What's been your single most beneficial homebrewing upgrade?

[ApolloSimcoe]

Drilled buckets for mash tuns

Ahh! The good old days! But you didn't mention that you wrapped that in your best sleeping bag!

 

[catalanotte]

I obtained a detailed water report from the engineering department at the water utility and modified based on the Brewers Friend calculator. Many people go through Ward Labs, and pay for a report (about $40) which is another option. I have resisted buying water and have been able to manage the tap water to a good result.

Getting the alkalinity down to manage mash pH (without duping lots of acid in mash) was the biggest improvement in beer quality. Managing Calcium, Chloride and Sulfate levels was the other noticeable impact.

 

[Knightshade]

I fell into the rabbit hole of buying alot of stuff upon entrance into the hobby, so my answer is reflective of that. Foundry has contributed to ALOT less lifting of various cooler mashtuns, kettle, blah, blah...and allowed me brew in the garage vs. kitchen. Which everybody else in the family is REALLY happy about as well.

 

[jschein]

Ahh! The good old days! But you didn't mention that you wrapped that in your best sleeping bag!

Goose down baby!

 

[Granite03]

I started brewing in 1992 with extracts on the stove top and glass carboys in the coolest part of the house before bottling. Now I’m brewing in Grainfathers that pump into glycol cooled SS conicals monitored with Tilts on Pi’s going into kegs. To answer the question: Starting over I would first jump straight to the Grainfathers (or nice equivalents these days). Second would be the kegs and third conicals.

 

[GPDitches]

From a complete beginner brewing on an apartment induction stove-top and fermenting in cheap plastic buckets with no temp control --> All the way to a complete stainless AG setup with all the nifty gadgets you could ever dream of, what has been the ONE upgrade you noticed most drastically changed the overall quality and/or taste of your beers?
If you had to do it all over again this would likely be the thing you gravitate towards purchasing first. That special thing..

Cheers!
Anvil Foundry. Not necessarily better beer, just easier than propane burners, multiple pots, mash tun, and all the set up and clean up.

 

[Snark_Wolf_Brewing]

For me, it was making the switch from extract brewing to all grain.

 

[DeeEnvy]

I have to say my Blichman burner.
The turkey frier did't cut it.
I brew simple BIAB and I don't need a lot of equipment.

 

[seatazzz]

+Infinity temperature controlled fermentation; tried a swamp cooler for a while but was too much hassle. Being able to set the fermenter in the ferment fridge, dial in the temperature I want, and walk away....now THAT'S what I call an improvement. Also being able to cold crash in the same chamber; once again, just set the temperature to where I need it, and walk briskly away.

 

[WesBrew]

Glycol chiller; precision fermentation control, no wondering what inside temp is, easy temp changes and cold crash. Also can get wort chilled to pitching temp when tap water can’t quite get it there . Pretty hands off once it going.

 

[dwhite60]

Patience.

 

[Snark_Wolf_Brewing]

Patience.

 

[BucksIPA]

The biggest thing is just figuring out the basics.

Procure the right eauiptment upfront, this can be done on any budget level
Get to all grain
Yeast starter equiptment
Controlling oxygen
Temp control
Get to kegging
Be very clean
Keep it simple, build with process

 

[bracconiere]

well being i'm in the minority, and brew to save money.

malting my own grain! (swear it tastes better to, straight from kiln to mash tun)

 

[Ogilthorpe2]

Another vote for kegging, which in my case also coincided with closed transfers. Huge uptick in quality.

 

[jddevinn]

Ferm Temp control for general initial quality

O2 control for lasting quality.

Other controls for repetition.

 

[Imhoppy]

Building a custom brew kitchen in my basement. The only things that are in there are brewing supplies, brewing equipment, a kegerator, kegs, bottles, and lots of beer. Everything has its place with lots of storage for everything needed to brew and drink beer.

 

[bracconiere]

everything needed to brew and drink beer.

damn, so a projection screen surround sound system and taps at every chair? lol, you're my hero!

i didn't even think of that to add, when i had a projector on the wall over my bed and a beer tap next to the bed so i could lay there and fill up my glass!

unfortanlty, i never had a glycol system and i only could pour alco-pop from the lines

 

[Kent88]

Switching from a false bottom in my mash tun to a filter tube.

That false bottom constantly was giving me stuck sparges. I made the switch and I haven't had one since. Cut my sparge time in half. Cut my frustration down by more.

I'll be trying out a new chiller soon as well. I've only ever chilled by icewater bath, and it takes forever. This should cut my time brewing to something much more manageable. Sure, I'd rather invest my money in stir plates and yeast banking, but I realized I need to make my brewdays more enjoyable (or at least less frustrating).

 

[bracconiere]

I've only ever chilled by icewater bath, and it takes forever.

strangely, i didn't know that about you.....

 

[Kent88]

you're an odd duck, bracc.

 

[bracconiere]

you're an odd duck, bracc.

i have no idea, but i'm glad i'm not the only one with a sense of humor in this world! and now that i think of it! add that to my BEST EVER brewing upgrades! having a sense of humor! (i actually think i didn't have one UNTIL i started brewing!)

 

[bwible]

Kegging. I wouldn't do this anymore if I had to screw around with bottles. Plus, tap beer at home is just cool.

I would have said this, too, awhile back. But I find myself bottling again and it’s not as bad as I’d remembered. I get somewhat of a break with 3 gallon batches because I’m only bottling 30 at a time instead of about 50. I like having the variety, though priming correctly and getting the right carbonation is sometimes tricky.

I have a couple 3 gallon kegs. I often still have issues with kegs, too. Getting them to seal, leaking CO2, under-carb, over-carb, etc.

 

[harrower]

Switching from propane to 240v electric. My Anvil allows me to mash and brew in one device at an affordable price.

 

[deuc224]

I would say not looking at price when getting all the equipment. Just bite the bullet and get what i wanted vs what I could afford, it helped me a lot in making brewing fun vs doing a bunch of workarounds to get the same results. I have one last workaround i need to iron out and i should be pretty content.

 

[NGD]

@Kent88 Which chiller did you decide to go with?

One of the best “upgrades” I’ve made is writing out my brew day ahead of time and preparing the night before. Fewer wasted motions, far fewer “I forgot” moments” and less stress. Its a tossup between ferm temp control and a chiller for second place.

 

[OldDogBrewing]

I brew all grain, for now I let my temp and water "speak" in my beers, so my best improvement has been a big enough mash tun so now I have enough space to mash really big grain bills

 

[Kent88]

@NGD I have a plate chiller I've been meaning to test for months. I think I finally have the right connections to do it now, but both of my kegs are full and I have no motivation to make anything until after the new year.

 

[andrew.dd.clark]

Fermentation temp control and low o2 transfers took my brew from ok to meow

 

[DarrellQ]

Fermentation temp control and low o2 transfers took my brew from ok to meow

What is a "low o2 transfer" and how do you accomplish that?