Homebrewers - Whats in the fermenter?

[BeerAdvocate]

I have never had any problems

[cobra03]

Tried another one of my blonde ales last night. Wow what an improvment after just another week in the bottle. Started another brew yesterday. Kind of a tweaked Oktoberfest. Dry hopping with some Tettnager hops i had. This is my first "experiment" so we'll see how it turns out.

[forgop]

Found a kit listed locally on craigslist that is claimed to have only been used once. If all is in good shape, what is your opinion if I offered $100 for it? The place they bought it from locally sells it for $190 + tax. Listed since early December for $125. Don't know how it really compares to kits selling new in that range.

http://www.greatfermentations.com/De...uctinfo/GF020/

Thanks!

[Salvelinus]

That kit has everything you'd need. Be a good grab for $100

[BeerAdvocate]

Originally Posted by forgop

Found a kit listed locally on craigslist that is claimed to have only been used once. If all is in good shape, what is your opinion if I offered $100 for it? The place they bought it from locally sells it for $190 + tax. Listed since early December for $125. Don't know how it really compares to kits selling new in that range.

http://www.greatfermentations.com/De...uctinfo/GF020/

Thanks!

Great deal. I started with a similar kit from Midwestbrewing.
Glass carboys are the way to go. I hate plastic buckets!

[rack04]

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

Great deal. I started with a similar kit from Midwestbrewing.
Glass carboys are the way to go. I hate plastic buckets!

I hate plastic buckets as well, except when dry hopping. I like the 6 gal better bottles.

[forgop]

The above kit I found is really just the Brewer's Best Deluxe kit. I can get it shiped new for under $100 here: https://bellsbeer.com/store/products...r-Bottle®.html

Is there a better kit out there for the price?

[Salvelinus]

You're getting glass instead of plastic. I like the glass because I can see the fermentation better.

[CigarSquid]

I only use the plastic when bottling. I have a 2 glass carboys. Love them.

[Mikey202]

Brewing a Belgian Dubbel this weekend. Partial mash.

[mmblz]

bottled furious clone last night.
gearing up to start the ruination clone.

[forgop]

Ok, not hearing back from the craigslist ad.

So, if you were buying a kit today(knowing what you know now), what would you buy? Not looking for an extravagant kit by any means, but something that makes me wish I had splurged for something nicer for an extra $25 type of kit. Let's say I want to keep this around $200 with the pot.

Some things I'm considering thus far:
http://www.homebrewit.com/beer-brewing-kit.php (Deluxe kit)

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/homeb...ent-kit-2.html

http://morebeer.com/view_product/159...ottling_Deluxe

Thanks!

[rack04]

Brewed a 10.50 gallon robust porter today. It was a long brew day but I'm sure in 4 weeks it will worth it.

[BeerAdvocate]

Originally Posted by forgop

Ok, not hearing back from the craigslist ad.

So, if you were buying a kit today(knowing what you know now), what would you buy? Not looking for an extravagant kit by any means, but something that makes me wish I had splurged for something nicer for an extra $25 type of kit. Let's say I want to keep this around $200 with the pot.

Some things I'm considering thus far:
http://www.homebrewit.com/beer-brewing-kit.php (Deluxe kit)

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/homeb...ent-kit-2.html

http://morebeer.com/view_product/159...ottling_Deluxe

Thanks!

The Midwest kit is the way to go. Thats what I started with and I still use most of. Minus the buckets.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

The Midwest kit is the way to go. Thats what I started with and I still use most of. Minus the buckets.

It seems like it was the most complete kit out there for the money. Only change I might make though is get the kit without the pot included. Their shipping brings this kit to around $230 I think. For around $185 shipped, I can get the same kit with 2 carboys(minus bottles) and pick up a 5 gal pot like on amazon or BB&B for probably the same price.

[Salvelinus]

Originally Posted by forgop

It seems like it was the most complete kit out there for the money. Only change I might make though is get the kit without the pot included. Their shipping brings this kit to around $230 I think. For around $185 shipped, I can get the same kit with 2 carboys(minus bottles) and pick up a 5 gal pot like on amazon or BB&B for probably the same price.

I'd go the route you mention, and put some thought into a larger pot if you think you might ever want to move to full boils.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

I'd go the route you mention, and put some thought into a larger pot if you think you might ever want to move to full boils.

So, let me ask you this-what's the difference between a foil boil and a half boil I guess?

[Salvelinus]

You get better hop utilization, you can brew all grain if you choose to, some say you don't get an extract twang. FWIW Zainashef mentions full boils being a key to making great beer, along with pitching the right amount of healthy yeast.

Very big con: You're going to want a wort chiller.

If you save $50 by not getting a 5 gallon pot with the kit you can get an 8 gallon pot from Amazon for about that much. It'd just be a part of your system that you didn't need to upgrade if you decided to fall further down the homebrewing slope. You can always do a partial boil in an 8 gallon pot, you can't do a full boil in a 5 gallon pot. You can make good homebrew so many ways though, tons of people make great homebrew doing partial boils including my pal Jamie who's beers I'm always jealous of

[replicant_argent]

Extra pale ale in tonight.
Dryhopped my Black IPA today, and hopefully those Cascades will make a happy tasty beverage in about 5 days.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by Salvelinus

You get better hop utilization, you can brew all grain if you choose to, some say you don't get an extract twang. FWIW Zainashef mentions full boils being a key to making great beer, along with pitching the right amount of healthy yeast.

Very big con: You're going to want a wort chiller.

If you save $50 by not getting a 5 gallon pot with the kit you can get an 8 gallon pot from Amazon for about that much. It'd just be a part of your system that you didn't need to upgrade if you decided to fall further down the homebrewing slope. You can always do a partial boil in an 8 gallon pot, you can't do a full boil in a 5 gallon pot. You can make good homebrew so many ways though, tons of people make great homebrew doing partial boils including my pal Jamie who's beers I'm always jealous of

As in I'm going to WANT or I'm going to NEED a wort chiller?

I've inquired on substituting the 7.5 gal pot they sell in lieu of the 4 gal pot. I'll see what they say. I'm also wanting to substitute the Hank's Hefeweizen kit in place of the 3 kits they offer with it.