Ag Setup Or...

[aj0081]

My lovely wife got me a brew on premise gig for my birthday this week. I was actually pretty stoked with the idea.

I am back in home brewing after a time out - and am still floating around doing extracts.

Now I have a look around on the web and it is clear if I want to do a BoP my only option is Bachus - and I agree. Fair call as they are the only AG guys doing it. Lucky me for being in Brisbane. As for the other BoP'ers I assume there would be a difference in quality of beers but probably not much from the beers I am doing now...

Question is, should I use the $$$ (say $300ish) to move toward a basic AG setup?

I would anticipate the basic setup would be the esky / kettle setup or building a single vessel setup. I would expect I would likely have to chip in some $$$ as well, but that would be subject to the budget review committee! So budget conscience is important. I have gas, but like the idea of electric so either does not phase me.

I have read a bit about BIAB. Not sure if it is the way that I want to go though - my current preference is no, but I have not completely closed off the idea.

What are your thoughts?

 

[thylacine]

A Guide to Electric BIAB using an Urn

http://www.biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=80

 

[Wolfy]

For $300 you should be well on your way to a nice BIAB setup.
Further down the track - if you decide you don't want to stay with BIAB, and want to invest more money in your brewery - the BIAB vessel can become your HLT if you want to go 3V.
... so that's where I'd be looking to spend the $'s

 

[1974Alby]

For $300 you should be well on your way to a nice BIAB setup.
Further down the track - if you decide you don't want to stay with BIAB, and want to invest more money in your brewery - the BIAB vessel can become your HLT if you want to go 3V.
... so that's where I'd be looking to spend the s

+1

great advice, I got into BIAB courtesy of the under $30 thread...now have a 50L keggle and a burner but still spent under $100 on AG equipment ....I also have a big tropicool esky lying round and occassionally think of trying my hand at 3v...but BIAB is so simple and makes great beer so havent been bothered to date.

 

[pk.sax]

Heck, for $300 you can setup an OK 3v setup using legal discarded commercial beer dispensing vessels, buy a 3 ring burner or install an element and a sack of malted grain, some hops and yeast and churn out a batch.

 

[ekul]

Go the biab rig.

A&J trading in the valley have some really cheap pots.

For $300 you should be well on your way to a nice BIAB setup.
Further down the track - if you decide you don't want to stay with BIAB, and want to invest more money in your brewery - the BIAB vessel can become your HLT if you want to go 3V.
... so that's where I'd be looking to spend the s

 

[ekul]

Go the biab rig.

A&J trading in the valley have some really cheap pots. Or get an aluminium one from somewhere.

Must've hit the wuote button by mistake?

 

[Maheel]

reckon the BIAB and nochill is a great entry into AG

if you have some of the stuff around the house then you could kick off with very few $$ spent

then I reckon get yourself along to someone / s brew day to see a few options of rigs and then decide where you might head with equipment etc.

 

[Rob S]

Ditto on the BIAB for under $30 thread.

But then you'll need a spare fridge, temp controller, recirculation 3V system, kegs...........lol this "hobby" is fast becoming a force unto itself. I work to live, I live to brew.

 

[aj0081]

Thanks for all the responses - great stuff.

It is hard not to lean towards the BIAB with all that feedback!

I will be keen to check out A+J Trading. I think I would prefer a pot as opposed to an urn. 40 or 50 litre would be the most practical, yes?

What would people suggest as a heat source - electric element or a gas? I guess with electric (say keg king element) that is a mod I would need to do, where as gas is simple as rigging it up. What do other people do?

Ekul - any recollections on price of pots at A+J? Were they aluminium or stainless? Have seen prices at LHBS and others...

Maheel - good tip on the brew day, thanks. I missed the brewers choice one out at Ipswich way, will keep an eye out for others though.

Thanks again
:chug:

 

[JaseH]

Heck, for $300 you can setup an OK 3v setup using legal discarded commercial beer dispensing vessels, buy a 3 ring burner or install an element and a sack of malted grain, some hops and yeast and churn out a batch.

+1

3V is where its at, everything else is a compromise!

