Tax Return

[akillys]

So tax returns are coming and after getting some things we need for our unborn child, and things to fix up our house. SWMBO has decided we each get 500 dollars for "fun" things for ourselves. I have a bottling bucket, caper, siphon, bottle wand, 6 gallon glass carboy, bottles, hydrometer and 5 gallon brew pot basically the essentials needed for a beginner.

My question is what should be my next step. I was thinking about a Speidel 30L fermenter as I only brew 5 gallon batches.

I was also thinking about maybe one or two 5 gallon kegs and a freezer chest to turn into a keezer and use as a fermentation chamber. I will also get a 5 or 10 lbs CO2 tank and regulator and all the hosing needed for my 2 kegs.

I believe with tax return sales and craigslist, getting all of this for $500 is really a possibility as I can get kegs for about $50 each and a chest freezer for $150.

Is this a realistic plan or should I go a different rout and purchase other things. Right now I feel that I need another fermentation vessel as I can only brew one beer at a time. Also I only do extract and partial mashes so other brew pots and such doesn't make much sense. I'm also getting tiered of bottling which is why I want to get a keg setup. Any ideas on what my next step should be will be considered. I just want to make the most with this opportunity that dose not come around for me that often.

 

[Macdonald87]

If you searched really hard at least here in Canada we can get chest freezers for 0-50$ people just giving them away. (Maybe cause we can freeze stuff in our backyard ) All jokes aside Just letting you know!

 

[akillys]

Yeah it's the same here. Right now there is a 20 cubic foot freezer for 50 or two for 75 it's crazy.

 

[b-boy]

$500 is tight for a keezer. you could just go with the freezer for fermentation, a temp controller, and a few more carboys. That will allow you to get your temperatures under control. It will also let you build 1/2 your keezer. You can always add to it later as you get more cash. Eventually you'll have a keezer.

 

[sumbrewindude]

Kegs for sure.

I'd skip the Speidel fermenter, but that's me. I'd rather get a larger pot for full volume boils, or an additional keg.

I'm still trying to decide what to do with my tax return - do the keg/keezer thing (already have a few waiting on the rest of the kit) or go with a new electric setup. Decisions, decisions....

 

[TimmyWit]

Skip the fermenter. Carboys do the job just fine. This would be my list for $500 if you don't have any of this:

Yeast starter kit
Stir Plate
Aeration Kit
Ferm chamber with 2-stage temp controller

 

[TheZymurgist]

PSA: I think the term you're looking for is "Refund." "Return" is the physical form you file with the government. "Refund" is the interest-free loan you gave the government that they are now returning to you. The more you know...

 

[akillys]

PSA: I think the term you're looking for is "Refund." "Return" is the physical form you file with the government. "Refund" is the interest-free loan you gave the government that they are now returning to you. The more you know...

Thanks for that, you learn something new every day.

On side notes I'm thinking of the freezer with temp control and a few kegs. I won't make the actual keezer until I get more money but I'll have a place to keep my kegs cool. Once I get more cash I'll finish the keezer build. Maybe with next years "TAX REFUND" :rockin: I wish that 2 for 1 better bottle deal would roll around again.

 

[beergolf]

Skip the fermenter. Carboys do the job just fine. This would be my list for $500 if you don't have any of this:

Yeast starter kit
Stir Plate
Aeration Kit
Ferm chamber with 2-stage temp controller

This is the ticket. The things you can do to improve your brews is pitch enough healthy yeast, Aerate properly, and control fermentation temps.

Keging is nice but will not improve your beer. I would get the above listed stuff first.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

A nice keg setup would be good... A few more carboys would be better.

Maybe buy/build a stir plate/wort chiller too.

 

[chickypad]

I definitely wouldn't spend the bucks on that fermenter, buckets are cheap. I agree with above comments on prioritizing things likely to make significant improvements in your beer - so yeast starter/stir plate, fermentation temp control, aeration. I'd still consider a burner and pot for full boils as I do think that improved my beers when I used to do extract and partial mash, and even if you don't think so now you may want to go all grain one day. That all being said, kegging sure is nice if you can start accumulating stuff for that.