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RETIRED: briang's OFFICIAL BYO (brew your own) thread! let's talk beer!

22,811 2,637 December 17, 2008 at 09:18 AM
March 28, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread content has been automatically archived from another thread which reached post limit, and will be preserved for reference and archival purposes. The discussion should continue in the original thread

everyone else has theirs.... i want mine.
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Joined Aug 2003
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Original Poster
briang
03-24-2009 at 04:04 AM.
03-24-2009 at 04:04 AM.
If I was still brewing with extracts, I'd brew probably 3-4 times a week.

Tkos, go for it!
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Mavtech
03-24-2009 at 05:18 AM.
03-24-2009 at 05:18 AM.
Quote from thekingofspain :
For what its worth, I have sink, plumbing, and two Nugget rhizomes in the ground.

Can I pull off my first homebrew after work or should I wait for the weekend?
I've done an extract brew on a Tuesday night. It should only take you 3 hours or so.
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Joined Jan 2009
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XL_Jockey
03-24-2009 at 05:46 AM.
03-24-2009 at 05:46 AM.
For those that brew weekly or bi-weekly, how do you get through your inventory so quickly? I give usually about a third of my brew away to friends, but I don't think I could justify the cost of doing that more than once every couple months. Am I just a pennypincher?

I'm starting to think about how I can turn my work area in my basement into a brewing area... this hobby is starting to pick up (at least in my mind). I'm already starting a mental inventory of the things I need to buy to eventually move from extract with specialty grains to partial mash to full mash, but I don't have a good resource on exactly what I need to reach the end goal (5 gallons of full mash until I find more brewing buddies). What's the most cost-effective way of getting there? Maybe it's time to join a brewing club and take that advanced brewing class they offer...
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Joined Aug 2003
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Original Poster
briang
03-24-2009 at 05:49 AM.
03-24-2009 at 05:49 AM.
tbh, i really don't pay for much of my stuff. i have "investors" who typically get beer in return. i brew about 3 times a month, and mostly 10 gallon batches. i give a lot away.
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Joined Dec 2003
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Mavtech
03-24-2009 at 06:16 AM.
03-24-2009 at 06:16 AM.
Quote from XL_Jockey :
For those that brew weekly or bi-weekly, how do you get through your inventory so quickly? I give usually about a third of my brew away to friends, but I don't think I could justify the cost of doing that more than once every couple months. Am I just a pennypincher?

I'm starting to think about how I can turn my work area in my basement into a brewing area... this hobby is starting to pick up (at least in my mind). I'm already starting a mental inventory of the things I need to buy to eventually move from extract with specialty grains to partial mash to full mash, but I don't have a good resource on exactly what I need to reach the end goal (5 gallons of full mash until I find more brewing buddies). What's the most cost-effective way of getting there? Maybe it's time to join a brewing club and take that advanced brewing class they offer...
I just finished buying the last item I need for full grain batches. I now have a gas burner for the back yard, a mash tun made from a 5 gal Rubbermaid cooler, and an 8 gallon brew kettle from William's Brewing (thanks to Matt!). I think these 3 things are the main difference from extract brewing. With extract, I only had a 3 gallon brew kettle and used the stove in the kitchen.
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mattman688
03-24-2009 at 06:40 AM.
03-24-2009 at 06:40 AM.
Quote from Mavtech :
I just finished buying the last item I need for full grain batches. I now have a gas burner for the back yard, a mash tun made from a 5 gal Rubbermaid cooler, and an 8 gallon brew kettle from William's Brewing (thanks to Matt!). I think these 3 things are the main difference from extract brewing. With extract, I only had a 3 gallon brew kettle and used the stove in the kitchen.
don't forget a wort chiller! either make one or buy one... i brewed my first all grain without one and it was scary...3 hours to chill to 100 degrees in the bathtub full of ice... siphoned into my fermenter, pitched the next morning...
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Joined Oct 2005
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> bubble2 11,718 Posts
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mattman688
03-24-2009 at 06:46 AM.
03-24-2009 at 06:46 AM.
Quote from XL_Jockey :
For those that brew weekly or bi-weekly, how do you get through your inventory so quickly? I give usually about a third of my brew away to friends, but I don't think I could justify the cost of doing that more than once every couple months. Am I just a pennypincher?

I'm starting to think about how I can turn my work area in my basement into a brewing area... this hobby is starting to pick up (at least in my mind). I'm already starting a mental inventory of the things I need to buy to eventually move from extract with specialty grains to partial mash to full mash, but I don't have a good resource on exactly what I need to reach the end goal (5 gallons of full mash until I find more brewing buddies). What's the most cost-effective way of getting there? Maybe it's time to join a brewing club and take that advanced brewing class they offer...
i would skip the partial or mini mash...go straight to all grainnod and for the costs....a session beer costs around $13-18 as hops are used lightly, and doesn't require much grains.. i pretty much always use dry yeast $1.50.... I also buy 2 batches at a time so i save on my base grain....so i pay around 70 cents a #...
but when you go extract brewing, that dme is what brings your brew to the $30-40 area... the only time i spend that much on a brew is when i get wild on the hopsnod

