pre assembled all grain systems

[scott_m]

Hey everyone,

Finally wanting to make the step towards all grain brewing. I was wondering what everyone thought about the pre-assembled all grain brewing systems. I'm specifically referring to these.

Northern Brewer Fermenter’s Favorites™ Essential All-Grain Brewing Starter Kit - 10 Gallon...$199.99

MoreBeer Cooler Mash Tun - 10 Gallon...$179.99

MoreBeer B3-350 10 Gallon Cooler All Grain System (With Thermometers)...$429.99


I am not a handy person at all... Well aware that I can save money by building/buying equipment separately, but being new to brewing I'd rather not risk building a subpar system. What are everyone's thoughts on the above systems? I'm tempted to save up for the MoreBeer B3-350. Is it worth the extra $230 over the Northern Brewer system?

 

[heckels]

Honestly, with all of the info on this site, you hardly have to handy. However, with current prices, the NB isn't all that bad.

A couple of these,

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-10-gal-Orange-Water-Cooler-FG1610HDORAN/202260809/

One of these
http://morebeer.com/products/stainless-steel-false-bottom-12-diameter.html

Two of these
http://morebeer.com/products/stainless-weldless-ball-valve.html#

And you're already over $199.

However, if you go brass instead of stainless and find yourself the 10 gallon coolers on sale (occasionally they are 29.99 at Home Depot) you can build this for considerably less.

Personally, I feel like the thermometers in the coolers are a waste. It's just as easy to use a lab thermometer to measure the temp. And most of the time, you're not going to make adjustments mid-mash anyway. They just create more places for leaks.

As for their more beer's sparge arm, a $3 piece of copper and another $6 in PVC and you can have the same setup.

Don't get me wrong, I love more beer but in this case I feel they're overpriced.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[scott_m]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll go with the NB system once they are back in stock.

 

[IslandLizard]

Make a mash tun from a 52 qt rectangular Coleman Extreme cooler (<$30 on sale Sears/Kmart/etc.), a bulkhead w/ valve ($15-20) and a SS braid or a cpvc manifold ($7). The whole shebang won't be more than $60 and roomier and way easier to stir than a round Rubbermaid. Besides, it is still a good cooler for other purposes if you need one.