What are your "can't live without" equipment items?

[skullface1818]

What kind of steam cleaner is it? Is there a particular brand/model you recommend?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OAB5AM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

this is what I use

 

[TapeDeck]

Hmm. Almost every purchase I've made has made a big impact in my beer quality. It might be easier for me to try to narrow down to things that were NOT helpful.

Brew Hauler is a HUGE plus for those of us that like glass.
Thermapen (I had one before I started brewing) is such a great tool in general...
SOME sort of chiller is almost a necessity. Got 12 gallons from boil to 80-90 degrees (which is where I start pouring since I'm all gravity fed) in 10 minutes this Sunday... Left alone that might take 10 hours.
False bottom for a keggle I had lying around, to make a bigger capacity mash tun... made it a great multi-tasker.
Perlick Growler Filler is awesome... I still have to try capping a bottle off of it and seeing how long it will hold carb, but I burned through so many party tappers (the seams just eventually split at the opening) for the DIY bottle filler burper thing.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I can't live without my Pump-In-A-Box, makes my brewday so much easier. I brew with a single kettle at this time, and not having a way to transfer the water and wort was a PIA to say the least. now I can not only transfer my wort effortlessly, I can whirlpool as well which has cut chilling times, especially when its about 105°F in the summer, easily by half.

I call her Excalibur:

Check out the full build write up and parts list in my sig below!

Check out the full build write up and parts list in my sig below!

 

[gwfrankpsu]

My stainless steel deep sink, bought on ebay and this thing allows me to put 15 gallon pots in to the bowl and give a really good cleaning. I used a fiberglass laundry sink for 4 years, but the SS with a drain to the side has made cleanup easier.

 

[Travestian]

My stainless steel deep sink, bought on ebay and this thing allows me to put 15 gallon pots in to the bowl and give a really good cleaning. I used a fiberglass laundry sink for 4 years, but the SS with a drain to the side has made cleanup easier.

Who knew you could buy a sink on amazon?

 

[user 161257]

Paint stirrer and a $20 electric drill from Harbor Freight. Never again will I take 30 minutes, slowly doughing an ounce at a time with a mash paddle. I just dump it all in and stir it up. Done in 1 minute flat.

Also works great for stirring the wort after I set the chiller in, and aerating it once I've got the temperature down.

 

[Trillium]

Pumps !! And my temp controlled fermentor.

 

[Hex]

Never liked autosiphon, so I modify food grade bulkhead fittings to take carboy caps. Best of all worlds. Pressurize to start racking cane siphon, easy access for dry hops.

 

[Hex]

My Crankenstein 320D build is working out very well, increased efficiency 9% over all of the available Homebrew store mills in town. Nice to come on site and mill grain for batches with last minute tweaks.

 

[Travestian]

My Crankenstein 320D build is working out very well, increased efficiency 9% over all of the available Homebrew store mills in town. Nice to come on site and mill grain for batches with last minute tweaks.

Where are you brewing? Looks like a giant warehouse.

 

[Hex]

I'm brewing in the vacant basement of 630K Street downtown Sacramento, my keepers own several comercial buildings there. I've got 14,000 sq feet to brew in, but keep it all neat on one side of the space.

 

[christopherrburns]

beer

 

[scutiger]

A good digital probe thermometer.

Everything else, 15 gallon pots, 10 gallon coolers, false bottoms, valves, tubes, propane burners, fermentation chambers, brew stands, etc. are all luxuries when you really think about it.

A heat source and a pot is still a must, but it would still be pretty useless without a good thermometer.

 

[homebrewbeliever]

Another is the STC-1000-type temperature controller. That has made a WORLD of difference in the quality of my fermentation. Would not go back to any other method. No need for a chest freezer either. I just use a submersible fountain pump, a cooler, an immersion chiller, frozen water bottles and the controller to drive a controlled swamp cooler setup. I would prefer a chest freezer, but this is a cheaper and more compact method that works pretty well.

That's awesome. I'd love to make one of these...

 

[homebrewbeliever]

Paint stirrer and a $20 electric drill from Harbor Freight. Never again will I take 30 minutes, slowly doughing an ounce at a time with a mash paddle. I just dump it all in and stir it up. Done in 1 minute flat.

Also works great for stirring the wort after I set the chiller in, and aerating it once I've got the temperature down.

