Switch to Keg or All Grain?

[trojan]

My setup right now is a 5 gallon kettle, that I borrow from my wife and brew on the stove. I have the bottling bucket, 6.5 gallon better bottle, and a 6.5 gallon glass carboy. My budget right now is about $375. Should be enough to get started with either provided my fridge connection comes through with a free fridge.

 

[joshesmusica]

My setup right now is a 5 gallon kettle, that I borrow from my wife and brew on the stove. I have the bottling bucket, 6.5 gallon better bottle, and a 6.5 gallon glass carboy. My budget right now is about $375. Should be enough to get started with either provided my fridge connection comes through with a free fridge.

Before I got the new kettle all I had was a 19L/5G pot. Which meant to make 19L o would need to top off. But my fermentoris actually 30L so I always just like to make 25L batches. It means a lot of top off liquid, which means a very thick mash, and lots of grains, but it was still about half the cost as extract.

What I ended up doing was really pretty ghetto, haha. I would start with about 17.5L in the pot, because after measuring it with two separate 1L measuring cups, I found it was actually only 18L where it was supposed to be 19. Post boil was about 13L, so I would top off with 12L. I started with just water, but after taking all this into consideration my efficiency was around 50%. So what I started doing was basically doing a batch sparge, then using a 5L pot on the side, boil a little over 4L for about 5 mins, or just enough for the hot break, then cool, pitch in the fermentor, then do that two more times. I didn't use any hops in those boils, but since I was topping off, then I just had to use a little more in the main boil. I don't typically make super hoppy ipas or anything, so this wasn't that big of a deal.

It was a little more work, but it allowed me to move to all grain and still get a couple of kegs. I already had all the equipment, just needed the bag. So if your bottling bucket can handle about 6 gallons, I don't see any reason you couldn't do something similar. Then just wait until you get a little extra again, and upgrade the kettle. I also didn't have an immersion chiller, so I just cooled in the sink. Tap water usually comes out pretty cold here, in the late fall/winter it's about 8-9C!

 

[RM-MN]

My setup right now is a 5 gallon kettle, that I borrow from my wife and brew on the stove. I have the bottling bucket, 6.5 gallon better bottle, and a 6.5 gallon glass carboy. My budget right now is about $375. Should be enough to get started with either provided my fridge connection comes through with a free fridge.

That $3.75 should be enough to get a pair of paint strainer bags and with the equipment you have already, you can do 2 1/2 gallon all grain BIAB batches.

Oh, you meant $375.00. I guess you could go all grain and keg.

 

[chickypad]

I think you've got to look at this as two completely unrelated decisions and make your choice based on what you want out of the hobby. As RM-MN points out you can start doing all grain now with minimal investment so it doesn't have to be a cost issue where you can only do one.

I started kegging very early on because I detest bottling. It's not difficult but for some reason I just hate pretty much everything about it. I know some find this ridiculous, and I've even heard some say they find bottling relaxing, but like gnef I don't think I would brew nearly as much if I had to bottle every batch. As someone also mentioned it's great to be able to pour any quantity you want without having to drink or waste a whole bottle.

The decision to brew mostly all grain for me is largely about control and variety. There are so many things you just can't do with extract - like the wide range of malts that don't come in extract form or the ability to control fermentability with mash manipulation. I love tinkering with recipes and ingredients and IMO the best way to do that is with all grain.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[joshesmusica]

I think you've got to look at this as two completely unrelated decisions and make your choice based on what you want out of the hobby. As RM-MN points out you can start doing all grain now with minimal investment so it doesn't have to be a cost issue where you can only do one.

I started kegging very early on because I detest bottling. It's not difficult but for some reason I just hate pretty much everything about it. I know some find this ridiculous, and I've even heard some say they find bottling relaxing, but like gnef I don't think I would brew nearly as much if I had to bottle every batch. As someone also mentioned it's great to be able to pour any quantity you want without having to drink or waste a whole bottle.

The decision to brew mostly all grain for me is largely about control and variety. There are so many things you just can't do with extract - like the wide range of malts that don't come in extract form or the ability to control fermentability with mash manipulation. I love tinkering with recipes and ingredients and IMO the best way to do that is with all grain.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I'm with you on both those, kinda. I wouldn't say I detest bottling, but I most certainly find reasons to put it off when my pipeline is doing well. Eventually I will likely barely bottle.

As for control of the fermentables, my choices of extracts were very limited, so I had to use specialty grains if I wanted anything even slightly dynamic. So at that point, doing BIAB only added about an hour to brew day. With my new equipment that should now be cut back down to only about 30 minutes more.

 

[inkbird]

Not following this at all. First I falsely assumed you meant the similar to STC 1000 Inkbird for similar price- and thus without these options.... But you're quoting one that is $55 v $20. And STILL needs a ferm chamber, so not following at all, maybe OP can make sense of it!

Here is the ITC-1000. Now it costs $17 fulfilled by Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OXPE8U6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Kampenken]

Here is the ITC-1000. Now it costs $17 fulfilled by Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OXPE8U6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Correct. Comparable unit to STC 1000, same price, but you've just changed your point from post#37 (Inkbird 310T @~$55). The ITC1000 you linked requires mods to get control, BUT you can't modify it!!!..., unlike the right STC 1000

Your #37 post:

"the $12 stc1000 is a thermostat that is the beginning of a project that will result in a ferm chamber after some additional $, time and effort. The OP can figure out which is "cheaper" for himself

....and the new inkbird The inkbird 310T has a timer to raise temps.....good enough or me and I didn't even need a coping saw...."

Edit: Oops! My reply was due a quote you posted above, but that was in response I had with someone else! My bad.

 

[treacheroustexan]

Yeah I would say if your budget is actually $375, you could get some AG equipment and start kegging if you do some shopping around for the best prices. Nothing better than pouring a pint of your first AG beer out of your first keg.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

I made this decision a year ago. The way I saw it, I had two options: invest in making possibly better beer and much different beer, as some beers just cannot be done with extract. Or gain the ability to drink more than one beer at a time or so, assuming you don't have a warehouse to store bottles in.

After getting the all-grain going, I did invest in a keg and put that in my fermentation chamber. Next, I'll invest in a freezer so I can get my fermentation/lagering chamber back. Then more kegs and I should be happy forever...

 

[trojan]

I finally quit delaying and just bought the equipment to go all grain. I even have some money left over to get some Kegging equipment. Thanks for all of the suggestions and experiences. I did get an STC-1000 to control my fermentation as well

 

[hopsandhops]

You couldn't go wrong either way. All grain made a massive difference in quality of beer for me.

And temp control will allow you to brew any style at any time. Enjoy!

 

[ballsy]

If you don't mind bottling then go AG first. If you find yourself dreading bottling day or cursing while you are doing it, then go to kegging instead.