Upgrade from extract to AG

Mitchf14 · Sep 17, 2016

Hi all
I am now looking to upgrade my extract setup which I use for partial boils on a 15l stockpot to an AG setup. I have all the basic equipment but no mash tun and boiler.
Any advice on which products to buy, or which package? I am pretty handy and have seen a few tutorials on building my own equipment, would this be worth it?
I have a budget of about ÃÂ£200.

Cheers

ElChemist · Sep 17, 2016

The Peco boilers work well from pretty much all reports. I built my own which worked flawlessly for 3 brews but have just gone gas due to the massive generosity of a certain forum member and the great deal I got off another. Gas ended up costing me slightly less than building my own but would have come in at about 220 quid had I bought everything from shops/eBay...

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strange-steve · Sep 17, 2016

If you have a bit of diy know how then it's easy to build a boiler and mash tun.

For the boiler I used a 33L fv and installed an electric element and tap, dead easy. If you want some control then all you need us an ssr with potentiometer.

The mash tun is easy enough also, just a cool box with a tap and manifold made from copper pipe with slots cut in it. Or you could use a stainless steel braid for the filter.

Even easier is the BIAB option for which you only need a boiler and a muslin bag.

Mitchf14 · Sep 17, 2016

I was having a look at this

http://www.geterbrewed.com/biab-all-grain-starter-kit-includes-a-mash-kit/

Fil · Sep 17, 2016

imho if at all inclined towards diy, knock up your own kit with your brewspot in mind.

if you can drill a hole, tighten a nut and wire a plug its within your skill set

I built a very succesful plastic brewery using an ex mango chutney barrel and budget kettle element boiler and a cold box mash tun. the hdpe of the barrel did soften slightly with boil temps but tgat was livable with and cutting the centre from the lid enabled me to fit that as a collar to keep the mouth open and circular as without it it did tend to oval up a bit

The copper kettle online brewshop for one sells the PP euro buckets which unlike hdpe dont soften with boil temps and remain more rigid..

if you want SS pots the basic thin SS stiockpots are cheapest bought direct from a German Ebay.fr seller <[email protected]> email for a price for uk delivery and pay via paypal invoice.. delivery is generally a few days and within a week at most, just have a box cutter to open and inspect before sigbing as some get dinged heavily in transit and refusing delivery cuts a week out of the replacement sending if needed at least..

i would suggest at least a 40l kettle volume, while some can brew with a 30l or smaller kettle i once tried brewing in a slightly too small a vessel and it resulted in me chassing the boil overs and splashes of hot sticky wort throughout the boil, a nice 5cm+ of pot wall above the preboil volume level should contain the most violent of boils

and makes the boil a chilled relaxed period

GlentoranMark · Sep 18, 2016

You can mash in the peco boiler which also saves space. Either buy the dedicated thermostatic Peco boiler or hit your desired temperature and wrap up with towels or a a sleeping blanket. I use an Inkbird to control my temperature and manually recirculate the wort. I've been very pleased with results.