Thats a great idea! I don't like to add the grain to water, but instead add the water to the grain, a little at a time. This works great, but involves a lot of diligence in making sure that no clumping occurs. I'm just going to get one of these and it shouldn't be a problem anymore: http://www.harborfreight.com/long-mixing-paddle-97357.html

 

[user 161257]

Thats a great idea! I don't like to add the grain to water, but instead add the water to the grain, a little at a time. This works great, but involves a lot of diligence in making sure that no clumping occurs. I'm just going to get one of these and it shouldn't be a problem anymore: http://www.harborfreight.com/long-mixing-paddle-97357.html

Just a heads up, make sure it fits the drill you have. Most of those kind of paint stirrers require a 1/2" chuck.

 

[Travestian]

Thats a great idea! I don't like to add the grain to water, but instead add the water to the grain, a little at a time. This works great, but involves a lot of diligence in making sure that no clumping occurs. I'm just going to get one of these and it shouldn't be a problem anymore: http://www.harborfreight.com/long-mixing-paddle-97357.html

I use a 24" stainless whisk found on ebay for about $7 and stir grains into the water. Works great!

 

[dsjohns]

The things that I really like these days have a lot to do with yeast and fermentation.

Stir plate, Erlenmeyer flask, 8.8 cubic foot chest freezer, and Johnson temperature controller.

When walking by my brew room I find myself opening up my freezer and admiring my beers fermenting happy at their proper temperatures.

 

[buddman]

A good Mercury thermometer is needed first. Never trust a reading that you haven't backed up with a Mercury Thermometer. My last brew, my digital was off almost 10 degrees which will absolutely ruin a Mash.

Totally agree with you. I use both, but rely on my mercury thermometer for accurate temps.

 

[firerat]

Temperature controlled fermentation chamber. (Mini-fridge with Janco temp. controller)

Without it all I produce banana bread beer.

Everything else I could find an alternative for.

 

[DogFace_Brewing]

I have to say my jet carboy washer...that thing makes life so easy on cleaning/rinsing a lot of different equipment in my brewing world

 

[homebrewbeliever]

Just a heads up, make sure it fits the drill you have. Most of those kind of paint stirrers require a 1/2" chuck.

Sorry for the noob question, but what do you mean a 1/2" chuck? You mean the thing on the end of the drill that you insert the bit into? How do I tell if my drill has it or not?

 

[Travestian]

Sorry for the noob question, but what do you mean a 1/2" chuck? You mean the thing on the end of the drill that you insert the bit into? How do I tell if my drill has it or not?

Look up the model number of the drill you are using and you'll be able to tell from the manufacturer's webpage. You could also take a ruler or measuring tape to the opening of your drill and measure. Most cordless drills are 3/8" chucks.

 

[user 161257]

Sorry for the noob question, but what do you mean a 1/2" chuck? You mean the thing on the end of the drill that you insert the bit into? How do I tell if my drill has it or not?

So, most consumer drills are either 3/8" or 1/2" chucks. This is the maximum diameter of the shank of a tool it can hold.

An easy way to measure is to simply look on the side of your drill (it is usually there) or fully retract the gripping teeth so they are all the way inside, and then measure the diameter of the opening of the drill with a ruler/tape measure.

 

[homebrewbeliever]

So, most consumer drills are either 3/8" or 1/2" chucks. This is the maximum diameter of the shank of a tool it can hold.

An easy way to measure is to simply look on the side of your drill (it is usually there) or fully retract the gripping teeth so they are all the way inside, and then measure the diameter of the opening of the drill with a ruler/tape measure.

Damn, mine is 3/8". I am really glad ya'll mentioned this before I bought the paint stirrer and found out for myself the hard way! There has gotta be an adapter of some sort... Or maybe I should just buy a 24" whisk.

 

[homebrewbeliever]

Hahaha, I should have just checked the product page for the paint mixer when this whole chuck size discussion began, as it takes a 3/8" drill, so I am fine.

 

[user 161257]

Hahaha, I should have just checked the product page for the paint mixer when this whole chuck size discussion began, as it takes a 3/8" drill, so I am fine.

There ya go! Your life is about to get a lot easier

 

[grupe]

Everything that Kal documented is really good to have, but replace the CFC with a plate chiller. If you are using plastic to ferment, something to create a lot of hot water with.

 

[milldoggy]

Everything that Kal documented is really good to have, but replace the CFC with a plate chiller. If you are using plastic to ferment, something to create a lot of hot water with.

Have to disagree, I prefer the chillizilla over a plate chiller

 

[Ivypunx]

extra fermentors, that means more beer I can brew and more recipes I can try