As we grow in the homebrewing hobby, so does our accumulation of stuff. I think I own enough spare keg parts to rebuild these things for another 10 years, but what good is that if I can't find where I put those silicone o-rings?
Today I am going to highlight a few useful organization tips and tricks that I use to keep all my homebrew gear in check and my supplies full. These tips boil down to:
1. Grouping
2. Labeling
3. Storage
4. Using Technology
Grouping:
My first all-grain batch of beer was an exercise in organizational chaos. I spent half the day running back and forth between the yard (where I was brewing) and my basement (where all my brew-gear is stored), grabbing every piece of equipment I could think of. Most of my stuff was scattered in separate storage bins, and it was a real time waster. Repeat all that for cleanup, and you have a very long day.
Grouping Items Together Helps Keep Them Organized
I currently alleviate this issue by having small bins full of supplies that I use only for certain purposes. For example, I have a my weighing bin which contains my brewing salts, small containers to hold hop additions, small scale, refractometer and thermometer. This is everything I need to start an all-grain mash all in one place.
I have a similar sized container which houses all of my post-boil and fermentation equipment: airlocks, stoppers, hydrometer, and turkey baster. A third container holds all of my bottling equipment: bottle filler, caps and capper. I keep kegging parts in one large gallon-size Ziploc bag.
You get the picture - group items that you use at the same time in one container or bag of your choice.
Labeling:
I can't even begin to count the number of times I thought I would remember something and failed to write it down. Prime example are two beers I bottled from a keg, failed to label, and then forgot what was in them. Can you say beer roulette?
Label Kegs To Avoid Cleaning Them Twice
Painter's or masking tape and a permanent marker may be my favorite brewing tool for staying organized. I use them to label kegs, mason jars of yeast, or for writing on the top of bottle caps (if I remember, see above). By labeling these items I can always know when I kegged a batch, what is in the keg, if it is dirty, or if it is full of sanitizer and ready to be filled.
Storage:
As a frugal brewer I try to buy grain and hops in bulk, and reuse yeast. For grain, you can use 5 gallon buckets from your local hardware store (stacks well), pet food containers, or other airtight plastic ware. Other useful items for storage are mason jars and Ziploc bags
The problem with some of these items is that the storage size can quickly become inconvenient in your brewing space. I recommend using a wire shelving rack with adjustable shelves for storing these items as you can customize them to your space.
Store Bulk Grain In Storage Containers
Whatever you choose, be sure to measure your items to make the most out of your brew space. Additionally, make sure you have followed the labeling procedures above.
Using Technology:
Don't you hate it when you are at the homebrew store and you know you need something, but can't remember what? Or when you purchase some ingredients that you already had on hand?
I like to keep tabs of when I run low on certain items in the brewery so I can be ready the next time I am at the homebrew store. Utilize one of the many note keeping apps (I use Google Keep) on your smartphone to keep a running list of items you need, which can then be accessed when you are on-the-go.
I use a digital spreadsheet to house all of my recipes and notes from a batch. It helps me keep recipes organized, and more importantly legible, since my handwriting is atrocious!
Search Online For Containers That Fit Your Needs
Last but not least, use Pinterest to track your brewing related ideas (yes, I said Pinterest!). I am subscribed to thousands of threads here on HomeBrewTalk, but sometimes having a picture associated with a link is a great way to save your ideas online. This can be really nice when you are planning for your future brewspace or a basement brewpub.//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/
Today I am going to highlight a few useful organization tips and tricks that I use to keep all my homebrew gear in check and my supplies full. These tips boil down to:
1. Grouping
2. Labeling
3. Storage
4. Using Technology
Grouping:
My first all-grain batch of beer was an exercise in organizational chaos. I spent half the day running back and forth between the yard (where I was brewing) and my basement (where all my brew-gear is stored), grabbing every piece of equipment I could think of. Most of my stuff was scattered in separate storage bins, and it was a real time waster. Repeat all that for cleanup, and you have a very long day.
Grouping Items Together Helps Keep Them Organized
I currently alleviate this issue by having small bins full of supplies that I use only for certain purposes. For example, I have a my weighing bin which contains my brewing salts, small containers to hold hop additions, small scale, refractometer and thermometer. This is everything I need to start an all-grain mash all in one place.
I have a similar sized container which houses all of my post-boil and fermentation equipment: airlocks, stoppers, hydrometer, and turkey baster. A third container holds all of my bottling equipment: bottle filler, caps and capper. I keep kegging parts in one large gallon-size Ziploc bag.
You get the picture - group items that you use at the same time in one container or bag of your choice.
Labeling:
I can't even begin to count the number of times I thought I would remember something and failed to write it down. Prime example are two beers I bottled from a keg, failed to label, and then forgot what was in them. Can you say beer roulette?
Label Kegs To Avoid Cleaning Them Twice
Painter's or masking tape and a permanent marker may be my favorite brewing tool for staying organized. I use them to label kegs, mason jars of yeast, or for writing on the top of bottle caps (if I remember, see above). By labeling these items I can always know when I kegged a batch, what is in the keg, if it is dirty, or if it is full of sanitizer and ready to be filled.
Storage:
As a frugal brewer I try to buy grain and hops in bulk, and reuse yeast. For grain, you can use 5 gallon buckets from your local hardware store (stacks well), pet food containers, or other airtight plastic ware. Other useful items for storage are mason jars and Ziploc bags
The problem with some of these items is that the storage size can quickly become inconvenient in your brewing space. I recommend using a wire shelving rack with adjustable shelves for storing these items as you can customize them to your space.
Store Bulk Grain In Storage Containers
Whatever you choose, be sure to measure your items to make the most out of your brew space. Additionally, make sure you have followed the labeling procedures above.
Using Technology:
Don't you hate it when you are at the homebrew store and you know you need something, but can't remember what? Or when you purchase some ingredients that you already had on hand?
I like to keep tabs of when I run low on certain items in the brewery so I can be ready the next time I am at the homebrew store. Utilize one of the many note keeping apps (I use Google Keep) on your smartphone to keep a running list of items you need, which can then be accessed when you are on-the-go.
I use a digital spreadsheet to house all of my recipes and notes from a batch. It helps me keep recipes organized, and more importantly legible, since my handwriting is atrocious!
Search Online For Containers That Fit Your Needs
Last but not least, use Pinterest to track your brewing related ideas (yes, I said Pinterest!). I am subscribed to thousands of threads here on HomeBrewTalk, but sometimes having a picture associated with a link is a great way to save your ideas online. This can be really nice when you are planning for your future brewspace or a basement brewpub.//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/
