(Part 2) Top products from r/brewing

Do you have a hydrometer? If not, get one and learn how to use it. It is the most important tool for troubleshooting fermenting beer. There is no other accurate way to tell if a beer is finished.

Most yeast strains have a documented alcohol level that they can handle. Google is your friend. With a precursory search, I'm finding 9% for English ale, but I've gotten higher. 9/10 times the beer finishes, unless you're pushing your sugar to some crazy heights.

I highly recommend picking up some books if you haven't yet. I cut my teeth on The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. It contains a huge amount of information for the beginner up to all grain. Simply laid out techniques, recipes to try, and the origin of RDWHAHB. Designing Great Beers is a great book to get guidelines on a lot of the major styles, it is the one I am using most often these days. Online forums like r/homebrewing and HomeBrewTalk are also great sources of information.

I have a grainfather and although it costs more, I am quite happy.

Once you trust what you are doing , with the bluetooth, you don't have to babysit it. I see the Clawhammer for 120 is $200, the Grainfather Connect alone is $150. You will need one ac cords that I used to call an IBM , https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Edison-Female-Adapter/dp/B0015V1GXS With this you can run your own recipes. WITH the timer functions. :)

If you are going for larger than 5gal. The Grainfather controller is not a viable option. UNLESS you use the heat outlet to power a relay to hadle a isolated 240v line to your element. YMMV and my advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. I just like gadgets. :)

What do you mean? As in how should you construct one? You understand that you won't be able to buy one, so no one can recommend stills for you to buy, right? I would recommend The Alaskan Bootleggers Bible for great information about a variety of different still designs.

https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Herbal-Healing-Beers-Fermentation/dp/0937381667

Great book if you wanna read some great history.

Ok, BIAB looks like the easiest way to do this. I don't want to buy too much equipment for this just yet. NB has a starter kit, but it looks like I'm only missing the mesh bag and a "mash paddle". What's the paddle for? I guess I have some research to do. Thanks.

Is this the sort of kettle you're thinking of?

There’s an easy-read Cider making book that might help! Check it out:

Cider: Making, Using & Enjoying Sweet & Hard Cider, 3rd Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580175201/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2CVDDbMZHRJFW

I just bought this one. I'll read it and report back.
http://www.amazon.com/Brewing-Michael-J-Lewis/dp/0306472740?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
I have a pretty big library, and I really don't think any are perfect for what I want. My shelf needs more books, so why not.

You can buy a braided steel freezer lock on amazon that binds with a strong adhesive cement that locks with a padlock. I bought this one and use it on the freezer door in my lab, it's bonds very securely.

I put a pump in the sink, filled just high enough to submerge the pump. Them dump 16lb of ice on top.

Similar pump can be had for $20. Make sure it has a connection that matches your chiller hose!

Works amazing.

i use a recirculating sump pump to recirculate cold water thru a pre-chiller and then into my chiller. it works well. granted, I make 12 gallon batches, so this may be overkill for 5 gallons...

Also, I'll make huge chunks of ice a few days prior to keep my water cold. I'll then fill up a rubbermade bin and put my water, ice and pump in that.

i use this pump

We have this book in our brewery. We refer to it as "The Bible"

Sorry for Amazon link, it was the first thing to pop-up on google and I'm lazy: http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Beer-Garrett-Oliver/dp/0195367138
Edit: I didn't read this well. If you're looking to learn how to brew, I recommend the Joy of Homebrewing. It's what I used.

I do 10 gallon batches and found an stand up outdoor cooking stove for my batches. I found it at a garage sale for $45. I've been using it for years. Went to this after my first attempt on doing the small batches on the electric stove. Highly encourage an outdoor burner, a stand up one if possible.

https://www.amazon.com/Stansport-Burner-Cast-Stove-Stand/dp/B005D29RE0/ref=sr_1_8?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1496958636

Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation
by Chris White is a good one

something like This

Carboy with airlock. Dried malt extract.

You could get another bottle, some dextrose, and a racking cane to do bottling/carbing, but it wouldn't be that much more.