Facticity
Member
I've been brewing extract for a couple years and since I am getting married in June, I think it's a great opportunity to finally buy my AG equipment and affordably provide an open bar for our guests.
After a lot of searching online I've found Ontario Beer Kegs consistently has the lowest prices in Canada, even considering shipping, surprising since I'm on the opposite side of country. So everything listed is from their website. If you know of a better/cheaper Canadian supplier let me know.
The basic plan is 5 gal full boil batches, outdoors with propane, mashing in a square cooler with a brew bag for filtration and simple batch sparge if required. Gravity transfer, using a homebuilt wooden cart.
[Kettle,](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Gra...ess_Steel_Pot_p/10gal-mashking-adv-kettle.htm) which will need holes drilled for a [weldless ball valve](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...or_Brew_Pot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-spigot-kit.htm) and possibly a [thermometer](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...ermometer_2_Probe_p/weldless-therm-2-inch.htm) although I have read that they're not that useful on a kettle. I use the whirlpool method to clear trub, and am thinking a [simple dip tube](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Every_Drop_1_2_Dip_Tube_p/every-drop-1-2-dip-tube.htm) rather than a screen or dam.
[The BC SQ14](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Bayou_Classic_SQ14_Burner_p/sq14.htm) apparently only comes with a 5psi regulator. Is this sufficient? I've read it isn't, so I'll get a [10psi upgrade](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Bayou_Classic_10_PSI_Regulator_Hose_p/bayou-10-psi-reg-hose.htm) if need be.
Mash tun is a [48qt Coleman chest cooler,](https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/coleman-48-qt-hinged-lid-cooler/6000016951731) I've read that the chest style is more flexible than the tall cylindrical style because it grants more room for larger beers. Question here; does the ball valve assembly need anything unique to fit a cooler? What is the difference between the ["Cooler Kit"](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta..._Kit_Spigot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-cooler-kit.htm) and the [other 3-piece assembly](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...or_Brew_Pot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-spigot-kit.htm) that I have chosen for my kettle? For the bag I've chosen the [Mashed In cooler bag](https://www.mashedin.beer/products/custom-cooler-biab?variant=1145233649) which is a poly voile comperable to the Brew Bag but made in Canada with free shipping for me.
I want to buy bulk grain so a mill is needed, and $100+ seemed steep so I'm considering [this victoria grain mill.](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Victoria_Grain_Mill_p/victoria-grain-mill.htm) I'm sure its slow, but if there's any other reason I shouldn't throw my money away on this let me know.
OBK has a [25' 3/8" copper immersion chiller kit](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/DIY_Immersion_Chiller_Kit_25ft_p/diy-immersion-chiller-25-kit.htm) for a good price. From what I've read I shouldn't really need a 50' chiller for 5 gal brews, but I am planning to use 1/2" hoses and fittings in my brewery and im wondering if this kit can be made compatible, or if I'm better off visiting the hardware store and doing it myself.
I am going to find a Thermapen somewhere for my thermometer. I am planning to pay attention to my water profile and make adjustments as necessary, but do I really need to drop $60 on a [pH meter](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Hanna_Instruments_Checker_pH_Meter_p/ph-meter-checker.htm) or can I use strips to get equal results?
I am also planning a chest freezer based fermentation chamber for lagers, but that's for later. And most everything else I already have from my extract brewing days.
So, any advice from the community? Anything you'd add to the list?
After a lot of searching online I've found Ontario Beer Kegs consistently has the lowest prices in Canada, even considering shipping, surprising since I'm on the opposite side of country. So everything listed is from their website. If you know of a better/cheaper Canadian supplier let me know.
The basic plan is 5 gal full boil batches, outdoors with propane, mashing in a square cooler with a brew bag for filtration and simple batch sparge if required. Gravity transfer, using a homebuilt wooden cart.
[Kettle,](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Gra...ess_Steel_Pot_p/10gal-mashking-adv-kettle.htm) which will need holes drilled for a [weldless ball valve](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...or_Brew_Pot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-spigot-kit.htm) and possibly a [thermometer](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...ermometer_2_Probe_p/weldless-therm-2-inch.htm) although I have read that they're not that useful on a kettle. I use the whirlpool method to clear trub, and am thinking a [simple dip tube](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Every_Drop_1_2_Dip_Tube_p/every-drop-1-2-dip-tube.htm) rather than a screen or dam.
[The BC SQ14](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Bayou_Classic_SQ14_Burner_p/sq14.htm) apparently only comes with a 5psi regulator. Is this sufficient? I've read it isn't, so I'll get a [10psi upgrade](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Bayou_Classic_10_PSI_Regulator_Hose_p/bayou-10-psi-reg-hose.htm) if need be.
Mash tun is a [48qt Coleman chest cooler,](https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/coleman-48-qt-hinged-lid-cooler/6000016951731) I've read that the chest style is more flexible than the tall cylindrical style because it grants more room for larger beers. Question here; does the ball valve assembly need anything unique to fit a cooler? What is the difference between the ["Cooler Kit"](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta..._Kit_Spigot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-cooler-kit.htm) and the [other 3-piece assembly](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Sta...or_Brew_Pot_p/3-pc-ss-weldless-spigot-kit.htm) that I have chosen for my kettle? For the bag I've chosen the [Mashed In cooler bag](https://www.mashedin.beer/products/custom-cooler-biab?variant=1145233649) which is a poly voile comperable to the Brew Bag but made in Canada with free shipping for me.
I want to buy bulk grain so a mill is needed, and $100+ seemed steep so I'm considering [this victoria grain mill.](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Victoria_Grain_Mill_p/victoria-grain-mill.htm) I'm sure its slow, but if there's any other reason I shouldn't throw my money away on this let me know.
OBK has a [25' 3/8" copper immersion chiller kit](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/DIY_Immersion_Chiller_Kit_25ft_p/diy-immersion-chiller-25-kit.htm) for a good price. From what I've read I shouldn't really need a 50' chiller for 5 gal brews, but I am planning to use 1/2" hoses and fittings in my brewery and im wondering if this kit can be made compatible, or if I'm better off visiting the hardware store and doing it myself.
I am going to find a Thermapen somewhere for my thermometer. I am planning to pay attention to my water profile and make adjustments as necessary, but do I really need to drop $60 on a [pH meter](https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Hanna_Instruments_Checker_pH_Meter_p/ph-meter-checker.htm) or can I use strips to get equal results?
I am also planning a chest freezer based fermentation chamber for lagers, but that's for later. And most everything else I already have from my extract brewing days.
So, any advice from the community? Anything you'd add to the list?