which of these conical fermenters?

[Darwin18]

Is it really necessary/important to know the temperature of the brew in the primary?

Yes. It is actually the most important factor in making the consistently best beer possible. All a conical is a fancy fermenter. It isn't going to make their beer any better, although it does look very cool. Save yourself some money and buy them something like this:

http://morebeer.com/products/cool-brewing-insulated-fermentation-bag.html

It will make a huge difference in the quality of their beer and you'll be a hero in their eyes.

 

[zack67360]

Thanks Darwin, that's a cool idea and have saved the link in my favorites of items I'm looking at. Will def. get a brew pot with a thermometer.

 

[zack67360]

I can see how temperature control is important, thus the thermometer built in. This brings up another issue with getting a new burner for them; not only the need to bring the wort up to a roiling boil faster, but the ability to control the temperature once obtained. MAN, beer making is involved!! Wine is much simpler by far.

 

[podz]

MAN, beer making is involved!! Wine is much simpler by far.

Yeah, no kidding.

 

[outside92129]

zack - with what you're learning you could join in on the fun!

Here's a good source for hop filters/spiders. Well received by folks on the forum and i have one too. I made a couple of the years and messed around with hop socks but i can't compete with a guy with a spot welder for mesh.
https://arborfab.com/product-category/brewing-filters/

(in case you wanted to complicate your decision making even more : )

 

[Poobah58]

Don't see where a conical is going to save any time at all. Just as easy to clean and sanitize a bucket. Yeast ranching might be easier but a 3-4 beers a year, not worth the expense. Consider updating his brew equipment. Brew kettles, immersion/counter flow chillers, mash temperature control, fermentation temp control, etc...

 

[Doctor_M]

zack - with what you're learning you could join in on the fun!

Here's a good source for hop filters/spiders. Well received by folks on the forum and i have one too. I made a couple of the years and messed around with hop socks but i can't compete with a guy with a spot welder for mesh.
https://arborfab.com/product-category/brewing-filters/

(in case you wanted to complicate your decision making even more : )

I find these more aesthetically appealing http://www.stainlessbrewing.com/Hop-Spider-with-seam-welds_p_158.html

 

[Howhownow]

You can get a false bottom fabricated for any pot. My suggestion for that is to contact Jay at norcal brewing- they make the best on the market (my opinion, but you'll find plenty of folks here who share it).

 

[zack67360]

Well, wanted to see and check out some brew pots so we made a trip down to Tulsa today to the wine/brew store and what do you know, right in the middle of the store they had a close out on all the Blichmann G1 Boilermakers. They were on sale PLUS another 20% off the sale price, so that clinched it for me. Guess they were wanting to move the G1s to make room for the G2s. I'm happy with my purchase even if they won't work with conduction style heating; and I'm sure SIL will be please too. Only thing was they didn't have the grain filter for it in stock for all grain brewing; not even sure they can still get them, but will have to check with Jay at norcal brewing. Maybe you can PM me the contact information.

 

[zack67360]

Found the norcal website. Thanks for the heads up. Cheaper than the ones in Tulsa for the G2 10 gallon pots.