 

[aj0081]

Off course you would say that Frothie!!!

Forgot to add, if I go to A+Js in the Valley I can also go to the asian butcher. Mmmm, slow grilled ribs this weekend!

:super:

 

[Rowy]

Craftbrewer sell a pre-drilled 70litre pot for about $140.00. If you get out of BIAB later there is one cracker of a HLT/Kettle.

 

[seemax]

Brew kits and spend $300 on keg setup

Seriously... for $300 you could get a 2nd hand pot or urn (40L min) , fridge + STC1000, BIAB bag, ball valves, silicon house, thermometer, starsan, scales, etc etc

Then save for a mill (~$150) and buy grain in bulk

Did I mention you will never stop spending

 

[ekul]

The 50L was $50-70 from memory and the 80L was $99. They are stainless, but really thin stainless. Suited my brewing for a very long time. People talk about scorching but it never happened to me, and i had a belting 32jet mongolian uner there.

Thanks for all the responses - great stuff.

It is hard not to lean towards the BIAB with all that feedback!

I will be keen to check out A+J Trading. I think I would prefer a pot as opposed to an urn. 40 or 50 litre would be the most practical, yes?

What would people suggest as a heat source - electric element or a gas? I guess with electric (say keg king element) that is a mod I would need to do, where as gas is simple as rigging it up. What do other people do?

Ekul - any recollections on price of pots at A+J? Were they aluminium or stainless? Have seen prices at LHBS and others...

Maheel - good tip on the brew day, thanks. I missed the brewers choice one out at Ipswich way, will keep an eye out for others though.

Thanks again
:chug:

 

[aj0081]

Craftbrewer sell a pre-drilled 70litre pot for about $140.00. If you get out of BIAB later there is one cracker of a HLT/Kettle.

I guess would only be fair given I was thinking of going to their micro brewery... Choices, choices.

The AJ Trading one is a pretty good price, and I am fine to spec that up. I am thinking the extra $40 for the one at CB may be worth it though for the long haul.

As for your wise words seemax, I think I am in plain old trouble. This is the start of something really long and expensive!

 

[Fish13]

my all garin setup cost me $150 i think. maybe more...

2x20L urns and a 1L pot some braid, 3 ss taps, 1 90 SS bend, All i need is 2 brown pumps and a 12v power source and i am almost finished...

you cant see the mash tun in the pic but its a cheap setup. no waiting for it to boil like the stove top.


yes it has boiled over. I went and checked AHB while it was on the boil cycle with the lid on... I wont do that again. all over the floor and bench top a good 1L or so

 

[milob40]

Thanks for all the responses - great stuff.

It is hard not to lean towards the BIAB with all that feedback!

I will be keen to check out A+J Trading. I think I would prefer a pot as opposed to an urn. 40 or 50 litre would be the most practical, yes?

What would people suggest as a heat source - electric element or a gas? I guess with electric (say keg king element) that is a mod I would need to do, where as gas is simple as rigging it up. What do other people do?

Ekul - any recollections on price of pots at A+J? Were they aluminium or stainless? Have seen prices at LHBS and others...

Maheel - good tip on the brew day, thanks. I missed the brewers choice one out at Ipswich way, will keep an eye out for others though.

Thanks again
:chug:

if it helps sway your decision, i have been down the keggle and burner biab road but now use a 40ltr urn with exposed element (way easier to clean).
cheaper than using gas and faster than my old 3 ring burner, the s/s is polished so any gunk just falls off, i usually fill with water and a cap of unscented nappysan and thrown in my biab bag for a soak when i'm finished brewing.
the element is as clean as the day i bought it.

 

[soundawake]

I'm looking at buying an urn as well... since the missus won't give the nod to a braumeister. (women)

What are the pros and cons of exposed element VS a concealed element? (sorry for hijacking the thread, but the info might be useful to the OP)

 

[DarkFaerytale]

gotta agree with the others, BIAB is not my preferred method either but it's how i'm partial mashing at the moment while saving for a braumiester and it works well. almost anything you buy for biab will be re-useable in another system.

good luck

-Phill