thank you for the link! I'll get busy on that right away. I'm still hunting a big chest freezer for now though. I could put the bottles in there too for the carbing phase

For most beers, I understand that bottle carbing is best done a bit warmer, like 70-72 degrees F.

I'll be bottling my first batch in about a week. The bottles will not be going back into the chest freezer. It will be turned down to 55 degrees for a batch I'm getting ready to make (using Nottingham yeast).

Instead, they'll be in a laundry basket, covered by a blanket, in a closet for 4 weeks to carb/condition. My house temp is right at 70 this time of year.