If i was to go AG ?

[aftermath]

Guys i am a sad person lol , all i think about these days is my next brew, i started some 5 gallon wine kits about 3 month ago and got some very delicious wines ,
it went on to the WOW`s in 1 gallon DJ`s, i tried about 5 different juices ( not impressed i am afraid, compared to the kits i have been doing ) but they are maybe still maturing so time will tell.

i then decided, that because i like beers/lagers and drink them almost every day, that i should try beer making , as i have all the equipment from the wine making, with a few slight additions.

with the help and advice from many people on here , especially Calumscott and ScottM ( Thanks Guys ), i am starting to get some enjoyable beers that i can be proud of..

My question now is...

Is it worth me going towards AG or staying with the Kits ( bear in mind the cost , and this is where i need advice ), i believe that in life , IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THEN DO IT RIGHT AND PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET sorry about the caps...

How much will i need to spend and go the whole hog with AG ( equipment ) what will i need and the cost ( not the basics, but the decent stuff ) ?

or is it worth just staying with the kits ?

What are the Pros and the Cons ?

 

[bobsbeer]

First off it's well worth going AG. You get control and the beer is better. As for cost , that depends on how deep your pockets are, and the space you have. My AG equipment cost less than £100 but it works. You could spend £1000 and it would produce the same beer. But the more expensive equipment would last longer and look so much more professional, and give you consistent results. Have a look at the How To's on the forum. There are lots showing the different set ups. Plastic to nice shiney stainless steel.

 

[rich27500]

Well worth going AG. Your set up costs depend on how you want to brew and how big your budget is. I think you could easily start BIAB for under £50 or you could buy a custom made three vessel system for in excess of £3000. The online stores do 3 vessell starter sets for around £300.

I can easily make 200 pints with £40 of ingredients

http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/featured/all-grain-starter-set.html

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st...UIG_BaiT0QXIq5inCg#biv=i|90;d|ww5SCPRulYnx4M:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/metalworking/4323694

 

[Dieseljockey]

It's not an easy Q to answer, the guys on the forum can spend your money for you on all sorts of kit. I went AG with a plastic DIY kit years back, it worked a treat. Then within a year I went S/S, with a 70 liter mashtun and 100liter boiler. So it's like you said "how deep are your pockets"??? it's all down to you. All the info you need is on here, do you want to stay with kits?? or go the whole hog and turn to the Dark Side?? :twisted:

 

[Moley]

How much you have to spend on equipment will also depend on whether you need or choose to buy "plug and play" or how capable you are at DIY.

Once you've offset or written off the equipment cost, AG is the cheapest way to brew (in terms of ingredients cost), but you do have to realise that a brewday will take you at least 5 hours and you've got a steep learning curve to negotiate.


But it's well worth going AG :thumb:

 

[evanvine]

Yet again I find myself agreeing with Moley! :shock:
Think I'd better take something for it. :whistle:

 

[Baz Chaz]

I'm pretty crap at DIY ....... but, I made a very servicable mash tun from a 30 ltr chutney barrel

bought a 40 ltr buffalo boiler and swapped the tap for a ball valve, made copper manifold strainers for both

did buy a cooling coil though, but even then think I spent less than £200

Is it worth it to go AG ....... it most certainly is, I'm as chuffed as hell with the results of my labours and you can adjust your brews as you go along addin/removing bits to get your OWN personal favourite. It is worth following and trying various recipes at first so you can understand what different things do to your beer, I'm sure if you do go AG you won't regret it, it really is not that difficult :thumb:

 

[rich27500]

This is the other thing I was looking for http://www.synergybrew.com/complete_systems/custom-brew-systems/

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Yet again I find myself agreeing with Moley! :shock:
Think I'd better take something for it. :whistle:

Bit like 60's Flower Power, when love ruled.

