What equipment can't you do without?

[Peruvian802]

I really like this question in the Q&A sessions with forum members. It has made me really think about what has made my brewing easier, more pleasurable, and helps me make more and better beer.

I've come down to two items - oxyclean and starsan.

When I first started brewing in the 90s, we used a curved brush and soap/water to clean carboys, bottles, etc. It took a long time and was never quite clean. I never looked forward to it. Now I can rack from a carboy, fill it with a scoop of oxyclean and water. I come back the following day, pour it out and give it a solid rinse and it is truly clean.

We also used to use bleach to sanitize. We never knew exactly how much we needed, it would get on our clothes and skin, and was just nasty to deal with. With starsan, I just squeeze the bottle to the correct level and pour it with water into a bucket. I've ready it is actually good for yeast as opposed to the 'scorched earth' scenario with bleach.

If I had to go back to a 22qt pot, extract, screening out hop debris, etc. I would - as long as I could use oxyclean and starsan in my process!

How about you? What 'equipment' can't you do without?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Kettle and burner?

 

[BowAholic]

vinator and bottle tree

 

[eman_resu]

Kettle, burner, grain bag and siphon.

Or just the kettle (or other container) if doing no boil, leaving the grain in and drinking straight from the kettle

 

[Peruvian802]

Kettle and burner?

Meh - I brewed with the family lobster pot on the stove top for years.

 

[Jwin]

My back. Unfortunately, I think it's wearing out.

 

[KartRacer54]

Vinator, pneumatic capper!

 

[brewfarmDan]

Gravity. A lot easier to clean than pumps and valves

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Gravity. A lot easier to clean than pumps and valves

And pretty darned reliable!

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Oddly for me, it is my SS scrubby. It is my trub/hops filter post boil (it goes under my dip tube) then use to clean the kettle.

Alternatively, the internet. I get advice here. I found out about BIAB here. I buy bulk hops online and sometimes other ingredients.

 

[AQUILAS]

A stir bar/plate for my starters.

A few weeks back I made my first starter. When I pitched it I accidentally also pitched the stir bar into the bucket. I had planned on making a another starter for another batch, but was without the stir bar. Most places will say "just shake your starter every time you walk by it," but I found myself walking by my starter all the time just to shake it. I couldn't get it out of my head. So I went out and bought another stir bar and all was well.