Xmas present input needed

a pump

 

A stir plate is a must IMO if he uses liquid yeast (if he uses dry yeast then no need). Can't do yeast starters easily without them, and yeast starters are essential. An all-grain starter kit is great but you'd have to make sure he wants or is ready to take that step. I love my Blichmann HopRocket, but to use it make sure he has a ball valve on his brew kettle.

 

Very cool and works great.
http://craftstirplates.com/

 

Out of those, the stir plate would be the best investment if he does not already one and use liquid yeast. Make sure you get a couple different Erlenmeyer flasks (1 L, 2 L, and maybe 5 L would be my suggestions, if just one, a 2 L) and some stir bars.

 

I totally disagree with the choices so far (especially the stir plate). An all-grain starter kit is, imho, at the top of the list. Just one problem...I don't like the one you've linked to. A hot liquor tank is not really needed for 5 gal batches...a simple kettle will do and the resultant savings can buy something else. Shopping is half the fun ...good luck.

 

The HopRocket has 1/2" NPT fittings for both the input and output, meaning you need to attach tubing to it in order for it to work. A ball valve is needed from the kettle to hook up the appropriate tubing. If he has a standard pot for brewing without a ball valve he cannot simply dump or siphon through the HopRocket, rendering it useless.

 

I firmly believe a healthy fermentation trumps anything else in brewing. You can use the finest hops and malts and piss it all away with one bad pitch of yeast. Get the stir plate, or better yet a fermentation chamber and temp controller if he doesn't already have those.

 

Is he techy at all?

The above post is IMO a great choice Fermentation Chamber) . Although your profile states you're in TN, which seems to be a mild weathered state every time I visit

If you think he is confident doing some light, component level electrical work, this is a cool option. We just built one and was really straightforward, comparatively. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=466106

 

A gift card to his favorite homebrew shop. I know it's not romantic, but he can then buy what ever he really wants/needs.

 

I'll second the gift card idea, my wife has bought me stuff it the past and it usually is "thanks honey, I really appreciate it" but not necessarily something useful.

If you have kids, throw in a couple "free days to brew" coupons as well. Basically give him permission to abandon the family for a couple hours.

 

Of what you listed:
- Go All-Grain
- Stir Plate
- Hop Rocket

If he doesn't have fermentation temp control, I'd start there.

 

A Hop Rocket is nice, but not necessary.

A stir plate is good! If you get a flask, buy one made of borosilicate glass (lab grade...check Amazon).

All grain is a great choice, but your husband may have specific ideas of what he wants and the possibilities are nearly endless.

Does he have an oxygen wand/oxygen stone? That would be a good investment.

Personally, I would avoid a gift card. To may it says " I put in the very minimum amount of thought/effort for your gift." Some people think of it as..."buy what you want." YMMV.

 

A stir plate would be my choice. One of the best things to improve my brewing experience. Another option would be a grain mill if he doesn't have one already.

 

These Speidel fermentors are great. I'm getting another after xmas.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html

 

For most a grain mill is an unnecessary item. The only way it really makes sense for the average brewer to have one is they are brewing more frequently (1-2 batches per week), in larger quantities (buying 50lb sacks of grain at a time), or the local brew shop either doesn't have a mill/one that works properly. Put another way, our competitive brew club has 70+ members and only a few own a grain mill. They are cool, but nearly everyone uses the mill at the local shop.

 

I would agree with this. I have a mill, but only got one when I moved home to a rural area from Cincinnati. My crush is nicer now that I'm not using the one at my LHBS, but it would not be an early upgrade. I got one now because I started buying base grain in bulk and may have to buy my ingredients weeks before I brew. I don't want to mill my grain 2-3 weeks before I brew. Also buying base grain in bulk has helped to save some money.

 

Maybe it's me, but I got tired of the crappy crush at the LHBS and their excuses about the mill they have. Still one of the best investments so far for me!