Move To Kegs Or Herms

[jbirbeck]

I'd say...KEGS.

But it depends on where you are when you drink. A while ago I did most of my drinking out of the house so bottles were the best because I could take them anywhere and enjoy. It was normally to family events. Now I do most of my drinking at home so kegs is the better option...and I take a full cornie to my family events where 5 of us will knock them off - more brewing

So KEG up.

Mind you...you could probably do kegs on the cheap with a party keg set up and do HERMS as well

 

[Offline]

You can always brew a bit extra for bottling.

Remember the corny kegs are 5 gal (aprox 19L) and most people tend to brew 6 gal (23L), initially anyway.

Easy enough to adjust your final volume to your desired amount.

 

[Gout]

Kegs for sure.... then more kegs .... finally HERMS

I keg and sometimes bottle 4 bottles to keep long term to sample when the kegs are empty. and its almost as much work to clean and bottle 4 beers as it is to clean and fill 2 kegs!

Plus with kegs you dont have all the empty bottles laying about / needing a clean / storage issues etc

 

[Jazzafish]

I currently have a basic gravity three tier system ( Urn for HLT, Eski for mash and boiler pot) I have been making all grain for about 18 months and currently bottle condition. I seem to have the mash sorted out usually get around 75% eff into the boiler, I temperature control the fermentation and make around 1.5lt starters using a stire plate (compliments of Phillips bulk buy)

My question is what will give me the next step improvement in my brewing or more to the point the beer I drink and why.

Spend the money on a kegging set up or purchase a pump and move to some sort of HERMS system

Cheers and thank in advance for any comments/advice

Wobbly

Go Kegs for sure!

Why?

It will save you alot of time and effort with cleaning etc... It may marginally improve your beer in the sense that lagers are generally evolved to be served on tap. You can also keep bottles for those ales that really benifit from bottle conditioning. Down the line you can also invest in filters if you want bright lagers faster and counter pressure bottle fillers if you want to bottle a few for comps/parties/friends. Once you do it you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!

Yes, a herms system will give you more control in your brewing. Step mashes are much easier if you want to do them and the wort clarity speaks for itself... but the catch is you also get more potential for things to go wrong. Until you think your current system is holding you back, leave it alone. Your post suggests that you have the basics under control and are happy with your beer.

The only way to truely improve your beer -when you have the process under control- is to use the best quality ingredients and keep precise notes of every stage. Then tweak your recipes as you see fit and compare results. Your beers will evolve.

 

[katzke]

I currently have a basic gravity three tier system ( Urn for HLT, Eski for mash and boiler pot) I have been making all grain for about 18 months and currently bottle condition. I seem to have the mash sorted out usually get around 75% eff into the boiler, I temperature control the fermentation and make around 1.5lt starters using a stire plate (compliments of Phillips bulk buy)

My question is what will give me the next step improvement in my brewing or more to the point the beer I drink and why.

Spend the money on a kegging set up or purchase a pump and move to some sort of HERMS system

Cheers and thank in advance for any comments/advice

Wobbly

Well I guess you already have a grain grinder so do what will make you happier. Lots of great beer has been brewed on a stove with a stockpot so I do not see any advantage to upgrading your brew setup unless it makes you happy. Same with bottles over kegs.

 

[sav]

Kegs for sure cause when you build ya HERMS you will be going double or triple batches and you dont want to be bottling that amount of necter.
SAV

 

[bonj]

KEGS

 

[InCider]

Are you guys out of your minds? HERMS all the way!
Are you guys out of your minds? HERMS all the way!
Are you guys out of your minds? HERMS all the way!
Are you guys out of your minds? HERMS all the way!
Are you guys out of your minds? HERMS all the way!

 

[Tony]

:huh:

BOTH!

 

[chappo1970]

:huh:

BOTH!

+1 HTFU

You'll do it anyway eventually

 

[komodo]

Kegs.
Seriously if you already happy with your beers and your making good beers that you like kegs will make your brewing so much easier.
Plus once you have kegs setup you'll have more time to **** around with getting your herms system right cause you wont be spending so much time cleaning and sanitising your bottles