On Mar 23, 8:58 am, "Walter Venables" <wvenab...@charter.net> wrote:[color=blue]
> I am looking at getting into all grain but I am confused about setup. What
> is the difference between the 3-pot/3-burner system and the systems using
> one pot and 2-coolers. Other then expense, what are the differences and is
> either one better than the other? Also if going with the 3 pot system what
> size pots are required for 5 gal. recipes. Are recirculation pumps necessary
> and from where to where?
>
> Walter[/color]

Hi Walter,

The best advice I can offer about all grain brewing is to keep it
simple. For years I considered going AG but hesitated because I
thought I needed a lot more equipment, gadgets, ph strips, etc. Then,
after reading about how easy batch sparging can be, I took the leap
and haven't regretted it.

I use a converted keg boil kettle, a propane burner with two LP tanks
(walmart $30 special), a 54 quart cooler with a slotter copper
manifold that I built myself, a glass thermometer, and three 5 gallon
buckets to brew. I use the buckets to move hot water from the boiler
(HLT) to the mash tun cooler, and also to collect the sweet wort from
the mash tun while the boiler (HLT) is still being used to heat sparge
water.

And one doensn't have to have a large boil kettle and mash tun,
either. I use these larger vessels as I prefer to brew 10 gallon
batches so I don't need to brew so often.

Sometimes I don't even bother checking the specific gravity of my
worts and beers. Since I batch sparge, I've never bothered to check
the ph of the wort during the sparge. I also buy my grain in bulk,
and have my local homebrew shop grind it (BrewCon in Boise will mill
your malt for free if you buy it from them...I appreciate this
service).

Anway. You don't need three kettles. You definitely don't need
expensive pumps. One doesn't need to have professional quality tools
to brew decent beer.

Cheers!

Scott P.
Brewing in Boise, Idaho

P.S. I do recommend that you get two LP tanks for all grain brewing.
Let's just say it's really inconvenient to run out of gas at ten at
night after swilling homebrew for four hours...