I also agree with posters above. :thumb:
AG equipment doesn't need to be expensive it's the knowledge that you'll need to brew a good pint that's priceless. :ugeek:
But I would say that if you can afford it go Stainless because once you get the knack with your nylon set-up and see pics of other members shiny you'll want to upgrade... I remember seeing Vossy's and thinking, WOW, I'd love that, :pray: then 2 years later I built my own with info from members on here!!

BB :drink:

 

[dennisking]

Where are you, if there is a AG brewer near you he may let you sit in on a brew day, you can see the process and get an idea about equipment.

 

[aftermath]

Where are you, if there is a AG brewer near you he may let you sit in on a brew day, you can see the process and get an idea about equipment.

I am in Gateshead m8, Tyne and Wear , right next to the angel of the north..

 

[evanvine]

right next to the angel of the north..

is he not being forth coming?

 

[aftermath]

i am bidding on a 70 litre stainless steel pan with a lid at the mo, then maybe modify this with a tap... that should be my boiling pan..


what else will i need ( equipment ) ?

 

[PD]

If you enjoy beers from kits and are having success, why change and incur the expense ?
The kit scene today is the best its ever been, there is a huge variety of beers lagers ales to make to cover all tastes. They are relatively fool proof ( I nearly said idiot proof, but then I remember some of my mistakes ... :) ) and if you enjoy them why change.
They work out cheap, a 500ml bottle of beer for around 35pence. Setting up to make them involves only the purchase of a plastic bucket or two and various other bits and bobs, none that expensive. With that basic kit you can easily turn out 23 / 70 litres of delicious beer a month or more. A brew day consists of nothing more than mixing a bucket of ingredients with water less than an hour. If you wish to can do many additions and alterations to the kits and tweek the basic brews in many ways. Little expense, little mess and inconvenience, little disruption to family life...
I agree that with kit making you don't have complete control of the brew as you do when brewing from grain, where every aspect of the beer is yours to control, but that comes at a price. If your handy or lucky yes you can build some equipment, however boilers mash tuns HLT's and coolers etc do add up. Will you ever re coup that ? Yes beer making is a hobby and like all hobbies you want to progress and be good at it to have complete control of the process. Its a personal choice and I just add this post as a counterpoint to all those advocating " crossing over "
I drool over nice shiny set ups, I marvel at some of the folks on here with their professional set ups and their knowledge. However I maintain there is nothing bad or derogatory or something that is classed as the poor man's brewing system, as it may appear when some of the comments re " the dark side " are read.
If all you want to do is brew some good beers have some fun and keep your costs down. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG with kit or extract brewing, and going BIAB occasionally allows you to have a little adventure into the dark and deep mysteries of ales and beers.

As they say whatever floats your boat, do what you want to do, feel comfortable with, whilst extracting the maximum amount of enjoyment from the hobby.

just my two pennies worth....

 

[rich27500]

The kits are great. The reason two can kits like wherry sell so well is because it's great beer and totally agree it's quick and easy to do. To my mind it's like serving M&S food at a dinner party, tastes great, absolutely no arguments but it's not all your own work.

BIAB is a full all grain method not an easy alternative (but as far as I can see it is easier to do,) to three vessel brewing. 3 vessel brewing more closely mimics a commercial brewery. The reason commercials do not brew in a bag is because it is only practical/possible in home brew quantities. In some ways BIAB can do things easily that are trickier with a cool box mash tun I.e. step decoction. It's not a better method it's just a different method and at the end of the day it's personal choice

Later this year We will have a taste off http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=23519

 

[Andyhull]

I have built a 2 vesel system (well 2 plastic tubs) :lol:
I have used a scrounged lime pickle 33lt tub and a purchased cool box for £8
I made the pickle tub into my HLT and Boiler for the measilly cost of £11.18 and the mash tun (coolbox) for £15.
I have not used my system as yet but it's ready to go and all for around £16 so it can as said be as cheap, or as expensive as you like!
I will, so long as i get the hang of AG brewing upgrade to stainless but for now and the future will probably stick with what i have.

My advice would be start cheap as you can and then upgrade if you get on with it

Andy