So I have been doing research lately about the equipment I need to buy if I ever want to move to all grain brewing. The only real trouble I am having is the propane burner, and here is why:
I normally brew with some friends, each of us doing our own beer. My friends either do small batch brews or 5 gallon extracts, so they can all be done on a stove top. I happen to have an electric stove in the basement of my house, so we all just gather down there because it’s out of the way and the cool basement is perfect for fermenting.
If I jump to 5+ gallons of all grain, I would need to be running outside to boil the sparge/strike water and then to do a full boil on the wort. If I were brewing alone, then that’s no big deal. But if I am still brewing with friends, then this would be really awkward.
So… I have been looking into heating rods to add to my pot while it’s also sitting on a stove burner, but I just don’t know where to really look because they are listed as “water bucket heating” items, so no one really ever says they’re great for beer. Also, the only 230VAC in the basement is already being used for the stove, and I don’t feel like getting too crazy with the wiring (I am more than capable, just don’t want to do it). So I don’t know if a 120VAC model is on the market for an affordable price that will also be strong enough for 6.5 gallons of wort.
I also looked into induction “burners”, which are really cool… but a little expensive, and like I said before, I don’t know if there is an affordable 120VAC model that would be powerful enough.
I also happen to have an unfinished room in the basement with a door and a window. There is always the possibility of getting a propane burner, and sticking it in that room on brew day, opening the window and closing the door. This feels like the worst idea of the bunch, but it is still technically viable.
My question is… what do you forumites suggest? I really enjoy the all grain process the most, and I really want to make 5 gallon brews, but the heat required to do a full boil seems to be my undoing. If the true answer is “Stick to extract brewing for now”, then so be it. I’m just curious if anyone had any ideas?