Prioritizing Purchases

[Alextuttle]

Hello all,

I am finally at the point to upgrade my equipment to the next stage. I just need to know which to purchase first. Currently, I am in the market for a new burner and a wort chiller. My current set up is a crappy burner stove that takes a while to bring a boil, and I have to cool in the bathtub cycling cold water and draining the luke warm water. Surprisingly, every beer I have made is delicious despite my mediocre equipment. Which should I be more focused on getting first? I am more leaning towards the wort chiller (basic copper coil one)

 

[bobeer]

You can build an immersion chiller for half of what you can buy one for. There's a lot of threads on here about how to build one. Maybe if you only spend half on the IC you can also buy a burner too.

 

[b-boy]

I'd get the wort chiller first. I don't know how people can even brew without one.

 

[ronjonacron]

I think i made my immersion chiller for about $25-30 with 25 feet of copper from Lowe's or home depot. an old washing machine hose s silicone hose and 2 hose clamps.

 

[ronjonacron]

Also, I don't know what your budget is, but I've seen pretty decent reviews on the Darkstar burner on northernbrewer.com and it's about $50. NB frequently does sales that include it.

The one I'm using though, is a $40 one from academy sports and outdoors. I have the clean the burner by taking it apart and shaking out the rust occasionally but I've had it for years.

 

[Teromous]

If you are making beer that you love, I would focus on something that either makes the brew day easier or shortens up your timeline. An immersion chiller seems like the next logical step, but depending on your budget you might look at something like a counter-flow wort chiller or plate chiller and a pump.

 

[PasbitinusBluinusRibbinus]

Look into no-chill brewing. I haven't touched my wort chiller in a year.

 

[Alextuttle]

I was actually leaning more towards the darkstar burner from NB. I am down to build my own chiller, didn't even think about that. I will browse the forums for the instructions! NB also has a deal with the Darkstar burner and a brew kettle that perked my interest too.

 

[Braufessor]

I would vote for Wort Chiller too.....

Also, (in addition to DIY Chiller) check out the "For Sale" sub forum and craigslist..... there are always wort chillers and burners for sale..... you might be able to swing a good deal and get both. For the most part, those are two pieces of equipment that don't really wear out for the most part.

 

[YeastMode]

I use a bayou classic SP10 as my burner and love it. I can control the flame and there is never any soot on my pots. You can find one all over the interwebs for around $50.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Only one way to prioritize purchases.

Start with what you can afford.

After that, buy the thing you want most.

 

[jbb3]

+1 on the DIY IC. But would use a 50' copper coil instead of 25'. Seems like I found a 50' coil of 3/8" refrigeration tubing around $40.

You don't have to have fancy equipment to brew great beer!!

 

[Alextuttle]

I found on the Home Depot website they have copper tubing for only 27$ in stock ready for pickup, I think I will build it myself! Thanks for the help guys

 

[Justdrumin]

I know it's not written in the op and idk if the op has them, but the two things that made the biggest difference for me were fermentation temp control and yeast health. I made a ferm fridge from a $20 craigslist mini fridge and stc 1000 controller. All in all I invested $60 in it and it makes a HUGE difference to me. I also made a stir plate for next to nothing from a computer I found sitting in front of the dumpster at my apartments. Just my .02 cents.

 

[jbb3]

I know it's not written in the op and idk if the op has them, but the two things that made the biggest difference for me were fermentation temp control and yeast health. I made a ferm fridge from a $20 craigslist mini fridge and stc 1000 controller. All in all I invested $60 in it and it makes a HUGE difference to me. I also made a stir plate for next to nothing from a computer I found sitting in front of the dumpster at my apartments. Just my .02 cents.

Good point!

Fermentation temp control is the single most important thing in producing a quality beer.

 

[Alextuttle]

I definitely want to do my own DIY ferm chamber with a mini fridge. That is on my list of things to do. Currently, my garage has a pretty stable cool temp between 60-70 degrees, so nothing has been terrible. However, being able to control the temperature will be the bees knees!

 

[ArcaneXor]

My two cents on some of the preceding recommendations:

- Build your wort chiller out of 50' of 3/8 copper tubing. 3/8 tubing is easy to work with. And 50' makes a big difference over 25', especially if you live where ground water is pretty warm. If there is the slightest chance you'll ever do 10-gallon batches, you won't have to throw out your 25' chiller.

- Get a propane burner with a BG-12 element. They are not much more expensive than the crappy BG-10 cup burners, but have a much lower propensity to soot the hell out of the bottom of your kettle as they get older and wort occasionally spills in them. BG-12's are also super-efficient. The Bayou SQ-14 is affordable and works very well.