All Grain Brewing Equipment

[kman]

Hi All

So, I tried a couple of kits then moved onto extract and have now well and truly caught the brewing bug. Time to try my hand at all grain.....

Still a newby and am trying to expand my knowledge so feel free to make suggestions, but as I see it the following is the additional kit I need (primarily interested in brewing Ales, but may do the odd Pilsner/larger/stout in the future). Am trying to source second hand to keep down cost (based in Galway but willing to travel)-

1. Heavy duty Stainless Boiler/kettle  - 30L (min capacity), electric or stock pot with gas burner (inbuilt tap & thermometer desirable but not essential).
2. Stainless Immersion Wort Chiller (may consider plate chiller if price was right) - suitable for chilling up to 27l in a reasonable time (<30mins)
3. Digital Thermometer with probe
4. Insulated Mash tun - will probably start with BIAB but if someone is selling a complete setup would definitely be interested
5. Grain Mill - will probably initially get my local homebrew store to do, but again if someone is selling a complete setup.......

Cheers

K

[darren996]

Hi Kman

I would go for a 50 l stockpot and throw a couple of haden or peco elements in there. I wouldnt get hung up on inbuilt taps etc, the weldless options all work well. Get a bazooka screen as well.
2. Copper is better at cooling than stainless. Immersion chillers work really well and are easy to clean an steralise. Plate chillers can be used to chill straight to fermenter and can save you time.
3. Yes, digital thermos offer fast temp readings.
4. Start with biab, less equipment, shorter brew day, same result. Build to 3 vessel if thats what your preference is.
5. Get your brew shop to crush. Order as close to brewday as possible and buy a mill down the line.

[kman]

Thanks for the pointers Darren. Good to know I'm on the right lines....

Had initially thought about making my own immersion chiller by bending a length of copper pipe, however had been advised that stainless was better as copper tended to tarnish when not in use (and was a bugger to clean). Any thoughts?

Cheers

Keith

[Pheeel]

Copper is fine. It can tarnish but I've never had any issues after using mine for 2+ years. You give it a wipe and it'll be fine

Start with BIAB and get your HBS to crush the grains

[Leann ull]

Copper has the best heat transfer properties.
Avoid the temptation to starsan before and after use a blast of cold water is all you need

[darren996]

+1 on what the lads have said.
Here is my next project may be of interest and cheap to build


https://byo.com/mead/item/2849-double-pipe-wort-chiller-projects

[Leann ull]

Trombone chillers are efficient but have a massive floor footprint by say comparison to a double coil or counter flow.
Would love to see the finished article.
Damo on here sells silicone tubing.

[darren996]

Hopefully will have this in the next couple of months, just getting parts at the mo.  I will thow the build up in the equipment section

[Leann ull]

Cool

[darren996]

Thanks for the pointers Darren. Good to know I'm on the right lines....

Had initially thought about making my own immersion chiller by bending a length of copper pipe, however had been advised that stainless was better as copper tended to tarnish when not in use (and was a bugger to clean). Any thoughts?

Cheers

Keith

Making you own gear is one of the things I love about brewing. If you are thinking of diy for your chiller there are plenty of tuts on youtube.

Heres one that caught my eye
https://youtu.be/S94Lhp-bv8M.

[kman]

Lol, That's the one I'd planned to make Darren.

[DEMPSEY]

Note to youtube pipe bender person,when you start to bend the pipe why not leave the first 400mm straight in the first place. This way you will not need to straighten it and will have no kinks in it to then cause you to kink it later. Just saying like