Yes Ill say I started to notice myself, thinking of using spikes moto of buy once cry once and go with the Spike 15 gallon system…
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As long as you have a lot of friends to distribute to. I prefer more smaller batches and variety but I don’t have people hanging out en masse draining the supply.
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Very true and witrh our club plenty to drink it, and for only a few hundred more you can do 10 gallons vs 5. But, still have the ability to only brew 5 if you want.
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There goes the budget! Ha ha ha
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Yes, the HERMS and RIMS are very neato stuff… But, there is more to clean/maintain… Brew in a basket… One kettle and I’ll give you that I have to clean the basket that holds the grain… I believe this W/E is going to be a brew day… I should try get some vids of how my setup operates… Don’t hold yer breathe tho… 
Sneezles61
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I have two bayou classic 16 gal pots and I love them. Cheap and work just as well as the fancy kettles people pay twice as much for. No judging…just sayin…
I just purchased a 17cf upright freezer from a local discount appliance store for $500. Put 4 taps in the door and a temp controller on it. It will actually hold 6 ball lock kegs with lots of storage on the shelves above for yeast slurry, bottles, etc. Also managed to keep two of the upper shelves on the door.
I love an upright because i don’t have to lift kegs up, over and into a chest freezer/keezer collar. You may be younger than me but we all get older so think about it…
For me two indispensable pieces of equipment are my barley crusher grain mill and my duda diesel plate chiller. Roughly $100 each…
I got most of my kegs off ebay and a few from kegconnections.com. All are used/reconditioned and work perfectly well. Most were <$50 each. I’d jump on the $32 keg deal above if I were you…thought about getting a couple for myself but I have 14 kegs…I think the breed…
Starting over knowing what I know now I’d go electric for a few bucks more but my cheap propane burners have worked perfectly well for years.
Everyone has opinions and some of them are great ideas but you need to consider what and HOW you want to brew and build your brewery for your needs. Good luck and have fun!
2 of those and a pump about $400. That’s good
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Understood, Im a bit of a gear guy lol and usually like to go all the way with hobbies, so yea itll be over kill but makes me happy :). After two deployments to Iraq I know life is short and to do what makes you happy!
Kegerator purchased and first 4 kegs are in route.!
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Well Everyone, Trigger pulled, 15 gallon Spike + system purchased with table and cooling coil. Along with the 14 gallon Conical Fermenter and the heating and cooling package. Here we go, Now onto the rest of everything needed. And setting up basement with 220 and drainage!
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Somebody’s gonna blow is 2k budget…haha…enjoy brother!
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Thank you, Im in the upstate NY area if anyone is close and would like to link up some day!
I have a camp in Franklin county. I have friends up there that are Red Sox fans because growing up thy could only get VT stations. What’s your reason?
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HAHA! Deployed with a bunch of boys from New England during my impressionable days, guess they rubbed of on me 
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Pumps on sale:
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AND, I would like to thank you for such a commitment… To serve and put it all on the line… My hat goes off to you!
You’ll like the electric side of brewing… Before you get set and really bang it together… take some time, have a few brews and study your brewing area you’ll be setting up… Is there a way to put an exhaust fan/vent to the out of doors… Hopefully there is a drain right in that location too! And water supply, or at least you can get it over to your brew area… IF you can, find a big used commercial sink… In our state,Mn., the commercial kitchens have to have a 3 compartment sink… So, there are some 2 compartment sinks, stainless steel, that are quite reasonably priced… I’m so thankful for mine… And some how you’ll need the get the brew into your fermenter… I hope there is a way to have it on wheels and it won’t tip as you push it around… Carrying/lugging the brew is going to get a bit tougher as you grow older… I never thought I’d have to fess up to that statement… Congrats on your Spike endearment… Pictures to follow also? Sneezles61
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Yea man, you’re gonna need to start a thread under gear(porn) so we can live vicariously through your buildout.
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Just in my head your about 6k over budget. Nice system can’t wait to hear about it when it comes in
First, thank you for your service! You deserve a great system!
And, a great system you have. Spike has tons of info On their products here.
Get to know your system and you’ll be rewarded with great beer!
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Thank you and I appreciate the kind words. One of the reasons for pulling the trigger is I just demoed a portion of our finished basement and was wondering what the heck to do with the space, it will be a perfect area for brewing. Im going to leave it open and unfinished, run the electrical and get a sink set up down there and live with the setup for a while. Once I feel it is in good shape then ill put it all back together again and make it nice.
Going to take my time on this and be methodical, trying to figure out the best platform to share experience and my pros and cons. I will absolutely take pictures and videos for you all. Think itll be a great experience and everyone will be able to get a good laugh at a novice trying to make it work!
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