Does the custom manufactured brewing equipment make better beer?

Question

http://www.highgravitybrew.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=159&idproduct=1601

Answer 1

I would say not.  It looks like that equipment would be very useful especially if you were brewing many large batches of home brew.  It would certainly reduce prep and cleanup time, and make the process easier.

With a little more effort and proper sterilization even a cheap home brew kit of some plastic buckets and tubing and a glass carboy can make beer that would taste just as good in the end.

The most important things that will influence the final quality of the beer is the quality of the ingredients, the recipes that you use, and a never ending commitment to keeping everything us use clean and sterile.

Good luck with whatever you choose to use, and happy brewing!

Answer 2

I'd avoid plastic personally, it loves to stain, smell, and harbor bacteria if you don't treat it with the utmost care but aside from that custom equipment could send your beer one way or the other to varying degrees.  Some people are right at home with the Ale Pail and a hand full of extracts, other's need to have hurricane burners with digital read-outs decked out in diamond plate.  Needless to say if they traded systems for a day they'd both be lost.

Different strokes for different folks.

Answer 3

I think so. This is one of the reasons I am upgrading to these systems. I have done it the back braking way for far too long. I feel not only have I earned it to owe it to myself but it is just a natural progression.

I hope it/it better gives much better control for the price. The main area I want to control is the fermentation and and associated transfers. Some have cooling jackets with good thermocouple(ers) and thermostats that give great temperature range control. Ease of a "sterile" transfer is also an issue for me these conicals can address. Then I will look to the brewhouse.

Answer 4

OF course NOT

your recipe is all that needed "that is the beer - wine"

the storage containers can be anything ,,that can control the air from entering it .

Answer 5

For most brews yes. That is not to say always as I have made beers with my RIMS and refrigeration controlled temperature brews that were not the favorite in tastings against or even all extract brews. It has do to with control of aspects that affect the beer.

I see a conversation revolving around brewing equipment broken down to three concerns: economy, control, and need.

Taking the last topic first none of us need the expensive "fancy" equipment to brew great beer. I should have said WANT. An exception would be a person with physical limitations.

Control over the mash temperatures better insures the convertion rates we calculate for our recipe. I can control with confidence the diastic convertion within 1 degree F. From my results I can determine if an adjustment is required for better results.

For the fermentation, I know what temperatures my yeast produce the desired flavors and  attenuation. So by having control within 2-3 degrees of the target I know I am in a good range to produce the desired results.

Tranfering is so much easier with pumps.

Economically it is not feasible for the vast majority of home-brewers. We can not recover the cost ever. But since it is a hobby we may consider it in much the same way a skier or a boater must. They do not spend thousands of dollars expecting a return on their investment but rather the pleasure or the hobby-activity. We too would be best to think of it this way as well. The ease of brewing, the prestige of the advanced equipment, and hopefully the results pay for itself.

**In addition it adds to the ease of brewing. No lifting heavy pots full of grain. No slippery glass carboy. In addition it seems to be a natural progression for homebrewers to upgrade their equipment. Just press a button and open a valve.  -Nice.-

Answer 6

Wow. What great stuff. Did you see the price though. One piece of the equipment was like my whole kit. Almost as much anyway.

I have only made a few batches so far with the basic equipment. It is bubbling in the fermenter real good. I do know about this fancy equipment.