Hey everyone,
This is my first post on here, as a matter of fact, any forum on the net, so if there is any etiquette I should know about, or I'm posting in the wrong place, let me know.
My missus just recently bought me the best birthday present ever, the new Coopers DIY Beer Kit. After tasting my first pale, after another couple of brews, I decided I need two brews on the go. This thread is basically a home brew kit that I peiced together tonight (after looking at a Tooheys Kit), that is essentially exactly the same as what you would buy in a Coopers (not the new style DIY beer kit) or Tooheys kit, except cheaper.
Please note, I am a new brewer, and that this is for the new brewers who may want another BASIC kit.
I will split this into items that, IMO, you need and items that, again IMO, are optional but will make things easier.
ITEMS YOU NEED:
FERMENTER
TAP
HYDROMETER
BIG SPOON
STICK ON THERMOMETER
BLEACH
OPTIONAL:
AIRLOCK
BOTTLING VALVE
Now a run down down on price, and where to find, each of these items. I will be posting images in the next post under this.
FERMENTER: $19.95 - I'll skip my story on how I found it and just say Aussie Disposals. I don't know if they are only in SA, but they are an outdoor/camping/old army stuff type of store. They have the EXACT containers that Tooheys, Coopers and several brew shops sell. 30lt, round, black screw on lid, with seal. Remove the installed tap, and if you look on the black screw on lid, you can even see where to drill if you want to use an airlock.
TAP: $4.95 - Found this in a Big W, Brigalow Brew Extractor. Now as I mentioned above, a bottling valve is optional, however I got this as a bargain. It comes as a tap, and bottling valve. I'm sure you can find a tap by itself, but at $4.95 for both you'll be hard pressed to find a better bargain.
HYDROMETER: $9.95 - Big W again, Brigalow again. One thing that I discovered with the Coopers DIY kit is it comes with a plastic hydrometer. I left it sitting in a brew sample one night, and I can't explain it, but it's stuffed, drops right to the bottom, even in water. I'm guessing the water seeped into it somewhere. The Brigalow is glass, and is accurate from what I can tell. 'Nuff Said.
BIG SPOON: $2.00 - Any 'cheapos' store. It's just a big, nylon, mixing spoon.
STICK ON THERMOMETER: $6.95 - While obtaining gear from Big W, I thought I might grab a Brigalow thermometer, however I remebered where they sold aquariums they had the exact same thermometers, however advertised for fish tanks. They have the same temp. range and everything, however they were about $2.00 cheaper. Any savings is better than a slap in the face.
BLEACH: $3.00 - Any supermarket, just use unscented bleach to sterilize all the stuff that comes into contact with your brew.
Now for the two others, one may help in the brewing process, and the other is what is highly recommended to avoid contamination.
AIRLOCK: $3.95 - Yet again, Big W and Brigalow. I'm sure there is cheaper out there, as these are fairly simple devices. From what I have been told, these devices are not required, however it is an easy way to tell if your brew is fermenting. That being said, I've heard they can be deceving if your vessel isn't sealed 100%, not that it's a problem, it's just that's not the only way to tell if it's brewing away. Another easy way, and it seems the new Coopers kit takes advantage of this theory, is cling wrap sealed over the fermenter, with a pin prick. This way you can visually tell if your brew is fermenting (froth, tiny little bubbles rising, the brew clearing etc.), and also you generally need a hydrometer, so your reading from this will tell you if it's fermenting. However, that being said, it's only $3.95 so it's not a big out of pocket expense if you choose to go with it.
BOTTLING VALVE: $??? - Like I said, it came with the tap, so I honestly can't tell you how much they are by themselves, or if they are even available by themselves (they probably are at brewshops, but I just haven't looked there for them). Now the next remark I make will probably get me electronically castrated, but they are not required....however you run a good risk of infected beer if you don't use one. Also, they make bottling day so much easier, they are invaluable. The only reason I can see not to have one is if you can't find one.
The total if you buy absolutlely everything (if you have an existing kit, you will obviously save a lot)
THE ESSENTIALS: $46.80
THE 'OPTIONALS': $50.75 (plus the cost of bottling valve)
PLEASE NOTE:
I know this does not come with bottles, caps etc, and from what I have seen the only kit that does is Coopers.
I am a new brewer, I am not assuming I know everything about homebrew, but this is just what I have learnt so far, and is mainly me sharing my more economical experience buying a kit
These are prices in SA, and I'm sure prices vary from state to state, but I'm guessing it will be for, rather than against your financial benfit in other states.
If I am incorrect in anything I have said above, please correct me, or even offer a better suggestion. I am new to the scene and open to suggestions.
Thanks everyone for your time to read this, like I said I will have photos of my purchases up very soon, as well as some innovative temp control ideas from my electronics background.
Please share your thoughts on this post
PEECE...
