Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: "Beginners" Essentials?  (Read 2194 times)

Offline evandy

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 60
"Beginners" Essentials?
« on: December 03, 2010, 05:32:04 pm »
I've been brewing for 3-4 years now, and my brother-in-law-squared (sister-in-law's fiance) wants his first brewing equipment.  Looking over my own beginning-brewer's kit, I can see a couple of things that just aren't needed... and a couple that I'd like to upgrade.  Since I'm kegging now, and have done a number of upgrades myself, I have some items that I can send his way that I'm just not using any more, but are still in good shape.  We are doing a "secret"-santa gift exchange in that family, and he's the one I'm buying for, so I have a reasonable budget ($70) I think.  Any additions/subtractions from others?

- Bottling bucket (I keg now, he'll get my old one)
- Fermentor (6 gal BB, new), + bung + air-lock
- Hydrometer
- 3 feet of vinyl beer hose
- wing capper (my old one)
- Package of Caps
- Auto-siphon
- Iodaphor + PBW
- Bottling Wand
- If I have $20 left over, I'll add an ingredient kit.

I am deliberately NOT adding empty bottles, since he is already collecting, and I have to ship this a couple states away.  My sister-in-law is suggesting a large discount turkey-fryer kit to his mother, so between the two of us, he should be all set.  Beyond those, anything that I'm missing?

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: "Beginners" Essentials?
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2010, 05:35:20 pm »
If he's going for the turkey fryer for a burner/kettle, that implies he'll be doing full boils.  That makes an immersion chiller pretty important.
Joe

Offline Malticulous

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 368
Re: "Beginners" Essentials?
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2010, 06:12:18 pm »
Some good books. Papazain and Palmer.

Offline tygo

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2622
  • Sterling, VA
Re: "Beginners" Essentials?
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2010, 06:38:14 pm »
A floating thermometer.
Clint
Wort Hogs