Throwback 2010 - Mr. Beer Memorabilia

[ScrewyBrewer]

Like many of us I got my start brewing beer using extracts and brewing gear from Mr. Beer in early 2010. I was going through some old pictures taken back then and figured it would be nice to see what other pictures or stories of the day we could dig up dating back to those heady days.

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Here's what I built back then to help speed up the wort cool down, my first immersion chiller. Originally designed for use in a twelve quart pot, with some careful re-bending I used it to cool down five gallon batches up until this past May. I still haven't the heart to get rid of it and don't plan to anytime soon.

[John Sand]

Nice work Vince. Mine looks like spaghetti.

[BlackDuck]

I have two LBK's stacked on my work table in the basement. I look at them everytime I'm in the basement. They haven't been touched in a couple years.

[DaYooper]

I have two LBK's stacked on my work table in the basement. I look at them everytime I'm in the basement. They haven't been touched in a couple years.

I hope to pull one out today. A buddy had some HMEs that were on the verge of expiring and with him not having much time shipped them up to me to brew. So, hope to have a quickie brew session when I get home.

[mashani]

You made me look in a box. I have 2 untouched LBKs here still, with spigot still in their little plastic baggies inside. (old contest rewards).

I guess I kept them in case of emergency.

[Kealia]

I actually still use my LBK's as bottling buckets for my 3G batches. I like the ease of filling and dispensing it into bottles.
But for fermenting, I use glass carboys and/or ale pails exclusively at this point.

But, I do have 3 LBKs in the back of beer supplies cabinet should I ever need them. I really should pull them out and recycle them at this point since I can't ever see needing more than 1. Ok, maybe keeping a second in case the first one cracks....but certainly not 3 at this point.

[ScrewyBrewer]

At the height of my Mr. Beer brewing days I had managed to buy six LBKs, I ended up selling them all at a yard sale before we moved. People actually asked if they could be used for ice tea or lemonade and bought me all out in no time. I wanted them to go to a brewer but couldn't believe what the shipping costs were.

I remember drilling a hole in the lids of the LBKs and putting thermometers in each one.

[DaYooper]

At the height of my Mr. Beer brewing days I had managed to buy six LBKs, I ended up selling them all at a yard sale before we moved. People actually asked if they could be used for ice tea or lemonade and bought me all out in no time. I wanted them to go to a brewer but couldn't believe what the shipping costs were.

Now that is a good idea! I have 4 or 5 and never use more than 2 theses days so just might need to repurpose one if not just as a water dispenser for cold water (I dont have an ice maker). I may also need to check as to whether they could be used for continuous brewing of kombucha.

[RickBeer]

I have two, bought two more kits at Walgreen's after Christmas clearance in January 2013 and sold both. Now that I have the fermenting freezer, I'd rather be brewing two 5 gallon batches at a time. Can't easily switch to pails because the freezer has fixed shelving with coils I don't want to take the chance of ruining it by bending them.

I also like the weight. With my back, 2.5 gallons (20 pounds) is ok. 40 lbs wouldn't be good.

I figure in January I will see what I can pickup on clearance - but it seems like Mr. Beer is in less retailers nowadays.

[berryman]

I remember drilling a hole in the lids of the LBKs and putting thermometers in each one.

Yup we all did that after a thread talking about it, and it was a good deal.

Remember when we all built Hop spiders?

Or Lager cabinets?

[BlackDuck]

I remember the hop spider. I built one too. But I don't use it anymore. The strainer bag got severely clogged up with a mass amount of hops I used in an IPA once....that was the last time I used it.

[berryman]

I remember the hop spider. I built one too. But I don't use it anymore. The strainer bag got severely clogged up with a mass amount of hops I used in an IPA once....that was the last time I used it.

I still have one out of the 2 I built and still use it but a little deformed, a one shot deal each time with a muslin bag clamped on. Going to build a stainless steel one soon and will post pic. of the build

[ScrewyBrewer]

How about raising the spigot end up by putting a few CD cases under the LBK to keep the trub away from the spigot? Classic.

[DirtRacer]

How about raising the spigot end up by putting a few CD cases under the LBK to keep the trub away from the spigot? Classic.

I did this until I got an old book shelf that I turned into a "fermentation station". It had adjustable shelves so I took one shelf and dropped the back of it one level which gave the LBK a nice slope.