Introduction Duncan

[Duncan]

Hi,
I'm a newly joined member of the craft brewers and I want to improve my track record in brewing.... The last dozen batches I made were on a boat (my wife & I were sailing around the world for the last years) with the ambient temperature around 27-30 degrees....You can guess the results.
So I'd like to make some beer that doesn't taste like black strap molasses. Can anybody recommend what gear I'd need to begin brewing using grain....basically starters kit but not gear that I'd have to throw out a month down the road to buy the real stuff.
P.s. I was at the meeting last Saturday at Kyle's house and had a fine time. Thanks to the members that were there for their hospitality.
Cheers, Duncan

[Dean]

sooooo ..the next meeting is on said boat?

     

[Dean]

hey Duncan, the other more exprienced guys are going to chime in soon, be prepared to get a bit overwhelmed. We're also possibly in the process of trying to streamline this board a bit in order to address questions such as yours more directly

in the meantime ...here's a link Richard send me previously, it shows that you don't actually "need" all the fancy gear to get started:

http://cruisenews.net/brewing/infusion/page1.php

[Dave Savoie]

Large coleman cooler
http://www.walmart.ca/Sports/Camping/Coolers/70-qt-Xtreme-5-Cooler

Parts to convert cooler to mashtun
A spigot for the front to drain your wort these can be bult or purchased for around $20
you attach a stainless steel braided hose to the inside of this spigot and voila exelent filter

Turkey Fryer
http://www.walmart.ca/Outdoor-Living/Garden-amp-Patio/Turkey-Fryers/36-Quart-Turkey-Fryer

This fryer has one of the largest pots Ive seen most have 7 Gallons so this one is 100% perfect for 5 gallon batches and where the pot is tall and skinny you will get a way better boil VS a wide one

Then you can go to Wine Kits in fredericton for your carboys and ods and ens they most likely have a starter kit they usually run around $100

[Kyle]

You could also check out Davidson Food Supplies on Smythe street for brew pots.

http://www.davidsonfoodequipment.com/home.asp


You will be well served by buying an equioment kit that has at least:

bucket with lid and airlock or 23litre glass carboy (the 20 litre one that comes in some beer euipment kits is not really necessary, generally, just leave the beer in primary until it is ready to bottle/keg)

brush to clean bucket or carboy

cleaner / sanitizer (careful, some are chlorine and not suited to steel)

hydrometer

--------------

also, some odds and ends to pick up are: digital scale and digital thermometer, amd a wort chiller, which is a heat exchanger that rapidly brings boiling unfermented beer down to about room temp.

I have an immersion chiller similar to this:
http://www.hopdawgs.ca/index.php/equipm ... ge-supply/

[Duncan]

hey Duncan, the other more exprienced guys are going to chime in soon, be prepared to get a bit overwhelmed. We're also possibly in the process of trying to streamline this board a bit in order to address questions such as yours more directly

in the meantime ...here's a link Richard send me previously, it shows that you don't actually "need" all the fancy gear to get started:

http://cruisenews.net/brewing/infusion/page1.php

Thanks Dean, I spent a few hours last night reading the link from Richard. Lot of good ideas...think I'll be cruising Walmart soon, cheers, Duncan

[Duncan]

You could also check out Davidson Food Supplies on Smythe street for brew pots.

http://www.davidsonfoodequipment.com/home.asp


You will be well served by buying an equioment kit that has at least:

bucket with lid and airlock or 23litre glass carboy (the 20 litre one that comes in some beer euipment kits is not really necessary, generally, just leave the beer in primary until it is ready to bottle/keg)

brush to clean bucket or carboy

cleaner / sanitizer (careful, some are chlorine and not suited to steel)

hydrometer

--------------

also, some odds and ends to pick up are: digital scale and digital thermometer, amd a wort chiller, which is a heat exchanger that rapidly brings boiling unfermented beer down to about room temp.

I have an immersion chiller similar to this:
http://www.hopdawgs.ca/index.php/equipm ... ge-supply/

Thanks much for the response. I want to get rolling with brewing....I have ideas already for a first, and second brew....I'll give you a phone call today....since I talk better than type ;-p

[Duncan]

Large coleman cooler
http://www.walmart.ca/Sports/Camping/Coolers/70-qt-Xtreme-5-Cooler

Parts to convert cooler to mashtun
A spigot for the front to drain your wort these can be bult or purchased for around $20
you attach a stainless steel braided hose to the inside of this spigot and voila exelent filter

Turkey Fryer
http://www.walmart.ca/Outdoor-Living/Garden-amp-Patio/Turkey-Fryers/36-Quart-Turkey-Fryer

This fryer has one of the largest pots Ive seen most have 7 Gallons so this one is 100% perfect for 5 gallon batches and where the pot is tall and skinny you will get a way better boil VS a wide one

Then you can go to Wine Kits in fredericton for your carboys and ods and ens they most likely have a starter kit they usually run around $100

Thanks Dave, I'll check out these items, but you lost me on the filter idea...is the braided hose the actual filter? Duncan

[Richard]

is the braided hose the actual filter? Duncan

The braided hose is the filter between the grain bed and the boil tun. It sits at the bottom of the mash-tun to stop large chunks ending up in your pot. It's a very coarse filter of sorts.

See this image for the braided hose:



And this image for where it ends up in the mash tun:



From http://cruisenews.net/brewing/infusion/page1.php