What should a Noob do with $50 at LHBS?

[D0ug]

So my friend got me a $50 gift card to a LHBS. I have been doing extracts on my stove. I cook in a 2 gallon stock pot, I have two fermenters and a 3 gal BB.
I have basic equipment like an autosiphon, a thief, hydrometers and an instant read dial thermometer, funnels and airlocks.

What should I get to make my life easier or my beer better?

Any advice or suggestions? I know it's only 50 bucks, but I want to get the most bang for my buck. What should a new brewer be thinking about getting?

thanks for the help!

 

[CoalCracker]

I'd put it towards and immersion chiller.

 

[Revvy]

First 50 dollar brewing purchase I made (with a gift card as well) was an immersion chiller. Probably the best investment you can make. Works both for stovetop and when you go to full boils.

Just remember to get the sink/garden hose treaded adaptor when you get it.

 

[D0ug]

Wow, first two for an immersion chiller!

I wouldn't have thought they would make that much difference in my case since I'm doing partial boils, but if you're suggesting it revvy I'm going to have to give it some serious thought!

 

[Revvy]

Quickest way to chill even stovetop batches, cut my inside brewing time by an hour, and you get a quick cold break, AND you don't have to run around buying bags of ice on brew day. Plus like I said, you WILL need it to got to full wort boils, as well as all grain.

 

[Rowdy]

definately an IC

 

[floyd242]

Will an IC even fit in a 2 gallon stock pot?

 

[Irrenarzt]

roll your own man

 

[Clann]

An IC would be first, but something else that makes life easier is a bottle tree.

 

[shamrockdoc]

PBW, Star San, Charlie Papazians book ...all after you buy an IC....

 

[D0ug]

Thanks for the input folks!

I would have thought some one would suggest a bigger kettle, or more fermenters. An IC wasn't even on my radar!

I'm really glad I asked, I'll have to see what I can do about getting one now.

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback.

Happy brewing!

 

[starrfish]

IC changed my brewing life!

 

[tekknoschtev]

I wound up making my own immersion chiller, and if I recall correctly with the fittings and all it wound up right around $40-50 (I think, it was a few years back). Obviously you can't use the gift card at a home improvement store.

Things I've seen myself buying recently - more fermenters, more air locks, and I'm putting money aside for a bigger kettle. That's just me though - if I didn't have a chiller, and I didn't feel like making it myself, that's the route I'd go. Having one makes doing multiple brews in one pot much quicker, and it also reduces my stressing about the wort cooling down fast enough (even though I've read about the no-chill method and know its not essential to cool the wort ASAP).

 

[Bottenbrew]

I made my own IC in June for roughly $15, all they are is a coil of copper pipe with tubing attached at both ends, and a threaded hose attachment on one of the tubes. Seriously $15 and about 10 minutes of time, not including the trip to Menards. IC's are a huge necessity, but please please please don't use your gift card paying for PART of an IC when you can so easily make one yourself. As to what you SHOULD buy with your $50, that is either a couple of batches of beer, or a good chunk of a nice sized brew pot.

 

[wilserbrewer]

OK, Ill go out on the limb, $50 buy a sack of grain and figure out how to scrounge together...ok maybe too optimistic, but it's really not that hard.

 

[logan3825]

I would go with a bigger brew kettle. I would agree with a wort chiller but you can probably make one cheaper than the cost of buying one. 7.5 gallons or bigger would be preferable for a brew kettle. 2 gallons seems really, really small to brew in. I am assuming you have a 6.5g fermenter of course.

 

[lumpher]

craigslist for an ic. i found 1 there, 50' 1/2" for $20 from a guy who was getting out of it. may every1 get as lucky for that card, i'd go for the kettle

 

[Gregscsu]

INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
If you want an IC buy some copper tude at the local big box store for $30 and roll your own. You want a larger kettle, hop on the internet and but a turkey fryer setup for $50 - $60 dollars, you'll get a 7.5 gallon pot and an LP burner.

My point is that all the necessary equipment can be sourced elsewhere or built for less then the LHBS.

The only things that you can't get for brewing outside the LHBS are INGREDIENTS.

