I need to know what new piece of equipment to get. A pump? Or a upgrade my propane burner?
Which ever one helps control fermentation temperature. I know neither does, but that is where I would spend my money first.
I own a March pump that I have never used, which should answer your question.
I would say it depends on your burner and what sort of upgrade you are looking at. I have a $50 square bayou classic that I love. Not fancy like a blichmann, but I get ~4 five gallon batches out of a tank and after a buddy threw a windscreen on I get way better flame control.
I am looking to get a pump after I get a mill, and maybe a fancy keg hopper thing in between.
I am also dealing with 80 degree ground water in the summer which makes chilling a long and water intensive task. A pump would for sure help here.
I have fermentation covered, I built a box that I’m using a window unit to keep temperatures controlled. I have a Bayou classic now for my burner, I’m just trying to cut my brew day time down, it seems like it takes forever to boil 6-7 gal coming from mash temps.
I don’t have that issue with mine. I get my sparge water from ~80 - 180 in 20 minutes and get a boil after sparge inn less. Which model do you have? I have this SQ14 and have been happy.
If all you are trying to do is cut time, I would go with the pump.
Edit - Changed photo link. I guess amazon doesn’t appreciate linked images.
I didn’t use a pump for the longest time, but my chilling process took quite a while with merely an immersion chiller - I started using the whirlpool immersion chiller by simply adding a little copper and some silicone high temp hoses and haven’t looked back…so you might want to consider that. But I brew 10 gallons typically, so YMMV. If your burner seems adequate, then you may save more time in your brew day by getting a pump. Also, the pump can be used to save your back, if lifting is an issue.
That all assumes your burner is relatively adequate, of course, because a poor burner can add a lot of time to your brew day.
Only one of them produces fire. Easy choice for me.
The burner I’m using is the bottom of the line Bayou classic the one that comes with the turkey fryers, it’s about eight years old
Is it the type with a single big soot spewing jet? If so, for sure upgrade.
Bayou Classic SQ14 works great with keggles - http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-Single-Burner-Patio/dp/B0009JXYQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405627070&sr=8-1&keywords=bayou+sq14
Similar burner design to Blichmann (maybe the same?) http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-KAB4-Pressure-Cooker/dp/B0009JXYQY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1405627179&sr=8-4&keywords=bayou+classic
If you are getting less than 3-4 batches of beer from a propane tank and it takes forever to bring to boil I 'd say get a better, more efficient burner for sure, speeds up the day and saves money over time!
You can’t brew without a good heat source. You can brew without a pump.
Pumps are great but you can live without them as long as you have gravity. Burners are slightly more important, if you have a sucky burner i would upgrade to a higher BTU burner and save the old one for the odd double brew or any other times you may want a second burner.
Looks like I’m going to get a new burner. Is Blichmann worth the $50 more than the Bayou classic KAB4?
If you get the kab4 on amazon it’s $70 less than a blichmann burner. The blichmann burners are nice and work with near any kettle/keggle you can throw at em. The centering tabs are a smart idea.
I have two and can’t live without them. To each their own.
Disclaimer: one is a March and the other is a Chugger.
Agreed, i cant live without my pumps. but i have a single tier brewstand and putting a my MLT higher then my BK is impossible etc. IF you are doing small batches and dont have the ability to rig your gear semipermanantly, a pump seems like the poorer choice of the 2 options IMHO. Id get it after the burner for sure tho;)
I went to plenty of burners early on. This old guy has a single tier system and for ten gallons my pumps are back savers.
If the OP is doing 5 gallons get the best best burner you can afford. Heat is required to make beer, be it NG, LPG, electricity, steam, or fire wood.
If you go to 10 gallons the pump will recirculate when chilling, move and lift the wort, and for low gravity ales I use it to aerate by pumping full throttle into the fermenter. Pumps are a tool I find useful.
Pumps also recirculate wert. = ss mt which has a longer life than a Coleman and is multifunctional
Has anyone tried the Northern Brewer Edelmetal burner? It looks nice…