Optional Equipment to Consider

Optional Equipment

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Category: Equipment

Published on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 14:24

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Optional Equipment

The main equipment list is the basics but there are a couple of items I use to make things a bit easier.

Temperature Control

The temperature of your brew at pitching and during fermentation is important. To keep things at the right temperature you need some sort of temperature control. IN winter, temperature control is simple using either a band heater wrapped around the fermenter, or a heating pad which sits under the fermenter.

To keep the temperature down in summer you need a big dish of some sort that can fit the fermenter in with room for water and ice blocks around the outside. A bathtub works as well but the volume of water to be cooled is high. You can also use a wet towel draped over the fermenter and have a fan blow on it.

Steeping Bag or Mesh

If you are using finishing hops that doesn't come with it's own steeping bag, you need something to put the hops in so it doesn't add to the sediment too much. The simplest method is to use a piece of cheese cloth or muslin cloth you can buy from the kitchenware shops.

I use a big mesh ball that is made for making mulled wine. If you use one of these, don't get the smaller tea balls. The hops pellets expand a lot once they are steeped and you need room to allow for the expansion. So the mesh cage needs to fit the hops into it with plenty of room to spare.

Sediment Reducer

The sediment reducer is a little plastic piece that you insert into the back of your tap before you screw it into the fermenter. It has a small slot you position on the upper side so that the tap intake it higher up than without it. It does help reduce the amount of sediment that gets sucked into the tap when bottling or racking.

But do note that these little things also slow down the flow.

Racking Hose

To rack your brew (which is transferring it into another container to make it clearer) you really need a piece of hose to make the job so much easier. A simple piece of clear hose that fits over the spout of your tap will make the process of transferring your home brew into another container for settling SO much easier.

Take your tap with you to Bunnings and in the garden irrigation section you will find sections of clear hose. Buy the one that fits neatly onto your tap.

Using one of these hoses is almost essential if you are going to rack your brew into a 'cube' because if you don't use one, the ber can foam up too much to get it all in. The hose prevents foaming.

A Cube or Second Fermenter

A second fermenter is best for racking as it is easier to clean. But a cube comes much cheaper, works just as well and takes less room to store. A cube is just brewer speak for a plastic jerry can. Usually the cheapest place to get one is the camping stores. Just make sure it holds at least 23 litres and has a tap at the bottom or at least the thread to take one.

Racking your brew into another container is a great way to make it clearer with less sediment.

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