Advice Needed: Equipment to get for AG

[molc]

The dreaded question - what equipment should I get.

Criteria:
* I brew both normal and high gravity beers, normally 20L batches. I will brew anything from a light beer upto a barley wine, so need to be able to have the capacity for upto say 1100 OG.
* Electric
* Future proof - I on't want to buy AG kit once, so I'll spend more now if I think it's not going to be replaced.

Options I've considered so far are Braumeister, BIAB, Cooler or 3 vessal setup, but a little unsure which way to go. I love the design of the Braumeister, but I'm not sure if I want to have to split the grain bull for the big beers. Also, it's bloody expensive!

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Cut your teeth on AG using BIAB. It's one vessel and cheaper. Save up for your other 2 vessels while using that.
Biab is less complicated than using three vessels and is a good starting point to go from.

[molc]

So that means you are coming down on the side of a 3 vessal setup finally. Why, over lets say a large brewpot (45L) with two elements for a big BIAB rig?

[winstonia]

Something like this, raging I missed one going for 70 on here.

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/heavy-duty-brew-hot-liquor-tank-36-litre-2-port-p-2279.html

You would have to rack your mash into a FV then clean up and back into the kettle.

I would prefer a false bottom over a bazooka screen.

Or is there anyone who converts standard brew kettles?

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

I have a 50ltr converted keg, with 2 kettle elements, a stainless steel bazooka leading into a ball valve and also a sight glass with a thermometer fitted.

[molc]

Something like this, raging I missed one going for 70 on here.

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/heavy-duty-brew-hot-liquor-tank-36-litre-2-port-p-2279.html

You would have to rack your mash into a FV then clean up and back into the kettle.

I would prefer a false bottom over a bazooka screen.

Or is there anyone who converts standard brew kettles?

Yeah, but it's only 36 Litres. For a no sparge BIAB to make 20 litres @ 1100 OG I think you're looking at more like 40-42.

I'd love to get a Blichmann (10G) but christ they're expensive to source here.

[winstonia]

Its a mashtun so you don't need to do BIAB

[Bubbles]

I'd highly recommend the picnic cooler mash tuns that the HBC make. They're an excellent bit of kit, made using a high-quality Coleman picnic cooler. The lids on these things are uninsulated so I just pop a blanket on top for the duration of the mash. Never loses a degree over a 60 min mash.

I currently boil in the old classic plastic bucket/electric elements, but I'm considering moving to stainless steel brew pot next year, maybe even going gas.

[MisterBurns]

So that means you are coming down on the side of a 3 vessal setup finally. Why, over lets say a large brewpot (45L) with two elements for a big BIAB rig?

Slightly off topic of BIAB vs 3V systemss but if you are doing a 1100 OG BIAB and it calls for 40-42 litres don't forget that you need room in the pot for all the grain that goes in too so a 45L brewpot isn't going to cut it. I have a 50L Stock Pot from THBC that I use for BIAB and there isn't much room left on the bigger beers.

[molc]

Yeah, I think I'll try BIAB for a ~1060 beer first with the existing equipment and then decide which direction to go.

For what I need, it looks like a decent sized mash tun is the way to do, with a batch sparge and just stick with the combined BK and HLT. I'm just having a hard time seeing how that is better/worse than 3 vessal or if there's another possability I'm  missing.

As much as I love the simplicity of a braumeister, I'd kill me if I couldn't make the odd big beer on it. I guess I could just make a smaller batch... *shudder*

[Qs]

When you get a mash tun get bigger than you think you need, especially if you want to do high OG beers. I recommend a cooler mashtun if you are going to batch sparge. Get a good big one and be done with it.

[molc]

I was thinking of this one:
http://www.geterbrewed.com/delux-insulated-mash-tun-45-litre.html

[Qs]

That looks pretty good and a decent price too.

[delzep]

That looks pretty good and a decent price too.

its in sterling don't forget

[Qs]

I did forget that. Well I'd say price all the bits for a home made one and compare.