With so many different systems and set-ups on the market, you may not be sure what you need to begin your all-grain brewing journey. At the very least, you’ll need a brewing system and a fermenter, but you’ll also likely want a few other bits and pieces depending on how efficient you want the process to be. So, let’s get stuck in.
1. A Brewing System
Firstly, you’re going to need something to make your beer with! We’d recommend opting for an all-in-one electric brewing system. While some swear by their trusty three-vessel systems, which are comprised of, you guessed it, three vessels (a hot liquor tank to heat up the mash and sparge water, a mash/lauter tun to mash the grains, and a boil kettle to boil the wort prior to transferring it into a fermenter), for the purpose of this article we’re going to focus on all-in-one electric systems which combine these three pieces of equipment into one unit.
We recommend this type of system for its ease of use, efficiency, and space saving capabilities. They will usually have connectivity features that allow you to precisely control temperature and automate parts of the brewing process, giving you more time to focus on the creative aspects of brewing. One of the biggest perks? They’re so much easier to clean, and after a day of brewing, trust us, this is a big bonus!
You’ll also need to decide if you want to make small batches (as low as 10L) or large batches (up to 60L) as this will dictate what size brewing system you should choose.
2. A Fermenter
Once you’ve finished brewing, the wort will be transferred into a fermenter where you’ll add yeast to begin the fermentation process. Fermenters are available in plastic and stainless steel options, and in a variety of sizes and styles. Stainless steel fermenters are generally more durable than plastic, and while a simple bucket style plastic fermenter will get the job done and are quite cost-effective, there are other styles on the market that boast other great features like the ability to control the fermentation temperature (see our section below on Glycol Chillers) or specially designed taps to make sampling and transferring a breeze.
With a brewing system and a fermenter, you’re ready to start brewing, but you might want to add on a few nice-to-haves that will improve your all-grain brewing journey.
3. A Sparge Water Heater
After mashing the grains and prior to boiling, you’ll complete a process called sparging in which the grains are rinsed to extract all the sugary goodness present. A sparge water heater will heat the required amount of water to the right temperature and hold it there until you need to use it.
4. A Wort Chiller
A wort chiller cools down your wort either in the kettle or on its way to the fermenter prior to the addition of yeast. It isn’t always absolutely necessary as depending on batch size you could potentially use an ice bath, however, it is most likely going to be the most efficient and effective solution for you.
5. A Glycol Chiller
A glycol chiller is a fridge-like piece of equipment that connects to a compatible fermenter (you can also use an adapter in some cases), and pumps cold glycol around the fermenter to keep your brew at a very specific temperature. Accurate temperature control is key in producing consistently good results as yeast needs to be kept at an optimal temperature to thrive. If consistency and more predictable results is important to you, then a glycol chiller will be an excellent addition to your home brewery.
6. A Kegerator
Once your beer has finished fermenting, you’ll need to bottle or keg the beer. You may decide to bottle your beer as this is a very cost-effective option, however, it can be a time-consuming affair. Enter the Kegerator, aka, a beer fridge. Many brewers choose to keg their beer instead of bottling it – cleaning and sanitizing one vessel vs thirty or more? Yes please! It’ll also produce much more consistent results when it comes to carbonating your beer. You’ll also be able to hold 4 kegs in the kegerator, serving 3 of these on tap at any time.
7. A Hop Filter
If you’re a lover of hoppy beers, you may want to invest in a hop filter for your brewing system which will allow you to add hops during the boil to your hearts content.
8. Odds & Ends
Remember to keep these brewing essentials to hand to make sure the brew goes smoothly from start to finish:
- A stainless steel or plastic paddle to stir your grains and aerate your wort – this paddle will make contact with high temperatures so ensure you purchase one that is designed specifically for brewing.
- A hydrometer to test the specific gravity of your brew throughout different stages – this will help you work out the ABV of your finished beer and also track when fermentation is complete. This can be a basic glass hydrometer and sample tube, a refractometer which works like a hydrometer except you only need a few drops of sample liquid, or you can opt for something a little more sophisticated like a Tilt Hydrometer which will digitally track the specific gravity and temperature during fermentation.
- A spray bottle to keep sanitiser solution in.
Ready to start shopping? Check out our range of all-grain brewing equipment here(LINK). If you would like an overview of the brewing process first, check out our article All-Grain Brewing: A Beginner’s Guide to the Perfect Pint (LINK).
MYO Drinks
Helping you Make Your Own Great Batch from Scratch