Didn't recirculate properly, the pump was inadequate, couldn't hold consistent temps in the mash, the ability to heat water was limited.
You may wish to do some more background on Robobrew; perhaps my son's experience was unusual.
To beer kit, or not to beer kit...
- Thread starter Neoreaver
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Didn't recirculate properly, the pump was inadequate, couldn't hold consistent temps in the mash, the ability to heat water was limited.
You may wish to do some more background on Robobrew; perhaps my son's experience was unusual.
Katman
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I just started home brewing a few months ago and that NB kit is what I bought to get started. Everything that came with it felt cheap and flimsy but It is a inexpensive way to get into home brewing. One problem I will mention is the bucket lid does not have a gasket and is not air tight, so i was afraid to use it for a fermenter. I had a 5 gal plastic carboy that I had used for making wine so I fermented in that instead. Another con was not enough sanitizer included with the kit but I had some starsan already. I had watched NB's YouTube video on this kit several times and was under the impression that it came with a auto siphon but it does not (my bad for not checking what came with it close enough) and in the videos they tell you this is completely doable on a home stove but I noticed they always use a propane burner in the videos. My first brew day I tried on my electric stove and could not get the wort to boil without help from a propane torch, I now have a propane burner. While I don't regret buying this kit if I had it to do over I would get better quality equipment a piece at a time. For example a heavier 8 or 10 gallon pot, big mouth fermenters, etc...
OpenSights
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Craigslist has been my friend! I have bought 4 equipment setups, thousands of $$$$ worth new for just a couple hundred each. Obviously I give all equipment a good cleaning and inspection before use.
All I have left equipment wise to buy is a tier system (have the kettles/keggles and burners), grain mill and chugger pump.
All I have left equipment wise to buy is a tier system (have the kettles/keggles and burners), grain mill and chugger pump.
@Neoreaver, I just skimmed through the post, so with that, I am not aware of the answers given to you...since you already do the cider and mead, i am guessing you already know of the sanitizing issues. Now beer does take more time initially, but I think its well worth it. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:
1: How big of a batch do you want to brew? I brew 5 gals, and don't plan on going any larger. In turn just means I need to brew more... In which I enjoy.
2: starting out with extract is great(that is where I started) but where would you like to end up, BIAB, 3 Tier system or 2 Tier system( using a mash TUN), electric, Gas?
I started out with a Kit from NB..(after I did a kit from MR. Beer). I did a few extract kits and wanted to progress further. So I choose to go BIAB, with the option of EBIAB. Long story short, if I would of given it thought, and would have joined this group before hand, I would have skipped the NB kit and went straight for getting equipment for where I plan on going, I would of saved myself a few dollars.
I now brew in basement as a EBIAB ( I started brewing only a few years (fall of 2018). I only do 5 gal batches, and I do not do any high ABV batches (usually around 4-5.5 abv) so my 10 Gal Kettle works great.
1: How big of a batch do you want to brew? I brew 5 gals, and don't plan on going any larger. In turn just means I need to brew more... In which I enjoy.
2: starting out with extract is great(that is where I started) but where would you like to end up, BIAB, 3 Tier system or 2 Tier system( using a mash TUN), electric, Gas?
I started out with a Kit from NB..(after I did a kit from MR. Beer). I did a few extract kits and wanted to progress further. So I choose to go BIAB, with the option of EBIAB. Long story short, if I would of given it thought, and would have joined this group before hand, I would have skipped the NB kit and went straight for getting equipment for where I plan on going, I would of saved myself a few dollars.
I now brew in basement as a EBIAB ( I started brewing only a few years (fall of 2018). I only do 5 gal batches, and I do not do any high ABV batches (usually around 4-5.5 abv) so my 10 Gal Kettle works great.
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