Upgrading Equipment

[THwreckem]

Y’all are giving me some great ideas and a lot to think about for the future. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to give me some advice!

For anyone that’s invested at this point, based on all of the feedback I think the order of future upgrades is going to be: immersion chiller, then upgrade to a larger kettle and start trying BIAB (will probably go for the heat stick for this too), and finally invest in an all in one system one fine day.

For now, I’m still between immersion chillers. The hydra seems like a great option that I could invest in now and probably never out grow, but I do still feel like that’s going to be overkill for our brewers best starter kit. So, I saw jaded also offers a smaller ic (mantis) that’s meant for kitchen brewers and is a little cheaper - and I’m leaning towards this. For context, the upgrades to our set up are going to happen very slowly and I don’t see myself getting my dad a bigger kettle or anything probably until this time next year.

Seriously though, thanks to everyone who gave me some advice! This is way better information than I expected to get with my first post, and I’m going to be able to reference this information for years into the future.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

If you out grow upgrades there's still a market out should you decide to sell. Some items in your brewery can be double duty for cooking. A large brew pot can be useful for a big batch of soup or chili.

Glad you got some great advice and ideas. Always here to help!

 

[IslandLizard]

You've received great input, and it seems you want to future-proof your new brew equipment purchases.
Here are some of my thoughts:

I think the order of future upgrades is going to be: immersion chiller, then upgrade to a larger kettle and start trying BIAB [...]

How far in the future? A year, 2 years?

or now, I’m still between immersion chillers. The hydra seems like a great option that I could invest in now and probably never out grow

The Hydra is among the best, fastest, and most efficient immersion chillers available.

So, I saw jaded also offers a smaller ic (mantis) that’s meant for kitchen brewers and is a little cheaper - and I’m leaning towards this.

Yes indeed, the Mantis is good for small batch kitchen brewing, but definitely not future proof, given your plans for brewing larger batches in the foreseeable future.
I'd think spending the extra $50 on the Hydra (over the mantis) is a more solid investment. As long as the Hydra fits inside your current brew pot. Check the diameters.

[...] and finally invest in an all in one system one fine day

IMO, AIO systems are not the summit of home brew equipment. Compactness, and some "automation" (pump, starting timer, etc.) are their main charm. But they may show some limitations in batch size and/or gravity and brewing techniques.

Many of us homebrewers wouldn't trade our rig for an AIO. But may buy one in addition, for various reasons, such as knocking out a quick batch on a Saturday morning while sleeping in until the mash has completed.

 

[Willy]

You've received great input, and it seems you want to future-proof your new brew equipment purchases.
Here are some of my thoughts:

How far in the future? A year, 2 years?


The Hydra is among the best, fastest, and most efficient immersion chillers available.


Yes indeed, the Mantis is good for small batch kitchen brewing, but definitely not future proof, given your plans for brewing larger batches in the foreseeable future.
I'd think spending the extra $50 on the Hydra (over the mantis) is a more solid investment. As long as the Hydra fits inside your current brew pot. Check the diameters.


IMO, AIO systems are not the summit of home brew equipment. Compactness, and some "automation" (pump, starting timer, etc.) are their main charm. But they may show some limitations in batch size and/or gravity and brewing techniques.

Many of us homebrewers wouldn't trade our rig for an AIO. But may buy one in addition, for various reasons, such as knocking out a quick batch on a Saturday morning while sleeping in until the mash has completed.

Excellent advice. I agree with all of it. (But I use an AIO (brewzilla 35L w extension for 10 gal batches). I also use a 14 g brew kettle with BIAB if the mood strikes.

 

[Skeeter686]

Many of us homebrewers wouldn't trade our rig for an AIO. But may buy one in addition, for various reasons, such as knocking out a quick batch on a Saturday morning while sleeping in until the mash has completed.

That may also depend on how much free time and free space you have. Compact can be a big selling point if you don't have much room. And time savings can be huge.

A lot of the folks in my brew club are retired, and I have to keep reminding myself of that when I wonder how the heck they manage to do so much more brewing than I!

In any case, there's always going to be some trade off.

 

[THwreckem]

You've received great input, and it seems you want to future-proof your new brew equipment purchases.
Here are some of my thoughts:

How far in the future? A year, 2 years?


The Hydra is among the best, fastest, and most efficient immersion chillers available.


Yes indeed, the Mantis is good for small batch kitchen brewing, but definitely not future proof, given your plans for brewing larger batches in the foreseeable future.
I'd think spending the extra $50 on the Hydra (over the mantis) is a more solid investment. As long as the Hydra fits inside your current brew pot. Check the diameters.


IMO, AIO systems are not the summit of home brew equipment. Compactness, and some "automation" (pump, starting timer, etc.) are their main charm. But they may show some limitations in batch size and/or gravity and brewing techniques.

Many of us homebrewers wouldn't trade our rig for an AIO. But may buy one in addition, for various reasons, such as knocking out a quick batch on a Saturday morning while sleeping in until the mash has completed.

As far as timeline goes I mentioned a year from now above, but realistically I see us having 2 years of brewing together before we upgrade our kettle, etc.

You are making me lean more towards the hydra now, I think you have made several good points there. I’m going to measure the equipment this weekend and see what would be the best fit.

Also, thanks for the heads up about AIOs. This comment was super helpful!

 

[THwreckem]

Excellent advice. I agree with all of it. (But I use an AIO (brewzilla 35L w extension for 10 gal batches). I also use a 14 g brew kettle with BIAB if the mood strikes.

Thank you for sharing! That will be one of the first systems I check out when the time comes. I have heard good things about brewzilla.