A question to the brewers what is needed for startup?

[citruscrush]

I was wondering what you need equipment wise to get started.

I have been told to get a large chest freezer and set it up to run like a refrigerator and you need plenty of space to work in as well.

What would you start picking up to get started?

I would like to brew some strong ales and stouts maybe some fruit flavored beer as well.

 

[BrewForce]

I live in a 10X10 dorm room with a fridge solely devoted to food storage, that is until my current batch of beer finishes conditioning...then it will be chock-a-block full of booze. So I don't think you'll need all that much space or a fridge solely devoted to brewing right out of the gate.

I'm sure the more experience fellows here can provide you more insight as to exactly what you need to buy to get started, but as for me, I purchased the Coopers micro-brew kit from makebeer.net

It comes with everything you need, including 30 bottles and beer kit(lager extract) so you can start brewing right out of the box! there is a lot of guidance on how to use it on youtube as well. Check out a dude named Craigtube if you have any questions...he has done quite a few videos on brewing from extract...a couple of which is a complete explanation on how to use the Coopers kit. I think Coopers sells 16 or so different extract kits, a couple of which are the stouts and ales you're looking for...and you can always add the fruit to whatever you want, but there are certain procedures for doing so.

Good luck!

 

[maida7]

You don't need a chest freezer to get started but you may want one after you get hooked on the hobby.

You need a large pot for boiling. 8 gallon is ideal but you could start with something in the 3-4 gallon range.

You need a fermentation vessel that will hold 6-7 gallons. Plastic buckets are the cheapest.

You need a second bucket with a faucet for bottling. You need empty bottles, unused caps, and a bottle capper.

Your best bet is to buy an starter equipment kit from your local home brew shop. They will sell you a package deal with all the basic equipment.

 

[FallsDamBrewery]

www.midwestsupplies.com has some great startup kits...you can even get everything you need plus a brew pot, recipe kit, and bottles for 169.99...it is hard to beat that deal...good luck with your ventures!

 

[citruscrush]

thank you very much for the info i do appreciate it

 

[maida7]

www.midwestsupplies.com has some great startup kits...you can even get everything you need plus a brew pot, recipe kit, and bottles for 169.99...it is hard to beat that deal...good luck with your ventures!

I'd actually recommend the basic 59.00 kit and buy the pot ala cart. You can drink you way to the empty bottles and there is little need for a secondary fermenter.

But maybe you should look local before you do the online thing. Sometimes local shop support can be very helpful for the new brewer. Not always as many shops suck ass. But you should at least see what you have local.

 

[brewagentjay]

I purchased my kit from mid west for 80 dollars got 1 Better Bottle Carboy, 1 primary fermenter (bucket) 1 bottle bucket, capper, auto siphen, hydrometer, etc. It had the works except the kettle and burner which I used a turkey fryer pot and burner and has been great.

They have great extract kits to start off and any order you get a free DVD which will show you how to do the entire process.

 

[Lunarpancake]

ales and lagers ferment at different temps. since you live in florida you may want to start with an ale since the mid range temp is about 68 degrees. If your basement is cool enough go for it. If not you can save a lot of money by building a fermentation chamber. (search forums for it). My chamber ran be about $50-$75 to complete.

To brew you would do best as other said by getting a starter kit. If you have a canning pot or large stock pot already at home there is no need to get a kit that includes a brewing pot. At the midwest supplies link above you can have all you need with the $60 kit if you already have a pot. Just be careful cleaning your buckets as they can scratch easy. Bacteria will live in the scratches.

 

[mojotele]

I recently compiled a list of the equipment I actually found useful when I started in order to compare it to a starter kit for a friend. Here's my list:

6.5 gallon bottling bucket
6.5 gallon fermenting bucket
Long plastic spoon
Turkey baster
Hydrometer
Floating thermometer
Auto siphon (5/16")
3 piece airlock
Bottle capper
4 feet of 1/2" tubing
Liquid crystal thermometer (to put on the fermenting bucket)
Star San
20 quart pot
Bottling wand
Oxyclean Free

All you need other than that are bottles and a stove powerful enough to boil 3 gallons in that 20 quart pot. That will get you started doing partial boils.

I just found that kits sometimes came with stuff I didn't find particularly useful. For instance, I like the auto siphon a lot more than just a regular racking cane. They usually come with a cleaner of some sort, but I prefer using Oxyclean Free to clean. They usually don't come with sanitizers at all. You'll need the turkey baster to take samples to measure gravity with your hydrometer, and you can just measure it in the tube the hydrometer comes in or the tube for the thermometer (if it has one).

Anyway, I'd compare that list to kits and see how the cost works out. You can probably find a kit you like with most of that stuff, but you'll probably still have to buy a couple extra things. Good luck!