Best Brew Kit?

[brewgod]

I am wanting to brew my own beer for the first time and want to use a good kit. Can anyone recommend an awesome kit?

Thanks

 

[Flomaster]

I'm going to order this kit from Midwest Supplies today. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-intermediate-kit-with-two-5-gallon-better-bottle-carboys.html
I am upgrading my 5 Gallon Better Bottles to 6 Gallon Better Bottles. being a first time brewer I like the idea of seeing whats going on with my beer instead of using the 6.5 gallon primary bucket.

-=Jason=-

 

[WoWBrews]

I'm new to brewing myself and would offer the following advice, One of the senior members will probably give you a more in depth reply. I would say the answer to that depends alot on your brewing style. By that I mean how much time/effort do you have to invest in it? I started with a MR.B kit which alot of people don't care for, which is fine, but it was a great intro beer kit, cheap, fast and produces good beer (IMHO). In less than an hour you can have your entire first batch fermenting, and in no time at all you can be drinking beer you made. If finances are not an issue you can look into a 5 gallon or greater set up. Keep in mind this is alot of beer to make (yummy!) so you might want to start smaller with a MR.B kit and if you become a junkie then upgrade. All up to you i guess :rockin:, either way, good luck and have fun.

 

[brewgod]

I'm going to order this kit from Midwest Supplies today. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-intermediate-kit-with-two-5-gallon-better-bottle-carboys.html
I am upgrading my 5 Gallon Better Bottles to 6 Gallon Better Bottles. being a first time brewer I like the idea of seeing whats going on with my beer instead of using the 6.5 gallon primary bucket.

-=Jason=-

That looks like a good one. I have always heard about the Sam Adams kit. I am thinking about doing the amber kit. Have you see this one?

Here is a link below

http://www.beer-wine.com/sam-adams-longshot-contest

 

[cappy]

Depends on what you like! What commercials beers do you drink?

Oops, I was thinking of an ingredient kit.

 

[RM-MN]

The OP didn't specify if they meant starter equipment kit or an ingredient kit. I'm confused.

 

[PolishLogic]

Take a peek here:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/home...its.html?SID=620f9c32e155bfb2e7d0b1e1c00273b7

You'll find kits with the same specs (or better) at a lower price. Granted they don't include a recipe kit with them, but even adding one to your cart should still work out to be much cheaper.

 

[iron_city_ap]

Something along the lines of this would be good. I wouldn't get TOO big of a starter kit because first off, you may not enjoy the brewing process, or you may be hooked for life. That will have an effect on any other equipment you may/will pick up down the road. I'd rather start off with a basic kit and piece together things as I need/want them than being stuck with stuff you don't use at all. Also, buy good stuff. You can cobb together things, but usually, you end up having to re buy.

 

[Flomaster]

just found out shipping cost on my MidWest Supply is $42.xx F**K that im not paying that much in shipping. so it looks like I'll hold for a better deal or free shipping offer.

$100 kit +beer kit + shipping = $200 no thank you.

-=Jason=-

EDIT: looks like Austin Home Brew Supply is offering free shipping on orders over $100.
so this kit below is what i'll likely be getting.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_52&products_id=12736

or this kit
http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0101895/silver-starter-kit

 

[brewgod]

Something along the lines of this would be good. I wouldn't get TOO big of a starter kit because first off, you may not enjoy the brewing process, or you may be hooked for life. That will have an effect on any other equipment you may/will pick up down the road. I'd rather start off with a basic kit and piece together things as I need/want them than being stuck with stuff you don't use at all. Also, buy good stuff. You can cobb together things, but usually, you end up having to re buy.

I do want to get quality stuff. Might as well. But do I need an ingredient kit with the brew kit or does it all come together? Also, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[iron_city_ap]

You will definately need ingredients. The easiest way, especially at first, is to just order a kit when you order or buy the equipment. My first 4 batches were all Brewers Best kits. They worked just fine. Austin Homebrew has great kits at great prices. Their equipment tends to be a little more expensive than at other places though. Once you get a little more into it and hopefully find a place nearby where you can get freshly milled grains and start to expand your ability you will probably be more pleased with the results, but there are many many great kits out there.

As far as a specific starter equipment kit goes, its pretty much 6 and 1/2 dozen. Austin, Northern Brewer and Midwest Supplies seem to be the big 3 around here. I'd trust kits from any of them. I wouldn't get the smallest/cheapest kits they have, but I also wouldn't get the biggest/most expensive ones either. Find a nice, middle of the pack kit and go with it. Run a search on here and see what others have asked and said about starter kits. There are TONS of threads on them.