This is my first post on here, as a matter of fact, any forum on the net, so if there is any etiquette I should know about, or I'm posting in the wrong place, let me know.
My missus just recently bought me the best birthday present ever, the new Coopers DIY Beer Kit. After tasting my first pale, after another couple of brews, I decided I need two brews on the go. This thread is basically a home brew kit that I peiced together tonight (after looking at a Tooheys Kit), that is essentially exactly the same as what you would buy in a Coopers (not the new style DIY beer kit) or Tooheys kit, except cheaper.
Please note, I am a new brewer, and that this is for the new brewers who may want another BASIC kit.
I will split this into items that, IMO, you need and items that, again IMO, are optional but will make things easier.
ITEMS YOU NEED:
FERMENTER
TAP
HYDROMETER
BIG SPOON
STICK ON THERMOMETER
BLEACH
OPTIONAL:
AIRLOCK
BOTTLING VALVE
Now a run down down on price, and where to find, each of these items. I will be posting images in the next post under this.
FERMENTER: $19.95 - I'll skip my story on how I found it and just say Aussie Disposals. I don't know if they are only in SA, but they are an outdoor/camping/old army stuff type of store. They have the EXACT containers that Tooheys, Coopers and several brew shops sell. 30lt, round, black screw on lid, with seal. Remove the installed tap, and if you look on the black screw on lid, you can even see where to drill if you want to use an airlock.
TAP: $4.95 - Found this in a Big W, Brigalow Brew Extractor. Now as I mentioned above, a bottling valve is optional, however I got this as a bargain. It comes as a tap, and bottling valve. I'm sure you can find a tap by itself, but at $4.95 for both you'll be hard pressed to find a better bargain.
HYDROMETER: $9.95 - Big W again, Brigalow again. One thing that I discovered with the Coopers DIY kit is it comes with a plastic hydrometer. I left it sitting in a brew sample one night, and I can't explain it, but it's stuffed, drops right to the bottom, even in water. I'm guessing the water seeped into it somewhere. The Brigalow is glass, and is accurate from what I can tell. 'Nuff Said.
BIG SPOON: $2.00 - Any 'cheapos' store. It's just a big, nylon, mixing spoon.
STICK ON THERMOMETER: $6.95 - While obtaining gear from Big W, I thought I might grab a Brigalow thermometer, however I remebered where they sold aquariums they had the exact same thermometers, however advertised for fish tanks. They have the same temp. range and everything, however they were about $2.00 cheaper. Any savings is better than a slap in the face.
BLEACH: $3.00 - Any supermarket, just use unscented bleach to sterilize all the stuff that comes into contact with your brew.
Now for the two others, one may help in the brewing process, and the other is what is highly recommended to avoid contamination.
AIRLOCK: $3.95 - Yet again, Big W and Brigalow. I'm sure there is cheaper out there, as these are fairly simple devices. From what I have been told, these devices are not required, however it is an easy way to tell if your brew is fermenting. That being said, I've heard they can be deceving if your vessel isn't sealed 100%, not that it's a problem, it's just that's not the only way to tell if it's brewing away. Another easy way, and it seems the new Coopers kit takes advantage of this theory, is cling wrap sealed over the fermenter, with a pin prick. This way you can visually tell if your brew is fermenting (froth, tiny little bubbles rising, the brew clearing etc.), and also you generally need a hydrometer, so your reading from this will tell you if it's fermenting. However, that being said, it's only $3.95 so it's not a big out of pocket expense if you choose to go with it.
BOTTLING VALVE: $??? - Like I said, it came with the tap, so I honestly can't tell you how much they are by themselves, or if they are even available by themselves (they probably are at brewshops, but I just haven't looked there for them). Now the next remark I make will probably get me electronically castrated, but they are not required....however you run a good risk of infected beer if you don't use one. Also, they make bottling day so much easier, they are invaluable. The only reason I can see not to have one is if you can't find one.
The total if you buy absolutlely everything (if you have an existing kit, you will obviously save a lot)
THE ESSENTIALS: $46.80
THE 'OPTIONALS': $50.75 (plus the cost of bottling valve)
PLEASE NOTE:
I know this does not come with bottles, caps etc, and from what I have seen the only kit that does is Coopers.
I am a new brewer, I am not assuming I know everything about homebrew, but this is just what I have learnt so far, and is mainly me sharing my more economical experience buying a kit
These are prices in SA, and I'm sure prices vary from state to state, but I'm guessing it will be for, rather than against your financial benfit in other states.
If I am incorrect in anything I have said above, please correct me, or even offer a better suggestion. I am new to the scene and open to suggestions.
Thanks everyone for your time to read this, like I said I will have photos of my purchases up very soon, as well as some innovative temp control ideas from my electronics background.
Please share your thoughts on this post
PEECE...