hello. first post. COMPLETE noob here :)

**chainsawbrewing** · 02-13-2007, 01:58 AM

I just recently became interested in home brewing. I searched Google for various "kits" to get me started in this hobby, and found many options from many different companies, and it made me wonder which kit was the "best", and if i even needed to buy a "kit" at all. I remember seeing my father brewing home made wine when i was a kid using a big glass bottle, and a ballon, or a sandwich baggy with a rubber band on it on the top of the bottle. I'm sure brewing beer is different than my dads old ways, but as the title of the thread says, i'm completely new to this game, but hope someone can steer me in the right direction, and i can have a long life of brewing, and bottling my own beer. I haven't even figured out what all i need to get, and i'm already estatic! Thanks in advance for any help/advice you may offer.

Tony · 02-13-2007, 02:04 AM

Welcome to the forum. Lots of good people here with lots of knowledge. Here's my advice... Give this How To Brew by Palmer a thorough read through a few times and you will gain a lot of knowledge yourself really quick. Dont be a stranger!

rdwj · 02-13-2007, 02:04 AM

Midwest has nice kits in all price ranges. If you have nothing yet, a kit is going to save you some money.

Also, read Palmer's online book about the process. The online version is free, but the updated paper copy is nice to have

**bradsul** · 02-13-2007, 02:04 AM

To really get started probably the best information you'll find on the whole process is www.howtobrew.com. As for starter equipment kits you can spend as much or as little as you like but it's almost always cheaper to get a kit rather than to buy parts individually. austinhomebrew.com and midwestsupplies.com both seem to be highly rated here. If you're from Canada I'd highly recommend paddockwood.com. Welcome to the great hobby (obsession?) of homebrewing!

Edit: wow, 3 replies in 1 minute

**chainsawbrewing** · 02-13-2007, 02:07 AM

yeah, wow. this forum must keep pretty busy, lol. i figured i'd have to wait a day or so for even one reply. thanks for all the help, and so soon! i will give that online book a read, and look into ordering an intermediate kit. *edit-one more question, what/why would i need a 2 stage fermantation kit? i'm honestly not a very picky beer drinker, i just like the thought of putting my time, and work into crafting my own brew, and the pride and satisfaction from bottling it and drinking it.

mizzoueng · 02-13-2007, 01:35 PM

Brian,

I just bottled my first brew last week. I bought the cheapest beginner kit from Midwest. It is a single stage system.

Depending on what you are making, you might want to go to the two stage. I was making an Irish Red Ale, so clarity really didn't matter to me. But this spring I plan on making a Honey Wheat and maybe something else like a light ale. For those I will do a two stage as they are lighter colored beers and clarity matters.

Also, I want the carboy so I can SEE fermentation in action. With the buckets you only see the airlock bubbling away.

I would say for your first brew, get either the intermediate from Midwest or the Beginner. Either way, for your first brew, just stick with single stage and then jump to two stage for your second batch. Pick up a good book, I grabbed "Joy of Homebrewing Vol. 3" from Barns and Noble for pretty cheap and it is a good read. It also has a lot of recipes in it for when you get more advanced.

Last bit of advice (I swear!), get yourself a sixer of your favorite brew when you plan on making your beer. It takes about 2-2.5 hours and a beer helps pass the time.

**Kayos** · 02-13-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizzoueng

. It takes about 2-2.5 hours and a beer helps pass the time.

A beer? A beer? LOL

My advice? Do the better bottle option!! Oh, and check morebeer.com for their selection, too. Free shipping good!!!

Whelk · 02-14-2007, 12:28 AM

Williams Brewing (google it) is a great source for equipment kits. They have 6 month support on everything they sell, which is great. But any starter set should be fine--welcome and have fun!

Nickel Long Neck · 02-14-2007, 01:17 AM

Hi Brian, welcome to the forums! I'm new myself and you've found a great place full of helpful folks who really know their stuff.

I've been very happy with the Brewer Starter Kit from Midwest. It's got pretty much everything you need to get going. Then if you decide you need more stuff you can just buy it online after that.

**chainsawbrewing** · 02-14-2007, 01:35 AM

after a day and a half's worth of researching various kits online, i'm thinking i'm gong to be getting http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=6351 its the inermediate kit from midwest supplies.
a couple questions i have are, first off, why would i need two carboys, a plastic fermenter, and a filler tank. seems to me, even if i to a two stage fermenttation, that still leaves me with an extra "bucket". also, they are really pushing the "better bottle" carboy's on that site, but to me, i think the glass carboys would be better. i understand they have a chance of breaking, but i just figured they'd have less of a chance of contamination, and/or changing the taste of the beer, like i think plastic/better bottles could do. either way, i'm looking forward to getting going with it soon. i'm hoping to brew myself a beer that has a taste similar to blue moon, that slight orange "twang" to it, which i belive is actually a wheat ale, i'm still trying to read up on all that though!
thanks.