Uncle Sam's Parted with 69 dollars. Help me spend it!

[DSorenson]

Hey everyone. I'm back in college (again) and working a part time job. Some of you already know that means I have nothing to work with. I'd like to do another batch today! I've got the following equipment:

10 quart SS Boil Kettle
Wine Thief
Hydrometer
Floating Thermometer
Sanitizing Bucket
30 ounces of Star San
Autosiphon and hose
Bottling bucket
2 Six Gallon better bottle carboys
1 Three Gallon glass (currently being used)
SS brew spoon
and some various airlocks, blow off tubes, and gallon jugs

Note the lack of wort chiller! My bath tub does a pretty good job getting a 2 gallon wort cool in under 30 mins

I could make a 5 gallon batch like I did with my second brew (which should turn out alright!) and top off with 3 gallons of water. I know this isn't desirable, but I'm on a budget and the second batch (although still bottle carbing) tasted good at bottling.

I could also buy another 3 gallon carboy and do another almost-full-volume boil beer.

To the point: I've got just about 70 bucks to work with. What's the next purchase I should make? I desire to do partial mashes (BIAB) in the next couple months and eventually (when the money boat comes in) will move to all grain. What ever money I save I can spend on ingredients for brewing more beer.

Come now, HBT.... let's play SPEND DSORENSON'S MONEY!

 

[freisste]

Do a 1 or 2 gallon AG BIAB. Recipe is obviously your choice.

 

[DSorenson]

Creative solution! Love the idea. I'm tossing that one in the ring.

 

[unionrdr]

Do partial mash BIAB. I also do it partial boil. Then use the rest of the money for ingredients.

 

[freisste]

If you think that's creative, you obviously haven't been on this forum more than about 2 weeks! People here are crazy with amazing ideas. I consider myself the dumb one.... but thanks.

 

[Topher79]

Since you have the (2) 6 gallon better bottles, I would look at getting an 7-10 gallon aluminum pot so you can do full 5 gallon batches. Since you mentioned moving to all grain a 10 gallon pot might be better, as it would accommodate the grain/water required for an all grain batch. If you get a larger pot, your 10 quart pot could be used for mashing grain in a partial mash batch, then you could just strain into your bigger pot, add your water and boil away (until the boat comes in for the all-grain setup).

 

[unionrdr]

I missed the quart part. I use a 5 gallon (20QT) ss kettle myself for anything from AE to Pb/PM BIAB. A 10G would go all the way to AG though.

 

[Topher79]

I don't use bags when I mash, so I bought a cheapo 16 quart stainless pot ($12) that I mash in, and then I use a fine mesh stainless colander to strain/rinse the grain into my 7.5 gallon pot (which came with the purchase of my turkey fryer burner). After taxes I am right at $75 for the setup.

 

[DSorenson]

Well thanks guys! clearly I need to put more thought into this. Your advice is really helping me figure some things out. I'm so impatient to start a new batch, but maybe I'll use that time wisely to get myself set up well for next week.

 

[DSorenson]

Also, thoughts on what should come first? if I upgrade my kettle size, I'm going to want/need a chiller...

 

[woknblues]

If you go BIAB, get a 15 gallon aluminum pot such as from here, ,then save your nickles, cool in a bathtub for 5 gallon batches and then when you have a few more bucks, get a chiller such as this from here.

 

[Topher79]

I have a big plastic tote that I use for cooling the wort, and it doubles as a swamp cooler. Whenever I brew I buy 4-5 bags of ice, and put them in the tote when I am done brewing. I then top off with water and add my brewpot. Then I top my wort off with a gallon of spring water that I place in the freezer when I start brewing so it helps aid in cooling (I usually only do 4 gallon boils for this reason). I generally get the wort cooled in 20-30 min.

When I am done cooling the wort, I place the tote in the spare bathroom tub with some water until the water level reaches 1/3 - 1/2 way up the carboy. In the summer I use 32 oz. ice bottles to regulate fermentation temps, and in the winter I can add hot water from the bathroom faucet to keep temps warm as well.

It might not be the fanciest setup, but it works for me. I am going to consider making an immersion chiller in the next couple of months, but I will continue to use the tote for a swamp cooler setup.

 

[h4mmy86]

I'd recommend taking $20 of it and getting a cheap refractometer from Amazon or Ebay.

 

[DSorenson]

What would a refractometer do for me? ;;

 

[h4mmy86]

What would a refractometer do for me? ;;

I like getting gravity readings from only a couple drops of liquid. I can check readings every step of the way and quickly. No cooling samples or dumping tubes of precious homebrew down the drain (What you don't taste of course). Just put a splash on there, and read it.

I guess they're just not for everyone tho...

 

[jCOSbrew]

If you are fine w/ 2 gallon batches or like to brew more frequently then spend the money on a couple recipe kits. You can split the 5 gallon kits to make 2x 2.5 gallon batches. Drink that hard earned/refunded moneyQ

 

[brokebucket]

If you are brewing on your stovetop, I would be careful moving to a bigger pot as it can really take a long LONG time to get 5+ gallons to brew with a stove.

If you are using propane, then you are all good.


Also, if you are using 4-5 bags of ice per brew session, you are spending $10 per brew day on ice. You can build a wort chiller for less than $40. You will save loads in the long run by making a chiller.

 

[DSorenson]

I also have to consider kitchen space... huh...

It does seem like a SS 20 quart would allow me to brew 2.5 gallon all grain as well as almost complete boils for 5 gallon extract. Used in conjunction with my current pot it would allow for 5 gallon partial mash almost full volume boils.

That and a wort chiller.

Anyone have any thoughts on BIAB versus a converted 2.5 gallon cooler mash/lauter tun? Or is the 5 gallon just a better idea and worth the money?

 

[Thegreatestgray]

If I were you I would get a turkey fryer ( I have seen them range anywhere from 40 to 60) then with the extra money get the parts to build a IC

 

[freisste]

Anyone have any thoughts on BIAB versus a converted 2.5 gallon cooler mash/lauter tun? Or is the 5 gallon just a better idea and worth the money?

Between BIAB and a 2.5 gal MLT, I would go BIAB for sure. Almost no cost. You just need a pot which you will undoubtedly use in the future. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but a 2.5 gal MLT isn't going to mash much. You'd have an easier time BIAB. But I could be wrong. If the option was between a 10 gal MLT and BIAB, I'd go MLT and big pot with turkey fryer. But then you are looking at some more cash.