Aloha Ya’ll 8)

I'm a Cajun lady currently living in Hawaii and hoping to get started in homebrewing. I come from a couple generations of wine, champagne and beer (malt extract syrup) makers. I hope to carry on something of the tradition. My husband likes something along pale ales, I like a range from stout to bock to wheat beer to lambic.

As I was taking out my homemade French bread from the oven, I started wondering about “No Boil” extracts and kits. Again, I should preface that our goal is to one day use “all grain” or “partial grain” brewing. For now, as I am a woman, I’ll continue to ask some “silly” ;-) novice questions.

So, can anyone provide wisdom, pros/cons, picks and pans regarding “no boil” extracts and kits such as the “Beer Machine”? Those of you in the South may appreciate it this more, but you wouldn’t believe what cheap beer costs here ;-) . Homebrewing that would produce a tasty beer could possibly equal the cost of purchasing “cheap” beer in Hawaii. It sure as hell can compete with the “higher class” and import beers. Its all import here!
;-). So, as I consider and collect all the bells, whistles, tools, shrunken heads ;-) , I ask about what appears to the nearly the easiest way for the beginner to start off in the meantime.

Meanwhile, I’ve found someone who used to own a homebrew store and we’re waiting to hear back from him about supplies, yeasts, DME and canned extracts. I also have a query in to a homebrew store off-island in Honolulu.

For those who’ve dared to address my maniacal questions about unmalted grain on 4-9-05 (unmalted grain in the "Beginner's Forum" section), thank you. I’ve learned much already. I suppose I should provide more detail about this recipe I’m speaking of that uses unmalted grain. But perhaps another day…..

I had failed to mention that I’ve discovered that usually the “free shipping” is for a country called “the continental United States”. J (hee hee) Hence, free ground shipping. I can’t thank you enough already for your kindness. I need all the help I can get, I tried dying my hair to a brunette to make me smarter, but it just didn’t work…. ;-) ;-) ;-)