90 replies to this topic

[Murphy]

bottling beer for my wedding (>200 bottles) was enough for me to never ever ever bottle again

[Trub L]

eta - If I were starting over equipment-wise, I'd definitely put most of the budget towards a 15-gallon pot. 

 

Mine were, uhhh... about the price of some sabre saw blades.   Ahhh to be young and reckless again.  

[denny]

After you break a few carboys and lose a couple dozen gal. of beer, carboys lose their appeal.

[Tim the Enchanter]

After you break a few carboys and lose a couple dozen gal. of beer, carboys lose their appeal.

What do you secondary in? Buckets?

[ChefLamont]

What do you secondary in? Buckets?

 

 

Secondary?  lol

 

 

 

If I do something that requires aging or secondary, it is in a keg.

I will also second the BIAB process.  Even if you dont end up going with it, it has come a long way and is worth investigating and understanding.

[BlKtRe]

I know you said the bottling thing was a given, but my advice to you would be to just get a basic kegging setup.  Nothing discourages a brewer faster than the daunting task of cleaning and sanitizing 50 bottles and dealing with the mess of bottle filling equipment.  Plus, if you keg, you don't have to worry about getting the priming exactly right, yeast viability after secondary, etc.  If you have to make the choice between the two, I would even say get the kegging stuff before you get the AG stuff, just so that you can be excited about the process without finding it boring.  Then rely on AG to give yourself more freedom, better taste, etc.  My 2c.

 

This is the biggest decision a brewer has to make when deciding which upgrade to do first. If it was me Id get the basic kegging equipment and a simple BIAB (brew in a bag) setup at the same time. The BIAB equipment is relatively cheap. This will allow you to jump into AG and kegging at the same time. Once things progress you can move away from the BIAB by adding additional AG equipment like a MT and a HLT. 

[HVB]

After you break a few carboys and lose a couple dozen gal. of beer, carboys lose their appeal.

After 12# years of brewing I have yet to break one but in that time I have had at least 4 plastic fermenters crack.  I guess I am lucky with glass.

[denny]

What do you secondary in? Buckets?

 

IF I secondary (rarely) I use kegs or buckets.

I tried BIAB a few times, but it wasn't really workable for me for a 5 gal. batch of 1.060+.  If you're brewing small batches in your kitchen, it's a very viable solution.

[neddles]

IF I secondary (rarely) I use kegs or buckets.I tried BIAB a few times, but it wasn't really workable for me for a 5 gal. batch of 1.060+. If you're brewing small batches in your kitchen, it's a very viable solution.

To fair Denny didnt you try holding the bag with your hands while it drained?That wont work. BIAB is very easy to do at least up to 6 gallons IME and probably more if you have the right size equipment. It does require one thing... you need overhead support for bag while it drains. This is as simple as putting an eye bolt into an overhead joist or rafter and using a $7 ratchet pulley to lift and hold it. Many of us brew in basements, garages, and under decks where this works best. Heck if you are in a garage just hook it to your garage door track.

[positiveContact]

To fair Denny didnt you try holding the bag with your hands while it drained?That wont work.BIAB is very easy to do at least up to 6 gallons IME and probably more if you have the right size equipment. It does require one thing... you need overhead support for bag while it drains. This is as simple as putting an eye bolt into an overhead joist or rafter and using a $7 ratchet pulley to lift and hold it. Many of us brew in basements, garages, and under decks where this works best. Heck if you are in a garage just hook it to your garage door track.

 

how about a couple of peices of clean wood or metal on top of the kettle and just set the bag on them so it drains into the kettle?  maybe the "squeezing" from holding it up by the top is important.

[HVB]

how about a couple of peices of clean wood or metal on top of the kettle and just set the bag on them so it drains into the kettle?  maybe the "squeezing" from holding it up by the top is important.

[positiveContact]

 

or whatever the hell that thing is.  a giant colander?

[HVB]

or whatever the hell that thing is.  a giant colander?

 

It looks like a Polder 6631-75 Stainless-Steel Sink Strainer with Extending Rubber-Grip Arms but I could be wrong

[neddles]

That strainer will work too. I would think the wood support would be a mess with wort running all over the place.

[positiveContact]

It looks like a Polder 6631-75 Stainless-Steel Sink Strainer with Extending Rubber-Grip Arms but I could be wrong

 

move that burner away from your house!

[HVB]

move that burner away from your house!

not my picture just on google image search.  Lets not forget I am all electric and my pot is SS not AL. 

[positiveContact]

not my picture just on google image search.  Lets not forget I am all electric and my pot is SS not AL. 

 

how can you tell what that pot is made of?  I think you might be part dwarf.

[HVB]

how can you tell what that pot is made of?  I think you might be part dwarf.

I guess I assumed by the looks that it was a spun AL pot.  Like the kind you get standard on my turkey fryers.

[positiveContact]

I guess I assumed by the looks that it was a spun AL pot.  Like the kind you get standard on my turkey fryers.

 

very well could be.

[BrewerGeorge]

So is this BIAB no-sparge?