Any home brewers out there?

[Cowher]

DO NOT BUY A BASIC KIT. You will wast money

I was thinking of getting every thing piece by piece. Do you know any cost effective brew kettles? What do you think about the copper coils used to cool the wort? Is that useless?

One last tip. For primary fermentation, do not use the air lock for about 5 days or the fermenting has settled down. Take one of the 5 gallon buckets and put about 2 gallons of sanitizer blend in it. Sanitize the hose from above and use it for your air lock.
Here is a pic of mine - yes I brew in my office...

So should I skip the airlock and use this set up?
Is this to vent the foam that builds up?

Thanks for the info. Huge help.

[Mickey]

I was thinking of getting every thing piece by piece. Do you know any cost effective brew kettles? What do you think about the copper coils used to cool the wort? Is that useless?

So should I skip the airlock and use this set up?
Is this to vent the foam that builds up?

I use a 42qt stock pot. Just find the biggest one you can afford. Some guys use a turkey frying setup (with burner) as a dedicated brew kettle. For a wort chiller, they really can't be beat. You get your wort chilled in minutes rather than hours, which helps prevent contamination. But do NOT buy one! You can spend less than half on parts. Go to the hardware store and get a box of 12 to 20 foot, 3/8" coiled copper tubing, some vinyl hose, a couple of hose clamps, and an adapter that will go onto your faucet and attach to the hose. The tubing is pre-coiled and if you have to bend the tubing, carefully do it around a bottle if you don't have a bender. Here is a pic of one of the ones I've made.



The hoses that mule uses are called blow-off tubes. It is basically a very large airlock, and yes, if you get a wild primary fermentation, things can get real messy, real fast. This setup doesn't allow that. For secondary fermenting, I use a standard airlock.

[Cowher]

Thanks for the tips.

I was thinking of getting this kit because it seems to have everything I'll ever need except the glass fermentor.
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/COMPL...P2339C257.aspx

[Mule]

I bought my first setup as a package deal and ended up replacing most of it pretty quickly because it was so cheaply made. Some of the stuff I didn't use. My personal feeling is this. If you are going to do something, don't skimp on things that will waste your time and money later. Honestly, if you can find someone selling their gear on Craigslist, you will save so much money that it will pay for the first 6 or more batches of beer. If I did it again, that is what I would do. But, some people don't have CL, and I forgot to tell you about that earlier. Sorry, brain backfired.

I only use the "big honking hose" airlock for the first few days on primary when I am brewing with an Ale yeast. Those little guys get pretty out of hand and can make a big mess. Lagers and steams don't need it. So, get some normal airlocks, they are your friend.

I tried Corny's but I found three sizes of bottles were best for my activities. On a side note, the screw off top Monster cans will work great for beer cans. I've actually used them a couple of times before the seal goes flat.

IMO, Most equipment really falls into a taste category. It's really what you find you like and what works for you. I have a dedicated turkey fryer setup too, but will use the electric stove in our office most of the time. Depends on the day and weather.

I have found a big sink full of ice or a cooler full of ice will work if the copper tubing isn't in your budget yet. You just have to make sure nothing gets into the pot. I have always worried about not being able to get the coils clean enough. But, know guys that have great luck with it. That being said, I do like modified beer keg wort brew pots with the copper tubing for chilling and a drain spigot for wort. You can put a strainer in the bottom and do everything pretty fast and clean. That is some cash though.

My neighbor has been brewing for 25+ years. He is at the point of just using Corny's and carbonating that way. In fact, I should get to sample his newest batch by this weekend.

One other thing is you might see if the is a HB club in your area. Go hang out and watch/help. Someone would probably help you and even loan you gear.


Just saw your link post. That seems high to me, but that's because of the stainless pot and copper. The capper is the one I've been using and the book is a good one. Go check CL if you have it in your area....

[azwildcat96]

Funny story, a friend (also a member here, but not too active) went shopping for various home-brew items at a big-box home center. He had a bunch of very specific questions about the materials (like if it was food-grade, sanitary, able to handle various pressures, etc.). After asking a store employee his questions, the store employee asked him, with a very serious look on his face, if he was setting up a meth. lab in his garage...

[Mickey]

That's not a bad kit, but you can save cash on something more basic. This is all you really need to get started.
http://www.annapolishomebrew.com/shopstartkitbeer.asp
Go to any good store and you can pick up a good stockpot for about $25. And if you go with making your own chiller, that runs about the same. For a standard 5 gallon batch, as long as you can boil 2 gallons, you are okay. That's about the limit I recommend. More is better, but not really required.

I started with something similar and it did just fine for about 10 years, then I got into corny kegs and lots of other gadgets, just for fun. I like saving a buck whenever I can.

You'll enjoy it;)

[AKScott]

I would caution against a glass carboy Cowher. One, they don't stop UV, so you will ahve to put a tshirt or something over it to keep the sunlight from skunking your beer. two they don't have handles and are heavy, an especially bad combination when they are wet. And if you drop one, you got broken glass everywhere.

If you are fermenting a Cornelius, it stops UV, it has a handle and if you drop it, it won't break. I agree the poppets and stuff are a bit of fuss ot clean and disinfect.

OTOH when hunting season opens my team forbids glass in camp, but packing out one empty five gallon beeer can is not a big deal.

You might stop by www.homebrewtalk.com , though it might be overwhelming.

[Cowher]

Thanks guys. I found a home brew shop a half hour from my work and I'll be stoping by on Thursday. I am borrowing a turkey pot from a buddy of mine for my brew pot and I'll be sticking to bare bones stuff for this first brew. If it seems like something I enjoy I'll start looking for the better stuff.
So I hope to get a drinkable beer from my first batch and I hope to enjoy the process. If all goes well I'll be buying higher end equipment and brewing myself some dang good brews.

[Mipi]

Your equipment should grew together with your experiences.

[tulloch]

Very interesting. I don't have time to brew but I would love to assist as a tester.