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Author Topic: help me spend my bonus  (Read 6541 times)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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help me spend my bonus
« on: January 15, 2015, 09:46:03 am »
bonus is in, so I'm looking for ideas (post your pics, equipment, etc) on all electric mash and boil kettles. contemplating getting all my brewing indoors, and looking for recommendations. I'll be running 220V electric.

Budget:< $2K  (negotiable  :P)

EDIT: FWIW, just looking for some thoughts and advice on equipment, not financial advice ;D
« Last Edit: January 15, 2015, 10:55:34 am by wort-h.o.g. »
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
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Offline Slowbrew

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2015, 10:33:53 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?

Offline dls5492

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2015, 10:36:18 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul
+1
David S.
Cedar Falls, IA
Club: Cedar River Association of Zymurgy Enthusiasts (CRAZE)

And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. II Cor. 3:17

Offline AmandaK

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2015, 10:37:34 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul

I am the same way Paul.

But back to OP, you can build yourself a nice little E-Brewery for $2k. Notice I said "build yourself". That $2k would be the parts to build one without a full control box. High Gravity out of Tulsa sells 'dial type' switches for electric elements, which would bring down the cost of going electric considerably. Dave Knott is a great guy and will probably be who I go to when I break down and convert the Sabco to electric.
Amanda Burkemper
KC Bier Meisters Lifetime Member - KCBM 3x AHA Club of the Year!!
BJCP Assistant (to the) Midwest Rep
BJCP Grand Master/Mead/Cider


Our Homebrewed Wedding, AHA Article

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2015, 10:38:04 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul

yeah i have buckets for everything; college, emergency, 401k, and the bucket called "Ken's do whatever the *#%! he wants ".

Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2015, 10:39:37 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul

I am the same way Paul.

But back to OP, you can build yourself a nice little E-Brewery for $2k. Notice I said "build yourself". That $2k would be the parts to build one without a full control box. High Gravity out of Tulsa sells 'dial type' switches for electric elements, which would bring down the cost of going electric considerably. Dave Knott is a great guy and will probably be who I go to when I break down and convert the Sabco to electric.

good info, thanks.
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline Stevie

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2015, 10:40:50 am »
DIY adds the benefit of understanding how it works and how to fix if something is broken. Be sure to consult with an electrician.

Offline riceral

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2015, 10:51:19 am »
I'm boring when it comes to spending bonuses.  The first things that came mind were:

1) Pay down son's college loans
2) Extra principle payment on the mortgage
3) put in savings account or IRA

I'm sure you can come with something more fun.   ::)

Paul

yeah i have buckets for everything; college, emergency, 401k, and the bucket called "Ken's do whatever the *#%! he wants ".

I'm using my bonus this year to go on a trip to Belgium. So I would suggest something you have been thinking about doing "if I only had the money."
Ralph R.

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2015, 11:04:36 am »
Building an electric brewery is not rocket science, but it can be dangerous if one does not understand basic electrical principles.

Offline Stevie

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2015, 11:41:02 am »

Building an electric brewery is not rocket science, but it can be dangerous if one does not understand basic electrical principles.
Exactly. Just a bunch of parts and wires, but it can go south if something is wrong. Having electrician buddies is helpful. 

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2015, 12:32:40 pm »
so with electric mash kettle, do you need to install a HERMS coil and pump to circulate wort as you heat it?

found this site-looks like some good information.  http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/
« Last Edit: January 15, 2015, 12:34:37 pm by wort-h.o.g. »
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline narcout

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2015, 12:51:33 pm »
Blichmann makes an electric version of their "brew easy" system.

http://www.blichmannengineering.com/products/breweasy

They also sell electric versions of their new G2 kettles.

I don't have any personal experience with either product.
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Offline AmandaK

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2015, 01:20:21 pm »
so with electric mash kettle, do you need to install a HERMS coil and pump to circulate wort as you heat it?

found this site-looks like some good information.  http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/

HERMS is one way to do it. Another is RIMS.

The cheapest way is to just replace the BK and HLT propane burners with electric elements and use your normal mash tun.
Amanda Burkemper
KC Bier Meisters Lifetime Member - KCBM 3x AHA Club of the Year!!
BJCP Assistant (to the) Midwest Rep
BJCP Grand Master/Mead/Cider


Our Homebrewed Wedding, AHA Article

Offline JT

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2015, 05:38:51 pm »
My BK and HLT are electric with Blichmann BoilCoils.  I have 1 electric Tower of Power to control them both.  I installed some pumps for good measure, but currently only use 1 with any regularity.  Ventilation system was probably the trickiest part of brewing inside.  DIY hood and a vortex fan vent to the basement window with a snap in removal vent.  Mash tun is still a cooler. 

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: help me spend my bonus
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2015, 05:46:34 pm »

My BK and HLT are electric with Blichmann BoilCoils.  I have 1 electric Tower of Power to control them both.  I installed some pumps for good measure, but currently only use 1 with any regularity.  Ventilation system was probably the trickiest part of brewing inside.  DIY hood and a vortex fan vent to the basement window with a snap in removal vent.  Mash tun is still a cooler.

I'm leaning towards 3 inline 20gal blichmann electric kettles and adding the herms coil for mash tun. No hurry so exploring at this point.


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest