What's brewing related that someone may not think they need, but should really have?

[Toadsticker]

3 extra hydrometers. 2 to use and break, 1 to enshrine in a locked, transparent case. With the logo 'What it's supposed to look like."

 

[mammothkraken]

Vinator, chiller, large brewpot.

 

[pelipen]

Thick walled silicone tubing. Takes all temps, stays flexible at all temps.
Spring band clamps / pinch clamps (ditch the screw hose clamps)

Nice glassware
upgrade to stainless parts from brass or chromed brass

 

[MetallHed]

Thick walled silicone tubing. Takes all temps, stays flexible at all temps.
Spring band clamps / pinch clamps (ditch the screw hose clamps)

Nice glassware
upgrade to stainless parts from brass or chromed brass

Good idea on the tubing.. mine could use an upgrade. I'll look into the clamps too; worm clamps are a PITA sometimes.

 

[Deicide]

A good dog for a brew day companion

^^ That!!! I know you can't exactly buy that, but, A good friend/pet around on brew day seems to make everything so much more pleasurable!!

I also agree with the auto siphon if you don't have a high temp. pump (big fan of being able to pump my wort through a plate chiller but have used gravity in the past and it worked pretty well).

-deicide

 

[lewishowardm3]

Assuming we are talking about already having most everything you "need" - and finding a "want", that really is nice to have -

pH meter
O2 oxygenation system with filter and pure O2 tank
Nice Mash Paddle
Nice glassware for quality control
Stainless mesh hop holder to contain hops during boil (many variations)
Books of interest
Magazine subscription of interest (BYO, Zymurgy)
Better regulator (double) for keg system
Tap Handles

Thanks for this. A ph meter is what I want as I'm just starting to play around with my water treatment. Didn't know such thing existed

 

[DrunkleJon]

3 extra hydrometers. 2 to use and break, 1 to enshrine in a locked, transparent case. With the logo 'What it's supposed to look like."

or labeled "Its not an emergency, do NOT break the glass"

 

[Newgene]

-- Mason jars (from half pint to half gallon); BTW, Ace hardware stores stock them at the cheapest prices I have found.
-- Plastic food grade buckets from lowes. If you buy 5, they are only $3.50 each. The $2 lids also have a rubber seal. I store all grains in these. I black sharpie what's in them on the side. You could also make them into cheap fermenters.
-- A minimum of a 40-quart pot. I bought an aluminum Winware one on Amazon for $40. Definitely makes 5-6 gallon batches very difficult to boil over.
-- Keep the old turkey fryer with valve on the stove inside for hot water. 7 gallons of hot water is about right for mashing. It also keeps all your water in one vessel vs chasing a bunch of different pots.
-- Extra 5/16" and 1/2" clear tubing from lowes. Having 20 or so extra feet on hand to cut your own comes in handy.
-- A garage sink. I know this is pretty big, but I wouldn't trade my garage sink for anything. If you have the space, typically you can tap into another existing sink on the adjacent wall.
-- Cheap harbor freight ($15) submersible pump. I set mine in a bucket of starsan and pump it through my homemade counterflow chiller. I do this both before and after I brew. Not a chance for an infection.
-- An extra propane tank for your burner. Don't risk running out in the middle.
-- An extra capper. If you bottle a lot and don't live close to your LHBS or bottle usually at night when you can't get another, this is a good investment.
-- 7 cf freezer. The cheapest price, the better. Once you have this, build your own temp controller or buy one.
-- Erlenmeyer flask(s) and stir plate. Again, you can make your own.
-- Digital scale. I don't go by volume on anything but water.
-- Digital thermometer. This is essential. They don't have to be deadly accurate. They just have to be repeatable.
-- Cheap plastic spray bottle for starsan.

 

[gingerdawg]

refractometer

 

[grathan]

glass pipette. I use this to get a refractometer sample from the glass carboy. Also used for taking a bit of yeast from a starter for frozen yeast bank.

 

[EineProsit]

Refractometer

 

[Darkness]

Not all is going to be at Northern Brewer Store Front
I don't use a mash paddle. I have never understood them to be honest. I use a XL restaurant grade wish to Dough In a whisk is made for incorporating and breaking up chunks. So Larg Wisk
Food scale
OxyClean
1 gal storage containers air tight
Flask
Stir plate

 

[Leadgolem]

-- Plastic food grade buckets from lowes. If you buy 5, they are only $3.50 each. The $2 lids also have a rubber grommet. I store all grains in these. I black sharpie what's in them on the side. You could also make them into cheap fermenters.

I didn't know Lowe's even stocked them. I'll have to swing by this weekend. Thanks Newgene.

 

[homebrewdad]

Bottling tree/vinator. I can't believe how much easier and quicker bottling is with these two inexpensive pieces of gear.

 

[StMarcos]

I like the industrial size whisk idea. Think I'm going to try that.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

Anything metal. Especially if it's made of SS and / or thick enough to weld.

 

[Newgene]

I didn't know Lowe's even stocked them. I'll have to swing by this weekend. Thanks Newgene.

I just realized I stated the lids had a grommet. I am assuming folks realized I meant seal and not grommet. It's just the normal rubber ring around the full rim. The grommets would still be less than a buck from the LHBS. The buckets are the white ones in the paint section. They are marked as food grade on the bucket.

 

[BPal75]

Oxygenation system with stone

Aquarium pump

You can brew without them for ales, but in my opinion they are must haves to brew lagers. I suppose you could go without the pump if you go no chill, but I like getting to pitching temp fast. and you won't get down into the 40s using tap water