 

[cyberwollf]

INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS

My point is that all the necessary equipment can be sourced elsewhere or built for less then the LHBS.

The only things that you can't get for brewing outside the LHBS are INGREDIENTS.

Id have to agree. Find a fun extract recipe get the ingredients, with the left over money buy the tubing, hose clamps, and fittings to make immersion chiller with http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[lumpher]

greg does have a good point

If you want an IC buy some copper tude at the local big box store for $30 and roll your own. You want a larger kettle, hop on the internet and but a turkey fryer setup for $50 - $60 dollars, you'll get a 7.5 gallon pot and an LP burner.

My point is that all the necessary equipment can be sourced elsewhere or built for less then the LHBS.

The only things that you can't get for brewing outside the LHBS are INGREDIENTS.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Books, O2 stone, sanitizer, hydrometer plus a glass lab thermometer to calibrate dial thermometers.

 

[D0ug]

Interesting points!

Although I know I couldn't go too wrong with an IC, I'm kinda glad the LHBS was closed Monday. Certainly plenty of food for thought, glad I asked.

Thanks again all!

Ps I love books, but with great places like this on the interwebs...

 

[D0ug]

Well, sort of a zombie thread, but I thought I'd update to let you know what I'm doing with the advice you've all given. I finally went to the Brew Store and checked out their pricing on equipment and made a plan.

After reading these suggestions I've made a priority out of getting an IC and a bigger kettle. I want to move towards partial mashes and AG brewing, but it'll have to be incrementally, and I think I'll be trying DeathBrewer's techniques out for that to start with when I'm ready. I think I'll need a bigger kettle and a wort chiller before I can move to full boils though.

So I'm going to use the gift card for ingredients. Gregscsu had a good point, the only place to get good ingredients is through a home brew supplier. But I will use the advice given here to motivate me to build my own IC and keep my eyes out for a used kettle large enough to get me to full boils. The IC at the LHBS was ~$80 for a 25' IC and ~$44 dollars for a 20 quart pot, and ~$80 for a 30 quart pot. I'm sure I can do better sourcing these items elsewhere.

I'll use the gift card to by ingredients for the next recipes I want to do (maybe this one https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f73/ex...dal-dragonmead-final-absolution-clone-137219/, or a Scottish Strong Ale recipe mrd789s suggested) and take some pressure of my monthly mad money budget to redirect those funds towards a chiller build and a kettle.

Thanks again all for the input, it has really helped to get me thinking about my equipment and set up and how I can improve it and where I would like to go with it.

So... whose having turkey sandwiches for lunch?

Thanks again.

 

[BrewBeemer]

We can spend your money like a drunken sailor with comfort and ease.
I build up savings over time then spring on those expensive items.

 

[specialkaye]

Thanks again all for the input, it has really helped to get me thinking about my equipment and set up and how I can improve it and where I would like to go with it.

So... whose having turkey sandwiches for lunch?

Thanks again.

I'm a little late to the party but that's probably because I've been drinking. Anyway, let us know how things turn out and if you get good beer. For my money, I decided to make the chiller (see my signature) and I made the bottle trees, it's really bottle boards but they were about $10 each for 36 spots on each board. I made two. (I'll put up a thread on them pretty soon)

I know you're getting ingredients. And, that's really my first suggestion anyways. But, my second suggestion is another fermenter. I think you're going to find out pretty quick that you want more fermenters. Just a thought.

 

[D0ug]

I hear you on the fermentors specialkaye, but I have 2 ale pails going and my monthly ingredients allowance can't really handle more than that right now anyway I really need to start moving towards AG

 

[BrewBeemer]

Dump the bottling idea and get into Corny kegging, they are going up in price quickly get yours now.

 

[D0ug]

But I like the sound they make, *pop* see.. isn't that nice?

Someday, maybe, when I have a basement more suited to finishing out, I'll get into kegging and have a nice little bar with taps. But for the time being...

 

[BrewBeemer]

yeah true you are but grab some Corny's as well 15.5 gal kegs for future expansion into this crazy addiction.

 

[iijakii]

I'd go with a bigger pot.

But I also no-chill and have had fantastic results, so I think ICs are mostly pointless.