Advice on first AG set up

[ilikerossi]

Just about to order all the equipment I need to move from kits to AG, been looking at the Hop&Grape 10 gallon brewery kits with the twin element and thermo but was wondering if a 5 gallon set up would be more suitable to start with?, would probably prefer the 10 to be honest. Any suggestions welcomed.
Thanks in advance
Tim

 

[jamesb]

Get the 10. You don't have to do a 10g batch in it, you can do 5. But you can't do it the other way around.

 

[corby_brewer]

+1 what JB says :thumb:

 

[Hawks]

I'd agree - I made a 5 gallon one, and now wish I had done a 10 to start...

Building it is fun though, plenty of advice on here to help you and will save you money and I believe I have a better kit than an off the shelf one. :thumb:

 

[ilikerossi]

Understood guys :thumb:
I thought about making a kit but I'm so inpacient and exited to get started, I'm just gonna order it I think.

 

[Aleman]

10 Gallon for the same reason as given.

Drop the thermostat from the boiler option though as you do not need it (Twin element IS important though)

Insulating the boiler with a camping mat or two will also help you get a good boil.

 

[Muddydisco]

I made mine 10g only done 5g brews until I got cornies then done a 40ltr brew to fill 2 cornies.
Always plan for expanding your brewery!

 

[jonewer]

I got the 10 from H&G and its done me well. :thumb:

 

[ilikerossi]

10 Gallon for the same reason as given.

Drop the thermostat from the boiler option though as you do not need it (Twin element IS important though)

Insulating the boiler with a camping mat or two will also help you get a good boil.

Thanks!
Do you mean when it's boiling - it's boiling, no need to monitor the temp, kinda' thing?, it's just I was going to use it for the strike water etc..

 

[Muddydisco]

So if you use it for strike water etc where you going to put the runnings from the mash when your sparging?
You may of thought about it and have some other pots or Fv for so, just checking :thumb:

 

[ilikerossi]

So if you use it for strike water etc where you going to put the runnings from the mash when your sparging?
You may of thought about it and have some other pots or Fv for so, just checking :thumb:

Yeah I have ended up with quite a few spare FV's so was planning to use them for the clear runnings before the boil, unless you have any other suggestions? I'd really appreciate them. :pray:
Like I say it will be my first AG so not 100% clued up yet :)
Cheers.

 

[Muddydisco]

Nope thats fine run out your sparge into the Fv once your finished and happy with your volume, empty or save the liqior
from the Hlt and chuck in your runnings and then get boiling. No problems with that :thumb:
If you had a seperate boiler and Hlt as soon as the runnings are over the elements of the boiler you can switch them on saving you some time on the boil, rather than your runnings going cold whilst waiting for the sparge to finish. Also any left over liqior in the Hlt can be used to clean your tun and anything else that needs cleaning whilst the boil is on.

But thats just my thoughts, depends on cash and time and your preferences, nobody does anything the same way on here if we did we'd all end up clones of each other! :rofl:

 

[ilikerossi]

Nope thats fine run out your sparge into the Fv once your finished and happy with your volume, empty or save the liqior
from the Hlt and chuck in your runnings and then get boiling. No problems with that :thumb:
If you had a seperate boiler and Hlt as soon as the runnings are over the elements of the boiler you can switch them on saving you some time on the boil, rather than your runnings going cold whilst waiting for the sparge to finish. Also any left over liqior in the Hlt can be used to clean your tun and anything else that needs cleaning whilst the boil is on.

But thats just my thoughts, depends on cash and time and your preferences, nobody does anything the same way on here if we did we'd all end up clones of each other! :rofl:

Thanks for the advice MD :thumb:

 

[evanvine]

nobody does anything the same way on here if we did we'd all end up clones of each other! :rofl:

You never said a truer thing MD! :thumb:
We all get ideas from each other, but do our own thing.