Creeping ever closer to my own homebrew set-up!!!

It seems that more and more all I have time to post about is what I would like to post about, rather than the things I am actually doing. I guess this is a good thing when it comes to the fact that I am actually doing what I am thinking about rather than just writing about it, but it makes for a bit of an unsuccessful blog experience. Such is life I guess.

I have been doing the things I planned on doing. For example, I just got back from Home Depot where I was picking up all the bits and pieces to build my DIY mash lauter tun. this brings me one step closer to my first solo home brew. If you have read this blog, you know I have brewed a few beers already with my friend and brewing partner, Steve. I am treating learning to brew much like one would learn to fly. I did a good bit of research, then I started by co-piloting, and now I am just about ready for my first solo flight.

I have found the brewing community to be a very open and giving one. I got my carboy, fermenter, and related accessories secondhand through some friends. I got a wort chiller from another friend who is taking a break from brewing for a while to concentrate on some new things. I am borrowing a turkey fryer burner and stock pot from another friend who used to home brew. And finally, I am building a mash/lauter tun from plans I found online, a few bits of plumbing from Home Depot, and cooler I bought off of craigslist for $15. Brewing on a budget seems to be the plan. My dad always used to watch the cooking show "The Frugal Gourmet" and now I am thinking of myself as "The Frugal Home-Brewer".

There doesn't seem any point in re-writing the same blog posts as a few others have regarding the parts that go into making the MLT, so I will just post a link to the plan I used. And while these plans are from 2007, the cooler, parts list, and even the prices are pretty close to spot on. I will post pics and a description of the build as I am doing it to review any of the issues that I may come across, but until then, eat, drink, and be merry.