Bought my first brewing setup today on Amazon and pieced it together. total came to $169.52 with free shipping to Alaska using Amazon Prime. my question is there anything else i need to invest in off the bat other then a wort chiller? *10 pack Stainless steel mesh tea balls $12.50 *2 LCD sticky thermometers $10.16 *21 inch heavy duty basting spoon $7.21 *44 quart SS brew kettle $71.82 *Maestro Homebrew kit $67.83 -True Brew Handbook -6.5 Gallon Fermenting bucket w/ drilled and grometed lid -6.5 gallon bottling bucket with spigot -Fermometer -Fermtech Springless bottle filler -Fermtech 3/8 Auto Siphon -5ftx5/16 flex vinyl tubing -hydrometer -Double level capper -Bottle brush -3 piece airlock -8 pack c-brite sanitizer
Not familiar with the Maestro kit. Do you have the graduated cylinder to go with the hydrometer? Is cleaner included in that kit also? Regardless, can't go wrong with extra PBW. You need a cleaner that doesn't require mechanical scrubbing with buckets and it's very nice for hose cleaning, PBW does the trick for both. Extra sanitizer, I like StarSan is great to have on hand. A couple large mesh bars for specialty grain steeping are also handy. I'll add more as I think about it further.
A blow-off setup option like 1/2" tubing into airlock "inside stub" works great for aggressive fermentations. I'd also throw in a squirt bottle to use for your sanitizer (don't skimp, get a good one and it will last). A system to make starters.
You need to throw out the C-brite, and purchase Star-San. I would also purchase a large strainer, and good digital thermometer.
Going to get Hydrometer tube at local shop along with star san and ill grab some blow off tubing from Homedepot. Seen a couple guys use squirt bottles to keep their hot breaks down is this common practice or just used when you are boiling at max capacity?
You can, you can also keep it under control with your brew spoon. If you end up getting StarSan having a squirt bottle of it is quite handy.
You get rid hot break with a spoon, the squirt bottle is to combat nasty micro-organisms. A squirt bottle of Starsan is one of the most used tools in my brewhouse, it's so useful I have two. You can use anything that squirts (mine are old windex bottles) or they can be bought at the dollar store (in Alaska that's probably the three dollar store!). Bacteria is the enemy . . . don't fight fair . . .
Chiller if you don't already have one. I made mine out of 50' of tubing DIY, but lots of options out there.
What is the heat source for boiling the wort? An LP Gas burner and a 20 lb. LP gas cylinder are recommended so you can get adequate heat for a pot as large as what you're purchased.
forgot to mention i already have a burner that i got with my turkey fryer as well i have a large gas setup inside
