[1 - uKeg Go Growler, 2 - Fermentis Dry Yeast Variety Pack, 3 - Tilt Hydrometer, 4 - Refractometer, 5 - Plaato Keg Scale, 6 - Floor Corker]
Keeping a wishlist on Amazon is a great idea for brewers because it keeps track of all the unnecessary toys and gadgets that can help with your brew day. It’s also a great way to share ideas for gifts (think birthdays and Father’s day) so your family members don’t have to guess what you want. Check out the ideas below for some inspiration.
uKeg Go Growler
This is a great gift for the homebrewer or beer lover (or yourself…). Compared to some of the other versions from Growlerwerks, this one is a bit more streamlined and less steampunk looking. It comes with a carbonation cap to keep beer carbonated while on the go. It’s made of double-walled stainless steel, much safer than the standard glass growlers that are prone to shattering on the garage floor.
Fermentis Dry Yeast Variety Pack
Great for the impromptu brew day, dry yeast can keep for years in the freezer. With this variety pack, you can always have a backup in case something goes wrong or simply want to brew something without having to make a trip to the LHBS.
Tilt Hydrometer
This is one of those tools that you don’t know you need until you try it. It eliminates the guesswork, waste and oxygen exposure needed to check gravity samples during fermentation. The Tilt also has a thermometer built in so you know exactly what temperature the beer is at. Paired with a raspberryPi setup, you can have your beer fermentation data streaming to your phone at all times. You’ll soon find yourself checking the latest batch from the comfort of your couch.
Refractometer
Similar to the Tilt, a refractometer is one of those tools that you’ll look back and wonder why you hadn’t used it sooner. I find it to be great during a brew day to check gravity at any stage without having to waste a whole cylinder full of precious wort. All it takes is a drop and the pre-boil gravity is in the books.
Plaato Keg Scale
Pitched as a keg monitoring system, this is an essential gadget for anyone using kegs. Simply connect to wifi and slide underneath your keg to have a live view into how much beer is left on tap. No more guessing if your keg will have enough beer for that backyard get-together.
Floor Corker
Are you into brewing belgians, RIS, or wine? The floor corker takes the effort out of bottling in larger formats designed for aging. You will need some bottles, corks and maybe even cages to make full use of this tool but the corker is the biggest single expenses. Having one of these bad boys in your garage/basement will inspire you to brew that next big project beer in time for the winter.
Cheers!