Equipment Upgrade Options

[blackhammer]

I have a current budget of $200.00 for brewing upgrades. I brew BIAB in a keggle and a Bayou Classic SQ 14. I also have a second bare bones keggle and an 8 gallon aluminum kettle.

I plan to move to 3 vessels in the future, but BIAB meets my current needs.
Which sounds like the best plan?

1.) Trick out the keggle (sight glass, thermometer and valve/diptube) and continue BIAB (waiting to upgrade the second keggle to a HLT in the future)

2.) Make a 10 gallon cooler mash tun, boil in the keggle and sparge with the 8 gallon kettle (waiting to upgrade the second keggle to a HLT in the future)

Thanks for the input

 

[LandoLincoln]

The first one. You might find that your BIAB setup will continue to perform just fine. If you want to move on to a 3-vessel system those upgrades won't go to waste.

 

[blackhammer]

Thanks LandoLincoln, that sounds like a plan

 

[madscientist451]

Its hard to say with the information provided. Having any issues/hassles with maintaining your mash temps? If so, I'd go with the
cooler and either BIAB in that or do mashes with or without a bag.
Do you really need a sightglass? Nice to have, but it is one more thing to clean. Do you really need a built in thermometer? Putting a valve on the keggle would be a worthwhile upgrade.

 

[Mirilis]

Do you have fermentation temp control? If not I'd get that before I got anything else.. People get excited about wort production for blingy things but ppl make wort.. Yeast make beer. I'd make sure they did it well.. Just my $0.02

 

[Zeppman]

To what Mirilis said, I completely agree. If you have only $200 and don't have fermentation temp control or an oxygen aeration setup, get that. These two items cost far less then my fancy single tier 3 vessel electric system, and made a much bigger improvement then the fancy "wort making" equipment.

 

[TungstenBeer]

Do you have fermentation temp control? If not I'd get that before I got anything else.. People get excited about wort production for blingy things but ppl make wort.. Yeast make beer. I'd make sure they did it well.. Just my $0.02

Fully agree. Whenever I have unplanned money I can spend on brewing, I ALWAYS look at cold-side first.

 

[blackhammer]

I currently use a swamp cooler and brew only ales. I have good success so far. I DO want to get a chest freezer and temperature controller in the future, but for $200.00 I don't think that is a reality. I want a new freezer (around $200.00) and the temp controller is around $100.00. Maybe I should just save the $200.00 until I can gain another $100.00.:fro:

 

[Zeppman]

STC-1000 temp controller is around $20 and you can score a chest freezer on craigslist, probably for under $100.

The aeration wand and regulator is also around $50.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I currently use a swamp cooler and brew only ales. I have good success so far. I DO want to get a chest freezer and temperature controller in the future, but for $200.00 I don't think that is a reality. I want a new freezer (around $200.00) and the temp controller is around $100.00. Maybe I should just save the $200.00 until I can gain another $100.00.:fro:

You can make a temp controller for about $50 and can get a chest freezer off of Craigslist for $50-$100.

But if you're squeamish about building stuff yourself and/or don't like buying used equipment, then save up the money. I think you'll be very happy to leave swamp coolers in the past.

 

[kh54s10]

I currently use a swamp cooler and brew only ales. I have good success so far. I DO want to get a chest freezer and temperature controller in the future, but for $200.00 I don't think that is a reality. I want a new freezer (around $200.00) and the temp controller is around $100.00. Maybe I should just save the $200.00 until I can gain another $100.00.:fro:

I did the swamp cooler route for a while. It was erratic at best. It worked pretty well but was a PITA to keep the temperature steady and low enough.

I made a chamber out of 2x4's (culls at Home Depot), plywood that I already had, insulation foam, hinges, a hasp, minifridge and a Johnson A419 temperature controller. I don't think I spent too much more than $200. One of my best brewing investments.

http://www.blackboxbrew.com/