BeerBorg

Where I don't know if I want to spend any more money on equipment. I know! I just am not sure where else to go. I like the beer I am making, which is part of why I am thinking I have reached the peak. And, at this point, I don't know if any investment in equipment will make significantly better beer.

I BIAB and have a good pot for it. I have another pot that I was considering using as a lauter tun, and building a mash tun out of a cooler. But would my beer be that much better than my current BIAB beer? And I get good results with bucket type fermentors, so would a conical or anything else be that much better? And now that the kegerator is in full swing, I don't need anything else to drink it.

Am I being crazy here?

My only thought is that you are basically right.

Make sure what you have is in good shape (update as needed) and enjoy brewing.

When that changes, then make your plans at that time.

For myself, the next change may be to kegging. I am thinking maybe a small keg to split a batch between bottles and keg.
My last real upgrade was to a propane burner and larger pot that can do 5 gallon batches easily.

Not crazy at all. There's nothing out there that says you need all the latest and greatest equipment to make good, even great, beer. If you're comfortable with your equipment and you're making beer that you like, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with what you have.

Now that you have it dialed in and are happy with what you've got, and your looking for that next challenge, you can always start working on new recipes. Ones that use new/different grains, hops, yeast, etc. etc. You can let that be your challenge and start a new learning curve.

Stick with what works for ya! I BIAB and while it may not be nirvana for all homebrewers, it works for me and I'm 90% happy with my beers.
You might find that as you wonder along, you need more and if so, grab the gusto and move along.
Keep on keeping on!

Yeah, I just feel like at this point I want to really dial in my stuff and get good at it. Not saying I won't eventually keep buying stuff, but it just seems now the focus will be on better recipes than before I was trying to do a recipe again, but I was on a new system, too. Hence how my MOFF Diver IIPA came out as a pale ale this last time around!

If you want or feel the need to make some improvements spend the money if you have it. If not, don't look for ways to spend money you don't need to spend. If you are happy with the way things are going, if you are happy with your processes, enjoy it.

Nope, not crazy. Sounds perfect. Enjoy your brews and squirrel away the $$$. You might change your mind in the near future and it'd be nice to have that extra cash to do... whatever it is you might want to do.

I actually find the equipment and building new stuff part of the hobby....so I am always upgrading, trying new things...coming up with a new idea...Though I am an engineer so probably why..lol

At this point, the quality of your outcome depends more on your process than your equipment.* BIAB and bucket fermenters aren't going to produce better beer or worse beer than a mash tun and a Better Bottle carboy. If your recipe is a good one, and you're mashing and fermenting at the proper temperatures, and cleaning and sanitizing properly, the only reason to change equipment is for your own personal reasons of convenience or some other preference.

I usually prefer AG recipes, and I have a mash tun. That being said, I only use the mash tun for 5-gallon batches. When I make 2.5-gallon batches, I do BIAB, because I don't want to fuss with all that cleaning up for that small an amount of grain. That's my choice, and I've made fine beer with both techniques, according to the competition scores I've gotten.

Don't change just for the sake of change. Change because the change will improve things.


*That's what she said

If you can brew the volume you are after with the equipment you have, you're set. There is slight improvement between the fermenters you are talking about that really won't warrant the price. Your best bet is to get comfortable with your equipment, learn it and improve with it and get your process down so you can repeat recipes.

I know where you're coming from. My extract brewing yields beers I like from a 5 gallon pot on the stovetop. Since I am happy with the results, I have no plans to change.

Yesterday I had to drive to other side of town for things, driving right past the driveway of the LHBS. Normally I would stop in and buy a few recipes. But I have 23 cases of beer (only 19 ready to drink), which is enough for a long time. So I drove past...

I am glad you have reached that point. Unlike myself, there never seems to be an end point. I just picked up another kegerator that can hold a 15 gallon keg and a 5 gallon keg. So that puts me at 2 refrigerators and 2 fermentation chamber chest freezers. My nice new patio that had all kinds of room is now so full of beer equipment that I can hardly move around. Kodos to you my friend for finding your happy spot.

You know, it's feeling pretty good. It's almost zen like, knowing I have finally stopped perusing more, and just getting back to enjoying the hobby.

JimH wrote:You know, it's feeling pretty good. It's almost zen like, knowing I have finally stopped perusing more, and just getting back to enjoying the hobby.

Kinda like when you lock down a handful of recipes and are just content brewing "your stuff" over and over for a while. New equipment and new recipes are just fine, but nothing wrong with getting comfortable either.

I'm kind of that point. At the moment, I'm half considering getting some 2.5-gallon kegs and the necessary accoutrements to keg every third or fourth small batch. I don't mind bottling the small batches, but kegging is definitely easier, and I don't use the lager fridge more than a couple times a year, so using it to house a keg with a picnic tap would be convenient.

I'm still debating whether it's worth pulling the trigger on that, though.