trying to figure out what equipment to buy next

[Rivenin]

So i know this is a pretty WIDE question. However, i would love some suggestions on what stuff i could pick up next... or what i would find valuable!

so my equipment so far.

3 7.5-8 gallon kettles
1 5 gallon rubbermaid mash tun
1 12 gallon coleman cooler
1 weldless bulkhead on one of the kettles
2 propane burners
3 misc small thermometers
1 digital probe thermometer
1 fermentation chamber (wine fridge)
misc buckets, spatulas, auto syphon, hydrometer.
Corona mill

i have everything to make a brew stand (bed frames). However i do not have a welder just yet (that is coming in the next few weeks).

Stuff on the list.
another weldless bulkhead for the other kettle
pump
need more tubing.

i do not have room currently for a kegging system however, with that being said, what is some other equipment that you feel i need??

 

[Phunhog]

Personally I don't know if I would bother to brew without kegging. It just makes homebrewing so much easier. Remember you only need 1-2 kegs and if you can make room for a brew stand you should be able to fit a small kegerator somewhere. Other than that I would spend the money on fermentation temperature control.

 

[Rivenin]

room for a stand outside and room for a kegerator in the house is a whole 'notha story . I Do have a fermentation chamber though (the wine cooler listed above, keeps everything perfectly steady)

 

[gstrawn]

looks like you need a wort chiller!! But I'm betting that was just accidentally neglected..

 

[Zen_Brew]

It depends on your consumption rate. If you start really getting into brewing you are going to need room for more than one beer to be fermenting at a time. I have room for 4 and still find myself backed up at the fermentation stage sometimes.

It seems that whether it be for fermenting, kegging, or storage, more refrigeration is always a good thing.

 

[BSD_Glass]

One corny holds the same amount of beer as 2 cases of bottles in a significantly smaller space. My 5.5 chest keezer with 4 taps is 22" by 27"

I am learning that kegging takes LESS space than cases and cases of bottles.

BSD

 

[Zamial]

If you have this stuff then great if not then, in order...

1. Stir plate + bar + Erlenmeyer flasks (Check the DIY section to build a stir plate for cheap!)

2. Wort chiller

3. Silicone tubing for everything!

4. What are you fermenting in? if buckets maybe a few carboys/BB or sanke kegs if you can find them.

5. x2 or more, Miller/Coors home draft kegs. You can reuse them, there are tons of posts here on it. and they hold 2.5 gallons each. Seems like a perfect fit for getting into kegging on the cheap.

 

[Rivenin]

wow! quick replies!

for the wort chiller, i do no chill brewing and i have 2 winpacks for that, so no wort chiller here. i'm a bit of a PNW hippy lol

i do concur on the fridge storage! i wish i had more room, i was pushing it with the wine chiller, but it's all i have access to currently once i move though that will all change (my GF runs a storage facility, so i'll have a 10X20X10 for doing anythign i wish to in it once we get the approval for myself to move in )

stir plate, i deff. forgot about that one! i have no real need to make starters, however, once i get our place (me and my GF) started, i will be using more liquid yeast and washing it, might as well test all that now, good suggestion!

silicone tubing - GREAT suggestion! my roomates dog got ahold of all my tubing except for about 2 feet of one i had stored, so that all needs replacement anyways, might as well go big! i like that one as well.

fermenting in buckets right now, as the carboys have some issues fitting into the wine fridge. carboys are next on the list one i get into the next residence!

i love the idea on the draft kegs. i still drink some BMC on occasion because they really are not that bad considerng. lighter, can drink more of them, and they have reusable kegs! my GF cannot stand them though, so i haven't gotten to them yet... that one might be my next investment!

any more suggestions?? i think besides the smaller things, i'm pretty much at max untill i upgrade what i currently have! if so, it's not a bad place to be in!

sent from my laptop under the influence of juniper ale from rogue

 

[mmonacel]

If you're committed to bottling a bottle tree / vinator was great for me. Also a bottle washer that connects to the sink. Also +1 on the stir plate. Got mine from a guy making them at StirStarters.com for a great price. Good dude who I think is also on this board.

 

[Carter5112]

Hmmm. I agree with everyone on the awesomeness of kegging, but we're going to far to say you'd rather not brew if you had to bottle! Some things I'm thinking, in no particular order:

1) March Pump (either to forgo heavy lifting or to recirc your mash maybe)
2) More kettle fittings, i.e. site glass, thermo
3) If you don't have a controller (love ranco) on that wine fridge then that so you can have more control over temp settings
4) Refractometer