Getting started.

I have brewed two batches of beer. A stout and a california steam, extract w/ specialty grains, with some success. Now whats my next move? I would love to get an all grain setup but i think my money may be better spent on a firmwrap and a temp controller. And  bang for my buck im thinking about an O2 regulator with a diffusing stone.

Look at Denny’s site.  You can get into all grain brewing without a huge investment in equipment.  www.dennybrew.com

you can get in to all grain very simply even if you can’t  make the cooler and toilet hose you can use the grain bag in the kettle or even in a cooler as a tun then just pull it out. keep going, read,  and make equipment adjustments as needed.

I’d say that temp control is a bigger priority for you than AG.  It will improve your extract beers and you’ll still need it when you go AG.  Take a look at my website www.dennybrew.com for the Cheap’n’Easy way to go AG.  You can start planning now and building the equipment as time and budget allow.

Agreed you should check Denny’s site, and explore YouTube.  I learned a TON when I first started to consider AG a few years ago.

The temp controller will definitely help, but the O2 and diffusing stone, IMHO, should be way down on your list.  You can properly aerate without the need for O2.

Dave

Agree.  The shake the hell out of it method worked just fine for me for my first 20 batches or so.

Yeah! What Denny said! My beer improved considerably when I got fermentation temps consistent.  I’d say thats the most important first equipment upgrade a brewer should make after they have their initial set up.

Congrats on the two batches. Hope they are drinking well.

Temp control should be one of the first things tackled. It’s critical. Unless you have some sort of stable cellar with temps’s in the low 60’s year round. :smiley:

A drill with the $3 paint stirrer will aerate wort just fine. RDWHAHB. Concentrate on brewing consistent good beer then tackle the all-grain process. It’s another kettle of fish entirely, fraught with heartbreak and confusion. But it’s fairly straightforward once you learn all the variables and what to do.

Welcome to the obsession!

What’s the hurry?  Practice a while.  Brew a few more batches and Ninkasi will reveal the path she wants you to follow.

+1.  Have to agree with punatic and euge.  Brew some good extract beer, read up to understand the process and what will be different with AG and then take the plunge.  There is no rush.