What to Buy Next

[Rodcx500z]

Haha sorry, overwhelming myself. Care to share fridges?

yep when I get one

 

[MickDundee]

I picked both my fridges up from Facebook marketplace posts (one was free, one cost £50 - the £50 is much better quality but both serve a purpose). A greenhouse heater costs less than £30 and an inkbird about the same.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend it if you have the room.

 

[user 23602]

I picked both my fridges up from Facebook marketplace posts (one was free, one cost £50 - the £50 is much better quality but both serve a purpose). A greenhouse heater costs less than £30 and an inkbird about the same.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend it if you have the room.

I think what I'm trying to understand is, at what point do you use a temp controlled fridge. Somewhere to stick the bottles for conditioning? Or somewhere you put the FV to maintain a controlled temperature based on the yeast you're using/beer you're making.

Sorry for what may seem like daft questions, just want to completely understand.

 

[MickDundee]

I think what I'm trying to understand is, at what point do you use a temp controlled fridge. Somewhere to stick the bottles for conditioning? Or somewhere you put the FV to maintain a controlled temperature based on the yeast you're using/beer you're making.

Sorry for what may seem like daft questions, just want to completely understand.

Because I have 2 fridges, I do both. If I have 2 brews on the go then both are used for keeping fermentation temperature steady. If I have 1 brew on the go, the other fridge is held at either conditioning or serving temperature depending on the age of my other brews and whether I’ll be in a situation where I’ll want to drink more bottles than would fit in the kitchen fridge.

 

[user 23602]

Because I have 2 fridges, I do both. If I have 2 brews on the go then both are used for keeping fermentation temperature steady. If I have 1 brew on the go, the other fridge is held at either conditioning or serving temperature depending on the age of my other brews and whether I’ll be in a situation where I’ll want to drink more bottles than would fit in the kitchen fridge.

Thank you.

 

[Clint]

They don't half have some stupid names for equipment...fermzilla...sounds like during the week you'd have to keep it in a shipping crate,feed it goats and have a cattle prod ready on brew day.
I might bring out a plesiosaur airlock that has three or four bends in it thus mimicking the neck of a hunting, extinct marine reptile.

 

[user 23602]

https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk a decent enough online shop?

 

[F00b4r]

https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk a decent enough online shop?

Yes he has been around a while. I believe you should see it also on the Malt Miller site very soon too if you want to order ingredients/kits at the same time too.

 

[user 23602]

Yes he has been around a while. I believe you should see it also on the Malt Miller site very soon too if you want to order ingredients/kits at the same time too.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Dexter101]

I would look at what your struggles are and target those areas. If you only have an hour to brew, all grain is not for you as you need an hour alone for mash and then another hour for boil plus all the other time it takes.

Fermentation, where do you brew and what temperature is it normally?

If its warm, no point buying a heat pad!

When I look at my brewing process my areas I need to address next are a bigger pan for boiling, and I am tempted to keg some of my beer as doing 20l into bottles I am finding frustrating.

Buy for your process whether its to improve or as a luxury.

 

[user 23602]

I would look at what your struggles are and target those areas. If you only have an hour to brew, all grain is not for you as you need an hour alone for mash and then another hour for boil plus all the other time it takes.

Fermentation, where do you brew and what temperature is it normally?

If its warm, no point buying a heat pad!

When I look at my brewing process my areas I need to address next are a bigger pan for boiling, and I am tempted to keg some of my beer as doing 20l into bottles I am finding frustrating.

Buy for your process whether its to improve or as a luxury.

I normally brew in the kitchen, 2 bed flat, so no where else really. When it's fermenting, it's in a hallway cupboard, which over I started in March, maintains a steady 19-20c, but I cannot account for winter months yet, hence why I'm looking at a heat pad/belt. With the exception of 1 brew, all my brews have gone pretty smoothly, despite my interest in making Frankenstein beverages. With this in mind, the upgrades I'm looking at are most luxurious than improvements and possibly proactive when it comes to temperature control.

 

[Dexter101]

always nice looking at fun bits of kit rather than necessity. If it were me I would see how the winter pans out, a cheap duvet or sleeping bag might be cheaper rather than needing a headpad and having to pay for electric.

not that I am a cheapskate but I sometimes like to use what I have, so that I can spend money on bits of kit I want.

I have never had problems with plastic fermenting buckets but do like having things like bottling wand.

 

[user 23602]

always nice looking at fun bits of kit rather than necessity. If it were me I would see how the winter pans out, a cheap duvet or sleeping bag might be cheaper rather than needing a headpad and having to pay for electric.

not that I am a cheapskate but I sometimes like to use what I have, so that I can spend money on bits of kit I want.

I have never had problems with plastic fermenting buckets but do like having things like bottling wand.

Well luckily, I get a bonus at the end of this month and I've got £200 out of that to blow on HB kit as promised by SWMBO. But I am seriously tempted by the Fermzilla and a heat belt as I'm sure a heat pad wouldn't work lol. Everything else beer wise is included in the monthly budgets

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi Grizzly

I like my process at the moment for brewing, I just want to 'up' the equipment.

