All grain inventory

[gedburg101]

Hi guys,

I've been wanting to jump into beer making for a while now and I finally had a go. I bought an all grain kit and brewed it up. It was great fun and I really enjoyed the mad scientist feel about it. That said, it was a starter kit to make about a gallon and I feel it need to upscale it I want to get a decent amount of beer. So, questions...

I've seen some DIY mash tuns online using cool boxes or insulated fermenters. Are these the way to go?

Is a hot water back necessary or can you get away with a mash tun and a boil kettle?

Does anyone have any experience of the modified fermenting buckets with kettle elements in them? If they work then they fit my price rage very well but somehow they don't feel safe...

Any other essential equipment or resources for all grain brewing?

Sorry for so many questions.

Cheers.

 

[DoctorMick]

Don't worry, there will be way more answers than questions.

Do you have a budget or any space constraints to work within?

 

[Covrich]

When you get into AG the options and setups open up. I bet 10 people on this forum could post their setups and their methods and I bet all 10 will differ somehow.

I assume you're looking at upscaling to 23 liter brew or around that mark??

 

[Wilfy]

I noticed this last night, seems to be a canny deal IMO. 5% discount as well.

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/b...iler-chiller-mashing-bag-mash-kit-p-2559.html

 

[YeastFace]

I use a converted cool box as a mash tun and converted fermenting bucket as a HLT/Boiler. I batch sparge so at the moment there's no real disadvantage of having 2 vessels rather than 3.

I converted these both myself and they were quite simple to do. I was a bit concerned about the element in the fermenter, but it looks solid, there are no leaks and it really isn't any different to some of the boilers you can buy online.

I had a 30l fermenter anyway, but got the element and lead direct from Peco as this was the best price.

The coolbox was a 19l coolbox from Sainsbury's which I think was £15. I made a copper manifold and added a stainless steel tap from Angel Homebrew. Lots use a plastic tap and a bazooka filter with no issues. I added some further insulation (expanding foam) and covered in foil and bubble wrap may change to foil bubble wrap at some point) I need to insulate the lid a bit better as I'm losing 2-4 degrees over 90 minutes.

I will be adding the same tap to the HLT/Boiler along with a hop filter in due course. At some stage I may add a HLT, but this will probably when I upgrade to stainless.

 

[Gingerbrews]

I agree; certainly looks a good deal

 

[gedburg101]

Cheers for the prompt responses!

That deal looks really good actually. Seems I'd only really need to add a mash tun to it.

Yeah, I'm looking to brew 40ish pints at a time. Doesn't seem worth while otherwise!

As far as space contains go I've got a cellar for storage but don't plan on brewing down there. Will likely be brewing outside hence the desire for an electric boiler.

Cheers guys.

 

[MCJones87]

if you're brewing outside you could also look into gas boilers? I have never used one myself but logic dictates that it should be more efficient...

Are you planning to use your boiler as an FV? maybe I have misunderstood if you aren't, but if you did plan to use that I could see some problems occurring down the line with trub covering the heating elements for extended periods whilst your brew ferments... If I have misunderstood then ignore this comment completely! :-D

 

[Covrich]

Cheers for the prompt responses!

That deal looks really good actually. Seems I'd only really need to add a mash tun to it.

Yeah, I'm looking to brew 40ish pints at a time. Doesn't seem worth while otherwise!

As far as space contains go I've got a cellar for storage but don't plan on brewing down there. Will likely be brewing outside hence the desire for an electric boiler.

Cheers guys.

With that setup you don't need a mash tun .. you can if you want but you do not have too..

I was going to get that myself but decided on an ace boiler but all in all a similar setup..

Basically with that you will mash in the boiler (brew in a bag there is a bag supplied with that deal) then when you remove the bag you will need to sparge in a seperate vessel (you could use a fermenter to dunk your grain bag into say 12 liters of sparge water) stir add to the mashed wort and boil..

A lot of us use this method.. but if you prefer you can use a tun and a boiler separate.

Some people like to use a 3 vessel system where you have a hot liquor tank heating water and feeding a mash tun/ vessel which then feeds a boiler.

You Pick whatever suits you to be honest.