 

[bovineblitz]

or this kit
http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0101895/silver-starter-kit

This is what I recommended for my friend. I got a different kit and wound up replacing a few of the smaller things with the ones that come in that kit. Good price too, and even though I know buckets are excellent fermenters, I personally don't like them.

 

[droopy77]

i got a kit from williams brewing and am very happy with it. it came with an extract kit of your choice but i have quickly decided i enjoy mini-mash kits better. by this summer i'm sure i'll be on all grain

ty

 

[wittmania]

I got my kit at the local home brew store, but if I had it to do over again I would have bought through MoreBeer.com. Here's a link to their kits:

http://morebeer.com/search/102142/beerwinecoffee/coffeewinebeer/Personal_Home_Brewery_Equipment_Kits

I would go with kit #2. It includes an upgrade to a Better Bottle plastic carboy, which is far lighter (and safer) than glass. Many new brewers (and many old!) like to be able to watch the fermentation take off. You can't do that with a white plastic pail. Like they say, you'll save money by not having to upgrade everything a month from now when you're completely hooked on brewing.

They have free shipping and their ingredient kits are pretty cheap. Just make sure you add yeast (less than $5) and a grain bag (also around $5) when you pick an ingredient kit.

 

[Hannable1975]

j

EDIT: looks like Austin Home Brew Supply is offering free shipping on orders over $100.
so this kit below is what i'll likely be getting.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_52&products_id=12736

or this kit
http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0101895/silver-starter-kit

Austin Home Brew = Awesomeness.

You can NEVER go wrong going with AHS. Period.

 

[ENS]

northern brewer . com is the bomb

 

[barrooze]

The equipment kit is key, and all of the above kits will definitely get the job done. What I haven't seen in the other replies are the addition of a brew kettle. You should have a brew kettle with at least a 16 quart capacity. My first brew kettle was a 16 quart enamel-coated tin canning pot from Wally World. Cost about $12 and worked great.

You'll also need ~48 12 oz. pry-off bottles and caps. You can acquire these from buying beer at the store or you can buy empties from any of the above homebrew supply shops. Obviously, you can use different size/style bottles, but don't use twist-off bottles. The twist-off grooves don't always offer a good interface to hold carbonation and you could end up with flat brews. Not ideal!

Good luck and welcome to the best hobby around!

Edit: Regarding ingredient kits, what is your favorite commercial beer or style? That will help us recommend a good kit for you.

 

[BrewDocND]

Do you have a LHBS? I like to support local business so I got started there (and it gave me someone to call when I panicked over a vigorous fermentation that I thought would blow up my apartment) but have bought all sorts of stuff from Brewmasterswarehouse because I like their service and prices and discount codes.

I like ale pails because they are, IMHO easier to work with and clean. I have a better bottle too and have a heck of a time getting it as clean as my pails. Glass sounds dangerous and heavy, so I wouldn't do that.

As far as ingredient kits, start with whatever beer you like and start simple (i.e. lay off the coriander or vanilla beans or skittles). Make a beer with water, malt, and hops (and yeast, of course).

 

[brewgod]

Austin Home Brew = Awesomeness.

You can NEVER go wrong going with AHS. Period.

Hannable, if I get one of those AHS brew kits, do I need to buy ingredients along with it?

Thanks,
Noob

 

[brewgod]

The equipment kit is key, and all of the above kits will definitely get the job done. What I haven't seen in the other replies are the addition of a brew kettle. You should have a brew kettle with at least a 16 quart capacity. My first brew kettle was a 16 quart enamel-coated tin canning pot from Wally World. Cost about $12 and worked great.

You'll also need ~48 12 oz. pry-off bottles and caps. You can acquire these from buying beer at the store or you can buy empties from any of the above homebrew supply shops. Obviously, you can use different size/style bottles, but don't use twist-off bottles. The twist-off grooves don't always offer a good interface to hold carbonation and you could end up with flat brews. Not ideal!

Good luck and welcome to the best hobby around!

Edit: Regarding ingredient kits, what is your favorite commercial beer or style? That will help us recommend a good kit for you.

My favorite beer is a pilsner, like Heineken

 

[barrooze]

My favorite beer is a pilsner, like Heineken

Well, to do a pilsner justice, you'll want to lager the beer which requires a good fermentation temperature control. Since this is your first brew, I suggest you do something a bit easier. AHS has a Texas Blonde that is very, very simple and yields great results. Midwest Supplies has a Liberty Cream Ale that is very tasty.

 

[billf2112]

When I bought my kit, I upgraded to the 6 gallon PET. The company I ordered from did not upgrade/switch out the drilled stopper to fit the PET. Lucky I have a LHBS and they stock what I needed. Wish I bought everything from the LHBS originally, newbie mistake.