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Mustangfreak · 10-11-2007, 12:44 PM

So about a m onth ago me and my friend were talking about brewing our own beer, so the next morning I went online, and in an anxious impatiant excitment, I ordered the Mr Beer kit. While it has good reviews, I know its by far the best "brewing" kit out there.

I'm looking on Austinhomebrew.com, and they have a setupd for the same price I paid, and it has better stuff.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_52&products_id=2354

I hate it when I don't do any research on my hobbies.

Evan! · 10-11-2007, 12:58 PM

Word to the wise: in the future, if you're not 100% sure (and sometimes, even if you are) about a homebrew-related purchase, ASK HBT! Conduct a poll if you want. That's how I chose my grain mill, and it's simply awesome.

Mustangfreak · 10-11-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan!

Word to the wise: in the future, if you're not 100% sure (and sometimes, even if you are) about a homebrew-related purchase, ASK HBT! Conduct a poll if you want. That's how I chose my grain mill, and it's simply awesome.

I didnt find HBT till it was too late

haha

Should I go ahead and order that kit now? Or wait till I get bck from the desert next summer?

The resonable side says wait, and just keep using the kit I have now. But the eager side says NOW!

**the_bird** · 10-11-2007, 01:10 PM

The thing about the starter kits is that you don't really need to outgrow them, you just add on. I still use every piece of equipment that I got in my starter kit - the buckets, the hydrometer, the capper, the bottling wand, so it's not like you buy it and really outgrow it (you just end up buying more and more stuff!).

The Mr. Beer kit, some people like it... but I suspect those are mostly people who haven't made beer any other way. It strikes me as an extremely limiting system.

So yeah, I'd go ahead and buy the "real" kit (and Austin Homebrew is a very well-regarded company).

rdwj · 10-11-2007, 01:14 PM

I agree with Bird. There is almost nothing in a starter kit that you won't use until it's worn out. It's well worth the inventment and you'll make a product you will be happy with. I've tried beer made with Mr. Beer - it's not good.

98EXL · 10-11-2007, 01:16 PM

DOOOOOOOOOOOOO IT!

go get a real kit......next thing you know you start looking for turkey fryers and burners and coolers.....SWMBO will look at you funny all the time!

Mustangfreak · 10-11-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

The thing about the starter kits is that you don't really need to outgrow them, you just add on. I still use every piece of equipment that I got in my starter kit - the buckets, the hydrometer, the capper, the bottling wand, so it's not like you buy it and really outgrow it (you just end up buying more and more stuff!).

The Mr. Beer kit, some people like it... but I suspect those are mostly people who haven't made beer any other way. It strikes me as an extremely limiting system.

So yeah, I'd go ahead and buy the "real" kit (and Austin Homebrew is a very well-regarded company).

Word, now the real question, which kit.

The $156 kit is a "Tap-a-draft" system. And then theres the $200 kit thats made for bottling.

**the_bird** · 10-11-2007, 01:24 PM

I wouldn't go with the "tap a draft" - good system from a lot of accounts, but most everybody eventually wants to do a regular kegging setup (with 5 gallon cornie kegs). That's an example of something that might be a bit better than bottling, but something that there's a good chance you'd "outgrow," so to speak.

rdwj · 10-11-2007, 01:25 PM

I's suggest an intermediate kit with either glass carboys or better bottles. I'd also suggest not going with the tap-a-draft. In the long run, you'll probably be much happier with a corney keg system.

98EXL · 10-11-2007, 01:30 PM

I like both glass and the plastic....although I'll probably buy some more better bottles instead of glass next...just to mix it up