One of the benefits of engaging in such a broad subject as home brewing is the secondary use for all that equipment and random knowledge. Friend needs to borrow a 7 gallon glass jug? I have one of those. Brother-in-law needs to rapidly cool down 6 gallons of boiling liquid? I can help with that. Neighborhood lemonade stand wants to know the specific gravity of their signature beverage? No problem.
I’m a bit of a gadget freak, and this tendancy applies in the kitchen as much as anywhere. I’d been meaning for some time to get a sous-vide circulator, and last May (2016) I finally broke down and purchased the Anova Precision Cooker.