Morydd

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My neighbor downstairs brews regularly and has offered me the use of his equipment in getting started brewing myself. However, I don't want to tie up his carboys for fermenting. If I understand what I'm doing correctly, between brew day and bottling, the only thing I need is a fermenter, correct?

So, assuming I can borrow the other equipment, I can get started with just a fermenting bucket and the ingredients. Is this correct, or am I missing something?

I'm just getting started, and with a 1 year old and an unsteady work situation, I can't justify jumping in with both feet and spending the money all at once on a full kit.

Talloak

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That sounds like a great way to get a taste for the hobby. You are correct, all you need between brew day and bottling is a fermentation vessel - either a food grade plastic bucket ($18) or a glass carboy ($38) - both found at homebrew stores or online. At my local homebrew shop, a free airlock ($1.50) is included with purchase, as it is also required.

For ingredients you can try some Brewers Best brand extract kits, they usually run $25 - $45 or so and make 5 gallons.

__________________
'Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery'

Thinking about: California Common, Fat Squirrel Clone
Fermenting: Greenbelt Pale Ale
Conditioning:
Aging: Strong Scotch Ale, Robust Porter
Drinking: Saison

Vuarra

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You could also try looking on Craig's List (or other similar sites), or check with your LHBS for used carboys / demijohns. *All* of my DJs were used, and only needed a little elbow grease to get clean. I also spent $15 for each of them, rather than the $50 that is the list price new around here.

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If you are not growing your own 6th generation barley and hops, you're not *really* homebrewing.
/Sarcasm

Fermenting: Real Ale, Extract Lager (with WLP830), India Pale Ale

Conditioning: Nothing

Drinking: Pale Ale from the keg

malkore

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I vote for the 'cheap bucket fermenter' they're easy to find, cheap, work well, easy to clean, and if you never brew again you'd still find a use for the bucket. plus they don't shatter when dropped 1/2".

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

Morydd

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Should I get a bucket with a spigot? Will that make bottling easier, or is it not worth it for the sanitation issues?

chemman14

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dont worry about the spigot, you wont bottle from your fermenter as there is a ton of sediment on the bottom of your fermenter that you dont want in your beer

wormfishin

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You might want to grab a hydrometer too, so you'll know when fermentation is done.

Otherwise sounds like a great deal.

jschaf

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you WILL need another bucket with a spigot (bottling bucket) to siphon the beer from the fermenter into in order to bottle. So, one plastic bucket with airlock (fermenter), and one with a spigot (bottling bucket). This is how I do it I'm not sure of the other people.

LordHedgie

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Nah, you can borrow that from your friend when it's time to bottle. Just get a bucket and an airlock -- borrow his hydrometer when you think its time.

jschaf

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I was just answering his question not assuming.