scoundrel

Recipes 

I'm sorry and really it is just my opinion, but I don't like the kit you mentioned. Two reasons. Although williamsbrewing sells high quality stuff they monitor their reviews and dump anything less than 4 stars (really a personal peeve). Second and most important there are things in the kit that are silly, like a spigot on a 5 gallon pot. IMO that's completely unnecessary. Take the money from the spigot and use it to get the biggest stock pot you can get. Take it from someone who started with a 6 gallon pot than moved to a 9 gallon and now use a 20.5 gallon. Adding a beer kit seems nice but I would think about beers you like and pick a different kit seperately or maybe get a kit from somewhere else. I started with Northern Brewer and all of them were top quality. A CD... no, ton's of online videos.

Here's what I'd do instead.

Get this starter kit for $89:

http://www.homebrewit.com/beer-brewing-kit-equipment.php

Better Bottles work great and two buckets. You can even ditch the Better Bottle and get the $59 dollar version. The downside is it has the crappy black capper.

Now for a chiller go for this $38 welded chiller:

http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Coil-Immersion-Chiller-Length/dp/B002NZNJG2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328242856&sr=8-3

Last and most important... brew kettle. This one is $117. I would get as big as you can so you can move to full boil, then all-grain (BIAB) and maybe (eventually) 10 gallon. You'll probably end up outside so get a $45 propane burner

http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-1060-62-Quart-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000VXD94A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328243934&sr=8-1

We're close to the same price you mentioned without the kit but trust me you will thank me later. I've spent a fortune and was too stubborn to listen. I wish someone would have knocked me over the head and bought my equipment for me. Anyway, feel free to PM me and I'd be glad to help (if you want it ).

Edit: Sorry williams pot is 8-gallon but still I think you should go bigger and no spigot (for now).

skimo281

Recipes 

scoundrel thanks for the advice, with all these groupon posts I figured what the hell and placed an order for one. I plan on using the certificate on a wort chiller, possibly making my own depending if it's worth if for the money it might save. I think I'm going to hit up Wal-Mart and get a pot, I found a couple off Craigslist as well.

My girlfriend told me if I want to get a kit then get a good one I won't need to add stuff to for awhile, then she started watching the price list go up and well....here I am cutting some costs lol.

Hopefully I get the order next week and can begin a brew! I want to get a soda kit for my kids, I thought it would be fun for the family. It would be cool to start my own family tradition of brewing since my family doesn't really have any traditions.

Anyways thanks for all yalls help. I do have one more question though. I don't plan on getting a big pot right now because after cutting costs we decided not to get the propane setup for now, but will it have any effect on what wort chiller I buy?

mid_knight

Recipes 

Hi again.

You may want to hold off on the wort chiller until you decide how much u can boil. If you are doing extract on your stove or small batches (2.5 gal) for awhile then you might be able to hold off until you get your big stockpot. For small batches you might be able to use your sink to cool your stockpot with ice (well - water changed a couple of times every five minutes and then ice).

Good luck and I hope you have fun. For now you better start thinking about drinking enough beer with non-twist off tops so you can save them up and bottle - about 50 or so!

skimo281

Recipes 

Lol I have a friend who knows 2 different people with beer bottle piles. One has the brown bottles which is what I was going for but he's not sure he wants to get rid of them then the other said I can take as many green bottles as I want, I suppose it doesn't matter.

Now that I say that I don't even remember if Heineken is twist or pop...I'll have to google that one

And I suppose I can hold off and just use the sink for now, I was going to for my first brew anyways, just thought it might be worth the investment now...I'll just stop being lazy lol

Airplanedoc

Recipes 

http://www.groupon.com/deals/dc-ghd-mm-midwest-hydroponic?utm_medium=afl&utm_campaign=3925582&utm _source=rvs

This looks like a pretty good deal to me.

mid_knight

Recipes 

One last note.

You are much better off with brown bottles. If u use the green then the beer should always be kept in the dark - otherwise they say u risk skunking the beer. Yeast don't like light and they will punish you!

lol. Hope u enjoy the brews to come.

kh54s10

Recipes 

Good luck with that!

I did my first brew with Northern Brewer's deluxe kit. I opted for the Better Bottles as I didn't want the weight or danger of glass.

As soon as the first kit was in fermentation I ordered 2 more ingredient kits and another Better Bottle plus odds and ends. Now 8 months later I have a turkey fryer, 2 ten gallon SS pots with valves. One with a sight tube and thermometer. Wort chiller, Mash tun, shelving to store all the stuff, refractometer, Digital thermometer, home built stirplate, flask, etc. etc. etc.

I think I am at a point where the spending on new equipment will slow down for a while. MAYBE!

finlayj

Recipes 

FWIW, this is amazing for only $15. Best brewing accessory I've bought so far.

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_56_151&products_id=2343

tre9er

Recipes 

$12 at my LHBS and agree a great investment

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kh54s10

Recipes 

My other favorite "inexpensive" piece of equipment:


http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/vinator-bottle-rinser.html