Birthday Homebrew Equipment

Kegging equipment.

 

A plate chiller and a hopback.

 

A cyclocross bike...I mean kegging equipment.

 

Conical Fermenter

 

Kegging equipment and and a nice brew kettle.

 

RO water system
Chest freezer and temp control for fermentation
Ph meter
Refractometer

 

Another fermentation/lagering fridge. Since you and I already each have one.

But seriously, if you would say what you already have, people could give you better suggestions, rather than skipping over more essential items that they have already that you may not.

 

kegging stuff

 

Fermentation chamber or kegging equipment

 

Another natural gas burner and a bunch of raw materials to build a brew stand.

 

Thermapen, a good pH meter, stir plate and 2L Erlenmeyer flask.

 

It depends on where you are in your development as a homebrewer. If you haven't already started kegging, it can be the steepest investment outside of temp control equipment for fermentation (often $300 minimum). If you don't mind bottling, go with enhancements to your fermentation. That is the most important part of brewing good beer anyway.

 

With that price point I would say kegging equipment. If it was closer to 100$ I would get a nice brew kettle and wort chiller or a good digital thermometer.

 

Plate chiller and hopback is tempting. I'd probably do that and pick up a few extra kegs.

Another side of me says to go pick up a wine barrel and start a solera. Depending on the deal, maybe both!

 

Grain...hops...yeast.

Nothing sez the 500 birthday bucks has to be dropped all at once.

 

I'd buy a mill, some stainless hardware, and some kegging stuff.