do you have a 8 gallon kettle? i went economical(due to wife) and bought a cheapo pot at walmart for $19. I have 2 of them to make one for a kettle and one for strike/sparge water... then i built everything for the most part...
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Joined Aug 2003
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Original Poster
briang
03-24-2009 at 06:47 AM.
03-24-2009 at 06:47 AM.
Quote from mattman688 :
don't forget a wort chiller! either make one or buy one... i brewed my first all grain without one and it was scary...3 hours to chill to 100 degrees in the bathtub full of ice... siphoned into my fermenter, pitched the next morning...
QFT nod
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XL_Jockey
03-24-2009 at 06:59 AM.
03-24-2009 at 06:59 AM.
I've got an immersion chiller that did the job well enough for my last extract brew, so it sounds like I'm good there. I'm looking for a good deal on a burner with a good spread, and I'm waiting for a good deal on a brew kettle (8-10 gallons seems like what I should be shooting for). I'll get a cooler to turn into a mash tun when they start popping up again.

I didn't realize the amount of saving that could be had with going all-grain. This will make it easier to pitch to my wife, but the process takes longer too, correct? Plus I'd have to brew outside, so that makes timing a bit more difficult.

How about software? Is it worth it to bite the bullet and buy something? Recommendations? I have a trial of something (forget the name off the top of my head) that seemed to work well enough, but if I knew that most experienced brewers used a certain program it would be easier to spend the money on it.

Luckily I still have money left over on my gift card to my lhbs, so buying something from there (though more expensive than online) won't be too bad.
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Joined Aug 2003
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Original Poster
briang
03-24-2009 at 07:01 AM.
03-24-2009 at 07:01 AM.
the savings thing is really a thing we tell our wives to justify how much we're spending on all our crap to brew with. that worked for me until i got others to pay for my crap nod
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Joined Oct 2005
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mattman688
03-24-2009 at 07:06 AM.
03-24-2009 at 07:06 AM.
i have the trial version of promash for free, as long as you don't save it its unlimited Big Grin
i have this burner and it works great...though i got it for $35 here onsale back in october
http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Class...d_sbs_hg_1

Quote from briang :
the savings thing is really a thing we tell our wives to justify how much we're spending on all our crap to brew with. that worked for me until i got others to pay for my crap nod
i agree with the justification part, but also if you don't brew often...going all grain isn't economical...
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Last edited by mattman688 March 24, 2009 at 07:06 AM.
Joined Dec 2003
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Mavtech
03-24-2009 at 07:46 AM.
03-24-2009 at 07:46 AM.
Quote from mattman688 :
i would skip the partial or mini mash...go straight to all grainnod and for the costs....a session beer costs around $13-18 as hops are used lightly, and doesn't require much grains.. i pretty much always use dry yeast $1.50.... I also buy 2 batches at a time so i save on my base grain....so i pay around 70 cents a #...
but when you go extract brewing, that dme is what brings your brew to the $30-40 area... the only time i spend that much on a brew is when i get wild on the hopsnod

do you have a 8 gallon kettle? i went economical(due to wife) and bought a cheapo pot at walmart for $19. I have 2 of them to make one for a kettle and one for strike/sparge water... then i built everything for the most part...
IMO, partial mash is a great step before moving to all grain. This way, your mash is only a part of your wort.
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mattman688
03-24-2009 at 08:07 AM.
03-24-2009 at 08:07 AM.
Quote from Mavtech :
IMO, partial mash is a great step before moving to all grain. This way, your mash is only a part of your wort.
each way is good for others, but neither brian or I went to partial mash before all grain... in all grain, the first time may be a bit messy trying to figure out proper temps for strike and sparge water to be in the proper temp range...but i learned soooo much...
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Original Poster
briang
03-24-2009 at 08:10 AM.
03-24-2009 at 08:10 AM.
Quote from mattman688 :
each way is good for others, but neither brian or I went to partial mash before all grain... in all grain, the first time may be a bit messy trying to figure out proper temps for strike and sparge water to be in the proper temp range...but i learned soooo much...
i remember when you popped your AG cherry laugh out loud

good times.
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Joined Dec 2003
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Mavtech
03-24-2009 at 08:12 AM.
03-24-2009 at 08:12 AM.
Quote from mattman688 :
each way is good for others, but neither brian or I went to partial mash before all grain... in all grain, the first time may be a bit messy trying to figure out proper temps for strike and sparge water to be in the proper temp range...but i learned soooo much...
That's what I'm saying. With a partial mash, you are learning your way with only 2-4 lbs of grain instead of 11 lbs. If you get the temps wrong and end up with off flavors from an improper mash, you still have a better chance at an ok beer since you have extract in there to help. You learn the same stuff you did, but on a less riskier scale. I'm happy I did partial because there are so many things I could have done differently. Now, I have a better chance at a good first all grain brewing. I have a good idea what my strike and sparge water should be with the mash tun I made.
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