... I think one of the things I haven't seen mentioned in the discussions here, are how changes in equipment will (almost) always change your process too ... so when considering whether or not to change/add equipment you should probably consider whether those changes will be "better", for you.

As a case in point, you seem to be quite keen on the Fermzilla fermenter (please note: I'm not trying to discourage you here, just wanting to be sure you spend your cash "with your eyes wide open" ) ... the main "positives" for conical fermenters are around having the ability to separate the yeast cake (cone) from the beer. This gives you the ability to split your ferment across (effectively) primary and secondary FVs, without having to actually move your fermenting beer (you remove the yeast from under it instead). It also assists in collecting and re-using yeast ... now my question is "does your process (the one you're happy with) involve transferring from primary to secondary and/or collecting yeast trub?", because if it doesn't you need to decide whether you value those abilities (i.e. whether you will want to incorporate those steps in your process, in future ) ... the "negatives" around conicals is that they're a PITA shape and overall size, to store, transport, clean and manage temperatures of (bear in mind, without some form of controller/thermostat, heating (constantly, with a heat belt) can be as problematical as leaving at ambient temps) ... you need to weigh up the pros and cons (for you) and the effects that this new acquisition will have on your process, and decide from there

Cheers, PhilB

 

[user 23602]

Hi Grizzly

... I think one of the things I haven't seen mentioned in the discussions here, are how changes in equipment will (almost) always change your process too ... so when considering whether or not to change/add equipment you should probably consider whether those changes will be "better", for you.

As a case in point, you seem to be quite keen on the Fermzilla fermenter (please note: I'm not trying to discourage you here, just wanting to be sure you spend your cash "with your eyes wide open" ) ... the main "positives" for conical fermenters are around having the ability to separate the yeast cake (cone) from the beer. This gives you the ability to split your ferment across (effectively) primary and secondary FVs, without having to actually move your fermenting beer (you remove the yeast from under it instead). It also assists in collecting and re-using yeast ... now my question is "does your process (the one you're happy with) involve transferring from primary to secondary and/or collecting yeast trub?", because if it doesn't you need to decide whether you value those abilities (i.e. whether you will want to incorporate those steps in your process, in future ) ... the "negatives" around conicals is that they're a PITA shape and overall size, to store, transport, clean and manage temperatures of (bear in mind, without some form of controller/thermostat, heating (constantly, with a heat belt) can be as problematical as leaving at ambient temps) ... you need to weigh up the pros and cons (for you) and the effects that this new acquisition will have on your process, and decide from there

Cheers, PhilB

Thanks for the response. What you've said makes total sense. I always transfer from FV to FV for primary and secondary. But I get what you mean about processes and having to adapt to the equipment. But my main reason is simply space, why have my 2 FV buckets, when I can have the conical? Plus it looks cool and I'd love to witness the fermentation.

 

[PhilBrew]

Sounds to me like you're quite determined not to be "talked down off that shelf" ... I'm sure you and your Fermzilla will be very happy together

Cheers, PhilB

 

[Clint]

What you are looking for is confirmation that you really need to buy the nice new stuff....
Yes,you need it!
Now stop mucking about and order it.

 

[chrisb8]

Hi Grizzly

... I think one of the things I haven't seen mentioned in the discussions here, are how changes in equipment will (almost) always change your process too ... so when considering whether or not to change/add equipment you should probably consider whether those changes will be "better", for you.

As a case in point, you seem to be quite keen on the Fermzilla fermenter (please note: I'm not trying to discourage you here, just wanting to be sure you spend your cash "with your eyes wide open" ) ... the main "positives" for conical fermenters are around having the ability to separate the yeast cake (cone) from the beer. This gives you the ability to split your ferment across (effectively) primary and secondary FVs, without having to actually move your fermenting beer (you remove the yeast from under it instead). It also assists in collecting and re-using yeast ... now my question is "does your process (the one you're happy with) involve transferring from primary to secondary and/or collecting yeast trub?", because if it doesn't you need to decide whether you value those abilities (i.e. whether you will want to incorporate those steps in your process, in future ) ... the "negatives" around conicals is that they're a PITA shape and overall size, to store, transport, clean and manage temperatures of (bear in mind, without some form of controller/thermostat, heating (constantly, with a heat belt) can be as problematical as leaving at ambient temps) ... you need to weigh up the pros and cons (for you) and the effects that this new acquisition will have on your process, and decide from there

Cheers, PhilB

As a note to follow up from this, my partner kindly bought me a conical fermenter for my birthday earlier this year based on seeing it in the homebrew shop window and thinking I would like it. The point is that it was such an awkward shape and size and the stand took up so much room that there was no way it would fit in my fermentation fridge. The upside was that on taking it back I ended up with a nice credit note

 

[user 23602]

Sounds to me like you're quite determined not to be "talked down off that shelf" ... I'm sure you and your Fermzilla will be very happy together

Cheers, PhilB

What you are looking for is confirmation that you really need to buy the nice new stuff....
Yes,you need it!
Now stop mucking about and order it.

You're both right. I'm ashamed. Maybe I'm confused because SWMBO has given me a pass to buy stuff

 

[Clint]

Yes you're right...use the "permission" to seriously upgrade..then you'll get only half of a justified bollocking..