all grain startup

[malty_me]

There are loads of people on here talking about how easy all grain is. But what is the cheapest and easiest way to gather the equipment. With a quick search on the net iv found that at minimum it will cost £200, any cheaper ways? What is the average cost people on here have started up with?

 

[farmer brown]

You can buy a lot of second hand AG equipment off ebay. I basically drilled small holes into a bottom of an old fermenting bin and made a mash tun from that when I first started. The only expensive part was stainless steel stockpot but its an investment and will last. Id look at it long term and buy all the bits over a few months... Many bargains out there!

 

[fbsf]

Mine was a fair bit less than that.

2xFVs and tap to make mashtun - £25 plus a bit of time drilling lots of 2mm holes in the upper FV (lower mashtun can double as fermenter, too)
33L Boiler with tap and hop filter - £61 from the Homebrew Company
1 x FV + Little Bottler for priming and bottling - £20
Thermometer - £5
Hydrometer + Jar - £10
Syphon tube - £5
Duvet for insulating mashtun - £8
Total cost = £124.

Making the mashtun is as simple as drilling a load of holes in the base of 1 FV, fitting a tap to the second, then sliding the first into the second.

EDIT - by the way, although I agree with all grain not being difficult, it does take a great deal more of your time on brewday than brewing a kit. Anything less than 6 hours and you will have done well.

 

[PD]

Shiny gear is what folks generally ASPIRE to, they don't usually start with it ( although some take the plunge straight away ) DIY is as always the cheapest option,, then our sponsors above do a range of boilers/mash tuns from cheapish to eye watering take your pick. But before you spend a lot of hard earned money, make sure you enjoy brewing and want to make the hobby last so you get the most out of whatever investment you put into it.

 

[calumscott]

But before you spend a lot of hard earned money, make sure you enjoy brewing and want to make the hobby last so you get the most out of whatever investment you put into it.

PD, you are regularly coming up with real pearls of wisdom these days... :thumb:

 

[Hawks]

Shiny gear is what folks generally ASPIRE to, they don't usually start with it ( although some take the plunge straight away ) DIY is as always the cheapest option,, then our sponsors above do a range of boilers/mash tuns from cheapish to eye watering take your pick. But before you spend a lot of hard earned money, make sure you enjoy brewing and want to make the hobby last so you get the most out of whatever investment you put into it.

I'd agree with this - I started on a home built plastic and kettle element set-up, cost me around £100 - £120 to buy all the bits. Once I was hooked I moved over to a larger stainless setup. The good news is I sold the plastic one for around what is cost me... :thumb:

 

[PD]

I know Callum...guess its the home brew seeping into my brains....

 

[cutnrun]

if you get lucky ebay can get you a proper bargin

I got the full kit,

HLT, Mash tun, boiler 2 FVs and a barrel for £55

 

[malty_me]

I'm definately hooked!!! So much so that swmbo says I'm obsessed :/ lol. The two fv method does appeal to me. With a duvet to insulate what is the heat loss like? I either need to get a boil pot or electric boiler. For the money the electric ones seem a better option. The only thing I need then is a sort chiller and thats where I'm struggling to find a cheap option. I could make one but without any tools of my own it will be difficult.

 

[31bb3]

Try an ice bath that will be a good starter

 

[puravida]

Well the cheapest and easiest way to get started is to buy a straining bag for about £5 and use it to 'brew in a bag' in the biggest stockpot you have in your kitchen. I made some fanastic AG beer that way for a good year or so. I still brew that way only now I have a bigger pan :)

Try this - http://chompchomp.co.uk/?p=141508066

 

[lukehgriffiths]

I got a massive boiler, pressure barrels and chiller pipe (unfinished) for 46 quid on ebay. Didn't work although the seller didn't mention this in fact said it was working! So beware the dishonest seller. You should be okay though most brewers are nice as you like.

One chat with my on hand electrical engineer and a promise of a pint or 8 and we were good for a PID controlled thermostatic boiler!
I completed chiller with some 15mm to 8mm microbore reducers off ebay (use 10mm copper not 8mm if you can) makes parts easier to get I then fetched some hose connectors etc from wilkos.

Could go on but picked up most stuff from ebay with last couple bits from homebrew company (notably FV and hydrometer that seemed overpriced second hand).

All in all cost about 100 quid including ingredients for first brew or two.