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My new hobby..... Homebrewing!
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: KenToad on May 07, 2007, 11:19:19 pm ---
--- Quote from: DrewKaree on May 07, 2007, 08:50:30 pm ---[
Using the bucket, the spigot is easily added by doing the same thing (drill a hole and hook up the spigot). Oh yeah, I also forgot - the local homebrew store had a spigot for $5, but I ended up taking it back when I happened to go into American Science & Surplus and they had the SAME exact thing for $1.25, and I got a nicer hydrometer beaker-mabob. Mebbe they've got those spigots on their website :dunno
--- End quote ---
Wow, Drew, I would rather support my local DIY Brew store than save $3. Seems a bit flinty that you went to the trouble to bring it back and had the guy give you back your five dollars.
Oh, well. And, for the love of whatever, buy a carboy or three for your barleywines meads and lagers. You'll thank me later when your beer doesn't have a plastic aftertaste.
--- End quote ---
I'll re-post a response later after I've been awake for a bit....I may be jumping all over you for nothing other than being awake for only a short bit of time, but suffice it to say, you're coming off as the snob on beer-making forum who simply disses ideas without giving reasons.
Please address "Better Bottles", their plastic formulation, a food-grade bucket, and soda bottled in plastic bottles (and their "aftertaste") if you feel the need to add your reasons before I get back from work and re-read this. Oh, and the "spend more money on a hobby to practice something you wouldn't otherwise do in another situation".
KenToad:
Ok, don't worry. I don't consider it an insult to be called a beer snob. If you were near me, I would give you a nice glass carboy instead of arguing with you, so if you're ever near Southeast Ohio, shoot me a PM, seriously.
As far as reasons, I think leeching from plastic, food grade or not, isn't really in dispute, just quantity of chemicals leeched, length of time it takes to happen and whether it will ever affect your health/taste buds. At least one of the homebrewing books I read mentioned the phenomenon. I think it was that one by the metallurgist guy, can't remember his name, but it was called something generic like "brewing beer." I highly recommend the book to you, since he has some amazing diagrams/instructions for making your own Mashtun/lautering equipment from stuff you can pick up at the hardware store.
Anyway, are you one of those guys who tips exactly 18%, and drops a few pennies from your pocket to make it look sweeter? I really will never see the point of not supporting your local shop when it really is just a few bucks here, a few bucks there.
Our local shop is operated and owned by one really nice and talkative guy, who can't afford to hire help and who will just as well give you a beer and play chess with you all day as sell you something, not to mention let you brew in his store and chip in to make a double batch that he will gladly share. He is the first to say if you could get something cheaper in another place, and will explain that he simply has to deal with his distributor and markup a little for his own profit.
divemaster127:
I have been wanting to get into this hobby, just what i need, which kit at http://www.northernbrewer.com/ is the best bang for the buck
thanks for the advice
dm
KenToad:
That starter kit doesn't look too bad, but for simple brews I just use the spigoted ale pail with the lid with the hole in the top and a fermentation lock. Then, you can just brew it, let it ferment in there and bottle/keg it straight from the pail. If it's very complex, then I would probably let it brew for the first two weeks in the pail and then rack it to a glass carboy. I pretty much always use the pail with the spigot for bottling though. Also, you may not need things like the siphon starter or the bottle filler or the hydrometer, for that matter, but then again I have used all that stuff and I wouldn't say any of it is useless.
Hope that helps.
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: KenToad on May 08, 2007, 09:17:12 am ---
Ok, don't worry. I don't consider it an insult to be called a beer snob.
--- End quote ---
Most don't ;D
I just woke up after a long day yesterday and for some reason decided to check in there before work. There was actually a lot longer post that I removed after thinking I might not be awake enough to look at this without being angry.
I think you're missing what I'm saying about the spigot though. I'm pointing it out because of precisely the image in the minds of some folks that this'll be expensive to start with, and that even some of the kits offered would be kinda pricey if it turns out to be just a "test". Note the mention of how much was spent by one poster, and by others who mention the fact that many sell off their equipment. That points to people either not being interested enough to keep up with homebrewing, or thinking it's more hassle (and expense) than it's worth.
What I'm trying to point out is that there may be others like me who aren't sure, and might want to test this out, and the idea of "supporting your local homebrew shop" has absolutely zero to do with their purchasing decisions - again, note divemaster's question about an online merchant, as an example.
IF, after the initial investment and some time has passed, we find ourselves wanting to stick with it, we can easily "move up" to better equipment. The odds are very good that by that point, a person will have found their local homebrew shop, and will then go to that place. For myself, personally, I have no need to support the shop I bought my spigot from, nor would I ever go back there. I purchased from them out of convenience, thinking I would be brewing the next day or perhaps later that night. Turns out I didn't, and I ended up finding a better shop that I bought all the rest of my equipment from. Those folks, I WOULD support if I continue homebrewing. I've also found out since then that the owners happen to be friends with my father-in-law's friend who spiffs us free wine all the time if we find him a free fruit source. From the start though, I don't feel a need to "support my local store" simply because they offer a product. Much like those here who would choose to hack a keyboard instead of buying an encoder, there isn't a "need" to support those people, you choose to do these things based on the benefit to yourself. Spending more money with someone on a product I can find elsewhere for less has absolutely no relation to tipping, nor do I feel bad about doing so, and alerting others to how they too might lessen their initial investment into homebrewing.
The chemicals from plastic we can get info from all over the place. Like you had stated earlier, you weren't sure (nor am I) the amount of transfer. I feel VERY confident that the amount of time in fermentation won't contribute much if any aftertaste, since they currently sell beginner kits with plastic buckets and I believe homebrew businesses wouldn't sell them at all if they would excessively taint a batch and turn off a beginner from the whole process.
I'll look up the book you're talking about (or try to suss out what the name of it is). If you can remember the specific name, lemme know. I'm all kinds of interested in making my own stuff instead of spending a fortune for it, obviously ;D
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