Want to upgrade equipment - How to spend?

[chrishw]

I suggest starting off with a cooler mashtun, that sounds like will work with your existing equipment. The reasoning behind this is that you gain some experence and knowlege that will allow you to pick out your future system to fit your perticular needs.

All of us have our own theories and processes developed, and what might be a perfect system for me may not be one for you- we will both make great beer but in our own way! The B3 system is a great average way that is customizable as needed for your needs BUT until you have a few months experience it would be hard for you to understand what your needs are!

With the equipment you have you can go all grain for about $50. A simple 10 gallon orange drink cooler with a weldless fitting is about the easiest way to move to all grain if you are already doing full boils. You can make your own for less too!



Then, in several months, once you have figured out what YOU want in a brewing system you can go and buy/build a big fancy system! I'm trying to make friends with someone who owns a welder now personally- I am quite happy I decided to wait to build my system rather than building/buying when I first started all grain!

[BrewBum]

I suggest starting off with a cooler mashtun, that sounds like will work with your existing equipment. The reasoning behind this is that you gain some experence and knowlege that will allow you to pick out your future system to fit your perticular needs.

All of us have our own theories and processes developed, and what might be a perfect system for me may not be one for you- we will both make great beer but in our own way! The B3 system is a great average way that is customizable as needed for your needs BUT until you have a few months experience it would be hard for you to understand what your needs are!

With the equipment you have you can go all grain for about $50. A simple 10 gallon orange drink cooler with a weldless fitting is about the easiest way to move to all grain if you are already doing full boils. You can make your own for less too!



Then, in several months, once you have figured out what YOU want in a brewing system you can go and buy/build a big fancy system! I'm trying to make friends with someone who owns a welder now personally- I am quite happy I decided to wait to build my system rather than building/buying when I first started all grain!

What he said.

I have been AG brewing for a couple years now and went this route, because I had too, no money. I am glad I did though, I am now planning out my sculpture build based on the Brutus 10 but with a batch sparge twist and less the bells and whistles. I have a brewing friend that welds so really all I need to do is get some kettles, steel, a pump and some misc. fittings and I am set. This will be a slow process starting with the stand but it will be exactly how I want it and far less than a sculpture, although I really want one of those.

[vw addict]

I bought my Brew Magic system used for $500 with 3 6.5 gallon carboys and a JSP Maltmill. I suggest you hook up that kind of deal.

[pmanz]

it's been said one way or another already but I'll echo the sentiment for effect. I made all of my all-grain equipment bc I didn't have enough money for a sculpture and it's take me a little while to figure out how { I } do all grain. I think everyone has a slightly different way to brew - the old adage of I can give you my recipe - but it can really only be made this way by ME on MY system. You will also formulate your own very strong opinions on some things that will affect how you brew in the long run like the old Batch vs. Fly Sparge arguments. Also I keep finding myself "needing" things like right now I'm obsessed with an oxygenation system and would kill for money to just buy one from B3 but I'll have to get creative to make it happen.

My Point:
Put it in the bank in a brewing account your S.O. doesn't have access to and buy what you need as you need it. Having yeast, grain and hops on hand all the time so I can brew at the drop of a hat is AWESOME and the equipment to make that possible isn't cheap and it's taken me a while to figure out what I need to make that happen.

Don't lock yourself in to the way the B3 sculpture will force you to brew - I'm not saying it's wrong, you just need to find what works for you and it's a bit of a journey. Enjoy the trip!

[drummer0413]

Thank you for all of the input. I think I am convinced not to purchase the sculpture and will assemble my own system over time.