User:BluBrew/What equipment do I need to start brewing?

When brew day comes around there will be a few pieces of equipment you will need, in order to have a successful brew day. There will be equipment need for all grain (A/G) brewing that is not needed for extract brewing.

1. Mash tun. This piece of equipment is for A/G brewing and where the mashing or the mixing of grains and water happen.

2.Mash Paddle or spoon. There are different materials that are available for this tool. You will have the choice between metal,plastic or wood.

3. Brew pot. The size of your pot will vary and depend on which brewing style you use. A/G brewers do what is referred to as a full boil, where the entire volume of liquid is boiled. Extract brewers typically boil part of their wort and top the rest off with water.

4. Thermometer. You will need a thermometer, either floating or quick read digital will work and must read from 40 degrees to boiling.

5. Wort chiller. This is optional but very beneficial to have. A wort chiller aids in cooling your boiled wort down to fermentation temperatures.

6. Fermentation vessel. Once the wort is cooled down to fermentation temperatures you will need to transfer it to your fermenter. You have options with your vessel, Glass carboys, Plastic food grade buckets or conicals are all widely available.

7. Air lock. You're air lock is used on your fermentation vessel to release the gasses being created within the vessel while keeping potential contaminants out. Two styles are widely used. 3 piece air lock or bubbler style.

8. Funnel. This is optional, if you choose a glass carboy to ferment in you will need a funnel, conical and buckets do not require the use of a funnel.

9. Bung. This is optional unless you are fermenting in a glass carboy, a bung is a rubber stopper with a hole in the center where you would insert your air lock.

10. Hydrometer. This tool is optional but very helpful. With your hydrometer you will be able to measure your brew day efficiency, your beers abv. and aid you in knowing when primary fermentation has ended.

11. Sanitizer. There are many brands on the market, I choose to use star sans. It's a no rinse santizer. You will want to sanitize anything that comes in contact with your wort after the boil.

These are just the basics to get started. As you get more involved in the world of brewing you may opt to purchase more expensive equipment such as temperature controllers, Ph readers,stir plates or a refractometer.