Brand New to HomeBrewing and in Need of Some Direction

I have done a lot of looking around on these forums and haven't quite found the answers I was looking for so hopefully I can get some help from the collective brain trust here on the forums.

I am completely new to homebrewing but I have read the first section of how to brew a couple times, and I have read the first bit of the complete joy of homebrewing. I'm am already hooked but I still don't have equipment. I am able to spend 400-500 or so to get started. I am definitely going to start extract but I imagine will want to move up to all grain at some point. I definitely want to get the best bang for my buck rather than buy a whole new set up for when I advance. I looked at some kits and wondered what you think the best deal is at this point to start, or if there are other kits you recommend. Here's what I have seen online as I don't have a convenient homebrew store close to me.


http://www.homebrewing.org/Beginning-Homebrew-Kit-Upgrade-3_p_1706.html

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_52&products_id=12922

http://morebeer.com/view_product/15911/102142/Personal_Home_Brewery_Kit_#3_-_Bottling_Deluxe

http://morebeer.com/view_product/15912/102142/Personal_Home_Brewery_Kit_#4_-_Bottling_Super_Deluxe

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/everything-a-carboy-complete-brewing-package-equipment-kit-2.html

Some other questions I have is with the brew kettle what size should I go with, bigger is better at first? Or get one now and upgrade later. Also how useful are the kettles with thermometers and spigots?

I also have an electric coil stove, will this be adequate or will I have to look into propane burner? Does that prove more challenges brewing outside?

I would go with your first link. thats my LHBS and for every $200 you spend you get $10 off. If you have 400-500 to spend what I would do is tone down that kit though. Unless you plan to make some big beers you really dont need to secondary. Add two weeks extra to your primary (its not going to ruin your beer no matter what the instructions say)

Have you every brewed before? Do you know how much you want to do? I would get these and brew outside (my set up minus the 9 gallon pot that im buying next week)

Starter Kit - $70
http://www.homebrewing.org/Beginning-Homebrew-Kit_p_352.html

Wort Chiller $40
http://www.homebrewing.org/25-38-Economy-Copper-Wort-Chiller_p_2734.html

220,000 BTU Burner $80
http://www.homebrewing.org/14-Propane-Burner--220000-BTU_p_1190.html

9 gallon brew kettle with brass ball valves for wort straining $82
http://www.homebrewing.org/ONE-WELD-9-Gallon-Stainless-Steel-pot_p_1683.html

Add it all up and $272 and you will be brewing outside with the ability to easily upgrade to all grain brewing. Buy a couple thermometers and a large spoon for stirring your wort and some recipe kits to bring you up to about $350 and you are making beer with money in the bank to buy a mash tun and HLT for $130

http://www.homebrewing.org/5-Gallon...ash-Tun-with-False-Bottom-and-HLT_p_1318.html

Kits like you posted are great, but expensive and have more than you need to start.

I would recommend one of the basic starter kits and doing a stove top, partial boil, extract batch.
Most of the online shops have a kit for around $100 with all the basic equipment and the Midwest Supplies Groupon is also a great deal. Personally, I have no need or desire to use secondary fermenters or glass carboys included in many of the "advanced" kits.

After the first batch you will have a better idea on how to invest the rest of your money to brew outside, all grain MLT, kegging, etc.

I would strongly recommend finding a Mentor!
I started by myself, and made mistakes that I would have never made if I had a Mentor.
Check your area for a local Home Brew Club and attend a Group Brew.
Your Brew will improve rapidly with help.

P.S. As you build your system, make sure it is mobile for participation in Group brews....

And......I should have said in my first post.....

Find a LHBS (local Home Brew Shop) if you can.....they can provide great help also.......

And sometimes, you can get some great deals on slightly used home brew equipment through a Local Home Brew Club!!!!

Assist on a few brews, get a kit so you at least have racking, bottling, fermenters, cleaners/sanitizers, etc. Then get as large a pot as you can afford and still be able to heat with your chosen heat source. If propane, your kettle sizes are nearly limitless.

Most guys go from extract to partial mash to 5g to 10g......beyond? You start wanting to spend less time, making more beer, so you don't have to do it as often...mostly because cleaning and such sucks....IMO

jCOSbrew said:

I would recommend one of the basic starter kits and doing a stove top, partial boil, extract batch.

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Normally I would agree with you here, but he has an electric stove, I cant imagine how much time that would take to do a full five gallon batch.

BRONCOBREW said:

I would strongly recommend finding a Mentor!
I started by myself, and made mistakes that I would have never made if I had a Mentor.
Check your area for a local Home Brew Club and attend a Group Brew.
Your Brew will improve rapidly with help.

Click to expand...

The best suggestion so far, when I first started I knew of one LHBS and that was it. I did 5 minutes worth of reaserch and now have found three clubs near me as well as 5 LHBS within a 40m drive of me and one that is even closer than the one I was originally going to!

Stretch1991 said:

Normally I would agree with you here, but he has an electric stove, I cant imagine how much time that would take to do a full five gallon batch.

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But he said partial boil

Normally I would agree with you here, but he has an electric stove, I cant imagine how much time that would take to do a full five gallon batch.

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I do 7 gallon boils on my electric rangetop - now, not a full-on roiling boil but I've been happy with the results. Takes about 1 hour to come up to boil. I usually put 5 gallons on and start the temp rising, steep my specialty grains in another gallon and then top up to my desired boil volume once everything is ready.

Doing a full batch on an electric top is doable - perhaps not as enjoyable as on a burner, but doable.