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Why a Brew Day Box?

Over the years I’ve homebrewed, I’ve utilized a number of storage and organization strategies.  Some could be defined less as strategies and more as “piles”.  These strategies have ranged from, cardboard boxes, to big totes that I threw everything under the sun into to using smaller shoe box size containers and breaking everything out into categories.  The shoe box size organization method has worked well and other than a few large totes for bigger items, it’s what I’ve settled on.  At some point after going to that, I realized that when brew day rolled around, I had to collect items from a number of these containers.  I usually forgot something and had to look around, multiple times per brew day trying to find whatever I needed.  That evolved into putting together a container just for brew days.  I cleverly 🙂 call that my “Brew Day Box”.  This container houses nearly all the small odds and ends that I use when brewing.  I’ve also tried to make sure those things don’t really need removed at other times.  For example I use a refractometer regularly, not just on brew day, so… I bought another refractometer.  Everything that’s in my Brew Day Box generally… stay in my Brew Day Box.  This keeps everything in one place and I’m not wasting time trying to find stuff when I should be brewing.

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What’s in the Box?

#1 – Stainless Steel Prep Cups.  I use these for portioning hops and other boil additions.  These are a great size and they nest to save space in the box.  Search Amazon for “stainless steel sauce cups” to see what’s available.  I would look for something in the 2.5 to 3 ounce range.

Related Reviews: Hands On Review: Stainless Steel Portion Cups – for Brew Day Measuring & Samples and Hands On Review: Winco 4 Ounce Stainless Steel Portion Cups – for Brew Day Measuring & Samples
#2 – 500 mL Polypropylene Lab Containers. This 500 mL lab grade bottle is safe at boiling temps, it’s also autoclave and microwave friendly.  I use this container for rehydrating yeast.  Check out the Tips Page (tip #1) for my technique on that.  I use dry yeast enough that I wanted this in my brew day box.  My brew day refractometer also fits in this, so it saves some space and protects that piece of equipment.

Search Amazon for “Polypropylene Lab Bottles” to see what options are available,  Some things to look for – proper temp ratings, use of food safe materials and microwaveable.

#3 –  An inexpensive lighter from the dollar store

#4 –  Teflon Tape for weldless fittings

#5 – Messermeister 8-Inch Take-Apart Kitchen Scissors – These come apart for easy cleaning and sanitizing and have a built in bottle opener.  Check out my Hands on Review of these great scissors

• Thermapen ONE by ThermoWorks – Hands on Review
• Inkbird Waterproof Instant Read Thermometer IHT-1P – Hands on Review
• Pictured CDN DTQ450X Digital ProAccurate Instant-Read Thermometer-NSF Certified – Hands on Review

Inkbird Instant Read Meat Thermometer IHT-1P, Digital Waterproof Rechargeable Food Thermometer with Calibration, Magnet, Backlight for Cooking, Grill, Smoker, Kitchen, Turkey

$23.99

Lavatools PT12 Javelin Ultra Fast Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer for Grill and Cooking, 2.75" Probe, Compact Foldable Design, Large Display, Splash Resistant – Sambal

$24.99

Lavatools PX1D Javelin PRO Duo Ultra Fast Professional Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer for Grill and Cooking, 4.5" Probe, Auto-Rotating Backlit Display, Splash Resistant – Panda

$49.99

#7 – KitchenArt Plastic Adjust-a-Tablespoon – I use a measuring spoon for measuring yeast nutrient additions and other boil additions.  This is another space saver.  I wanted to easily fit everything in one shoe size box.  At one point, I kept an entire set of measuring spoons in the box.  This replaced that whole set.

#8 – Fast Weigh Digital Pocket Scale – Gram Scale is great for measuring hops and other boil additions.  I’ve found it to be very accurate and it’s a great size.  Check out my Hands on Review – Here.  Note: The pictured scale is the FastWeigh MS-500.  I think that is since out of production.  Consider this great scale: Model AWS-100 Digital Gram Scale – Hands on Review#9 – Taylor Precision Products Four-Event Kitchen Timer with Whiteboard – This allows me to time up to four hop additions and also has a handy white board for noting what hops go in when.

#10 – Leatherman – Wingman Multitool, Stainless Steel –  Another great bang for the buck with regards to space.  This thing is really well made and includes lots of features including pliers, wire cutters a knife, screwdrivers, a bottle opener and lots more.
#11 – Dual Scale Refractometer.  Refractometers use a sample size of just a few drops and (with the use of a calculator) can be used to measure gravity throughout the brewing process.  Search Amazon for “digital brix refractometer” to compare prices and see what models are currently available.

aichose Brix Refractometer with ATC, Dual Scale - Specific Gravity & Brix, Hydrometer in Wine Making and Beer Brewing, Homebrew Kit

$18.99

Beer Wort Refractometer for Homebrewing Beer, Dual Scale Specific Gravity 1.000-1.130 and Brix 0~32%, Beerbrewing Refractometer Hydrometer with (ATC) Autoction Temperature Compensation

$17.97

Brix Refractometer with ATC, Dual Scale - Specific Gravity & Brix, Hydrometer in Wine Making and Beer Brewing, Homebrew Kit

Brix Refractometer with ATC - Tiaoyeer Digital Handheld Refractometer for Beer Wine Brewing, Dual Scale-Specific Gravity 1.000-1.130 and Brix 0-32%

$17.99

Anpro Brix Refractometer with ATC,Refractometer for win Moisture, Brix and Baume,Dual Scale-Specific Gravity 1.000-1.130 and Brix 0-32%, for Wine Making,Beer Brewing,Maple Syrup,Molasses

$19.99

Aichose Brix Refractometer for Measuring Sugar Content in Brewing, Cooking and Food Indurstry.Dual Scale: Brix of 0-32% and Corresponding Specific Gravity

$20.99

Ade Advanced Optics BCBI9177 Beer Wort and Wine Refractometer, Dual Scale - Specific Gravity 1.000-1.120 and Brix 0-32%, Replaces Homebrew Hydrometer (Aluminum)

$28.99

Digital Brix Refractometer Flagfront brix Meter Refractometer Automatic Temperature Compensation Brix Refractometer Range 0-55%，±0.1% Precision for Fruit Juice Coffee

$45.99

MILWAUKEE'S Instruments MA871 Digital Brix Refractometer, Range 0-85%

$147.27 -$43.34 $103.93

Atago 3810 PAL-1 Digital Hand Held Pocket Refractometer, 0.0 - 53.0% Brix Measurement Range

$242.22

DiFluid Digital Brix Refractometer and Concentration Meter, 0-55% Range, ±0.1% Precision, 0.05% Resolution,Waterproof,Rechargeable and Portable, Beer, Wine, Fruit and More

$99.99 ($30.30 / in)

#13 – Storage Boxes.  Since this write up was originally published the box I initially used has become hard to get. Another option to consider… IRIS USA, Inc. CNL-5 Storage Box – Hands on Review. It’s not the exact same size, but do work great around my home brewery. Search Amazon for 6.5 quart storage boxes – to see what’s available.  I suggest looking for a model with clear sides so you can easily see contents.

The whole lineup

Top View – Everything Loaded in the Box
Front View