Parts and equipment list Please Help!!!

cwwillmon · Aug 17, 2017

Hey guys new here. I just scored a 5 gallon Rubbermaid cooler and 2-3 gallon coolers as well. I want to start brewing all grain and need a basic parts and equipment list to get started. I have access to a burner and plan to get a stainless pot. Other then that I just need to simplify the process by having a parts list.

Also I don't have buckets or fermenting equipment either. Is there someone kind enough out there that can put together a list for me as to what I would need?? I would like to stay on the cheaper side for this first run.

Thanks in advance!!!

beernutz · Aug 17, 2017

For a list of basic equipment you could take a look at the contents of a starter kit such as morebeer's: https://www.morebeer.com/products/premium-homebrewing-starter-kit.html

You can brew all grain using the brew in a bag (BIAB) method without a lot of equipment. You need a burner and an appropriately sized pot, a thermometer, and a grain bag such as the wilserbag.

IMO you should try to figure out in advance how you are going to control fermentation temps as that has a large impact on the quality of your beer. A swamp cooler setup can be created pretty easily often with equipment you may already have.

If you have a spare fridge or freezer you can buy temp controllers such as the inkbird pretty cheaply or even make one yourself. I've done both and TBH building one now would not be worth the hassle for the small amount I'd save.

cwwillmon · Aug 17, 2017

Very awesome sir!! I will check it out.

lump42 · Aug 17, 2017

The AHA has instructions and video on how to make a cooler mash tun. They use a rectangular cooler but the process should be similar to round coolers as well. This would be one the simplest/ cheapest routes for a "traditional" batch sparge cooler mash tun. https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pimp-my-system/building-a-mash-tun-has-never-been-so-easy/

If you are looking for something fancier but aren't great at DIY solutions, you can purchase ready made bulkheads to create threaded fittings onto the cooler. Then you would only need to add a valve on the outside and something to filter on the inside (threaded barb and hose braid, manifold, false bottom, or BIAB bag).

Parts list for this option would include:
Bulkhead
Valve
1/2" NPT x 3/8" barb fitting
6+" stainless water supply line (toliet, dishwasher, sink water line).

Ready made bulkheads can be found at your Local homebrew store or online at brewhardware.com, bargainfittings.com, or many others.

You can build your own bulkhead from local hardware store but most likely you'll find only brass fittings. Brass works just fine (It's what I use in mine), it's just not as pretty.

As far as fermenting equipment, you'll need:
food-grade bucket (Bigbox store or preferably LHBS)
bucket lid
gromet for the bucket lid
airlock
siphon
food grade vinyl tubing that will fit onto the siphon

morebeer.com, austinhomebrew.com, and love2brew.com have solid equipment starter kits. They'll have most everything except a kettle, mashtun, burner, and bottles. Bottles can be had for free by collecting empty craft beer bottles.

To manage fermenting temps placing the bucket in a large tote of water will help smooth out temps. You can swap out frozen bottle to get the temp down lower.

cwwillmon · Aug 17, 2017

Thanks for the info. This is really going to help!!!!

mirthfuldragon · Aug 17, 2017

beernutz said:
You can brew all grain using the brew in a bag (BIAB) method without a lot of equipment. You need a burner and an appropriately sized pot, a thermometer, and a grain bag such as the wilserbag.

I started brewing about a year ago and, in retrospect, would have saved money and effort going with BIAB. Instead I have a lot of equipment, spent more money than I probably should have, and have a lot more things to clean at the end of the day.

For fermentation temperature, a minifridge plus a temp controller is great, but a lot of ales can be done well in a cool, temperature-stable area of your house - like a corner in the basement.

Also, a 5 gallon cooler mash tun is going to be a little small if you decide to do higher-gravity batches. The same parts can likely be used to convert a 10 gallon cooler (or a larger rectangular cooler), so you should be fine using it for now, just more an FYI.

For fermentors: I prefer plastic (accidentally dropping them won't send you to the emergency room), and buckets work great. Your LHBS or online should have good examples - look for the larger ones (7-8g).