New Brewer

[Quill82]

Afternoon all!!

As a fresh off the boat Pom now living near Melbourne, I'm looking to start home brewing.

Back in the UK my partner and I were typically brewing Pale Ales and Bitters using an electric 3 vessel system (approx. 25L wort scale). I'm looking into getting a similar setup now I've got the luxury of a decent sized garage with easy access to plumbed water (instead of brewing in a small kitchen as per previously).
Looking online and having been to a store in Melbourne, it seems electric brewing on the scale I'm looking at isn't all that popular and it's mainly kits. Does anyone have any advice or know any decent national stores (online or otherwise) that sell electric HLT's, electric boilers, mash tun (probably looking at a cool-box for this which do seem to be popular) etc.?
With the adds available space, I'm contemplating scaling upto 50-70L batches. Or is gas the preferred way to go? I've always preferred electric over the control thermostats, timers etc. give you so not really considered gas previously but I am open to interest.
Cheers!
Ben

 

[Yob]

Where abouts in Melbourne?

Its far cheaper to build a system, get a cheapo pot and head into BIAB to get started quickly.

If you're out East, I've loads of tools that can be utilised to fit taps to the pot etc.

Ive got a 3V setup, electric HLT and gas fired kettle.. cheap but is quite efficient. took a while to build, but if you do it right, get the pot, get started with BIAB and then add the pot into the bigger 3V system as you build it.

welcome aboard. plenty of good clubs about too if you are interested in that sort of thing.

2 pennys worth advice

Cheers

ed for LINKY (saw this the other day here which may be of interest to you, you may need to PM him to get further info or post in the topic)

 

[Blind Dog]

Lots of options around from plug and brew 1V solutions to build your own mega systems. I know CheekyPeak had some pre built systems recently, also has grain father and others.

As a fellow pom,welcome

 

[Quill82]

Cheers guys, I'm based In Chelsea.
Read a little on this BIAB setup but not really all that familiar with it yet. I do like the idea of building a system from scratch though.
I wasn't involved in any clubs back in the UK but would consider it as it's always good to meet new people. Still finding out way in this vast country.

 

[Yob]

Bayside Brewers would be closest to you then, not a completely bad bunch of characters, not sure where they meet now, chuck a post in their club thread in the clubs section on here or have a look at their website.

You may even get a kick start on good, cheap equipment that way.

Cheers