What’s your best homebrew upgrade under $100?

[bracconiere]

Shorter I think you meant longer? That's a 12" bazooka tube and I'm not sure you can get a longer one and I've heard that doesn't make a lot of difference especially with my method. I employ the batch sparge method heat my water up on the stove in a 7 gallon kettle and add to the tun.

no i was thinking shorter, for an extension...but if you're batch sparging, guess it wouldn't matter. from the square cooler, why i asked.

 

[hout17]

no i was thinking shorter, for an extension...but if you're batch sparging, guess it wouldn't matter. from the square cooler, why i asked.

Gotcha brew on!

 

[OleBrewing]

a pump. Without the pump my setup would be almost useless. Single platform three keggle setup. I could dump and pour but that's just crazy.

 

[Knightshade]

Feels like I have a couple, all of which were under $100 at time of purchase.

WiFi Inkbird & Heating pad - Allowed me to convert an unused mini fridge into a FC.

Fermonster + Posts + FDT - Closed transfers..hooray!

Couple different classes at LHBS. Specifically one Learn to Homebrew (cuzz you’ll never know when you might pick up some tips) and an Off Flavors Workshop.

Does a HBT subscription count?

 

[NTBeer]

Shorter I think you meant longer? That's a 12" bazooka tube and I'm not sure you can get a longer one and I've heard that doesn't make a lot of difference especially with my method. I employ the batch sparge method heat my water up on the stove in a 7 gallon kettle and add to the tun.

Don't let them fool you... size always matters.

 

[Teufelhunde]

One of my best upgrades for cheap was 5 gallon paint strainer bags. I boil for 5 minutes to sanitize. I use these to strain the wort after chilling before putting into the fermenter to strain out hops and trub. I'll place one inside the keg when filling from the fermenter to catch any hops or other additions I don't want in the keg.

I just had a WELL.....DUH moment as I read this.......I HATE dealing with the sludge.....this sounds like a wonderful idea.....

Lon

 

[grampamark]

Pretty much all of them. I’m a cheap SOB. I can probably count on my thumbs the number of times I’ve spent more than $100 on any one thing.

My most recent upgrade was a Thermoworks Dot thermometer with a 12” temp probe. 60 bucks. No more drowning the probes of those cheap, digital, kitchen thermometers in my MLT.

 

[bracconiere]

Does a HBT subscription count?

not for a lifetime supporter? but i've lost 'count' of how many stickers i have! lol

 

[Kharnynb]

https://panimonurkka.fi/tuote/kaymisastia-30l-rst/
30 liter steel fermenters, basic, but so much nicer than buckets.

 

[hottpeper13]

Been in the market for one of these for a while. Where in the heck did you get one for <$100

A time ago the VFW had to replace there 3 hole with a 4 hole ,and I couldn't pull out a Benny fast enough.

 

[WesBrew]

Recently, the Herms coil I installed into the hlt to reg mash temp in my converted pot mash tun.

 

[bwible]

As a side note, I also had one of my refrigerator controllers go south on me this year.

I believe this digital age we are in creates hundreds of opportunities for line voltage spikes to knock out semiconductors. On our computers most folks use line suppressors like APC backup battery units.

All our other sensitive digital circuitry goes commando around the place without good line conditioning. Dryers, coffee makers TV’s, everything holds a mini computer these days, waiting for the next voltage spike or brown-out to come knocking.

In this age we live in electronic things also made in China and several other countries to save on costs are not of the highest quality either. You get what you pay for. Sometimes not even that, my dad used to say.

 

[bwible]

Nobody said the $40 water report from Ward Labs?

 

[geezerpk]

https://smile.amazon.com/ANG-puneng...17da8&pd_rd_wg=4OnJY&pd_rd_i=B0983QHTDG&psc=1
Needed a few 3/4'' holes and made a great no-lumps mash paddle.

 

[marc1]

I picked up a free old fridge + Inkbird ITC 1000, + heating cable = temp control for under $50.

Still money left over for a BIAB and some heavy duty pullies from Wilser.

Also add the giant whisk, too, although that may push it over $100 now, it's amazing.

 

[bracconiere]

https://smile.amazon.com/ANG-puneng...17da8&pd_rd_wg=4OnJY&pd_rd_i=B0983QHTDG&psc=1
Needed a few 3/4'' holes and made a great no-lumps mash paddle.

you are old enough to drink right?

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Tapcooler, easy.

 

[bracconiere]

damn it i was looking for a beer drinking barbie doll, just because...sometimes i get lonely on brew day....lol


but GOD DAMN IT it doesn't include even the doll! just the beer!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1653903348...0hZaqE5b6VpNN4qB4HQHrCPuGxHHuO5IaAuBqEALw_wcB
edit: maybe this would be a cool 'upgrade' for my beer fridge?

https://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Doll-Cake-Toppers-Bachelorette/dp/B07TKB3HN6?th=1

 

[mashpaddled]

bru'n water

 

[friarsmith]

Garden hose quick disconnects for my immersion chiller and recirculating cooling rig.

 

[NoCornOrRice]

Drip tray for the taps.

 

[Martys1]

Hop spider,regular $54 on sale for $25 free shipping, and no more tie up hop socks.

 

[LostHopper]

Pressure transfer kit from brewhardware.com

I was skeptical about the hoopla of oxygen-free transfers but the beer definitely benefits regardless of style.

 

[brewcat]

Garden hose adapter for the faucet. Now I can use my immersion chiller for the yeast starter.

 

[DBhomebrew]

Patience

 

[bracconiere]

Patience

second fermentor.....

 

[DBhomebrew]

second fermentor.....

I bought my second fermenter within a week of the first's delivery.

 

[bracconiere]

I bought my second fermenter within a week of the first's delivery.

guilty also, but mine were over $100...i was thinking feed store HDPE plastic barrels for $20...

 

[youngdh]

Refractometer