Best Kit for Starters?

[andyxd]

Hey guys,
Just signed up because I have been dying to try my own brew ever since I figured out that craft beers are ten times better then the big 3 about 5 years ago. Is there a better started kit to use or how would you guys recommend getting started. thanks for you time super excited to get started!!!

 

[Shaneoco1981]

Do you have any equipment or no? What it really boils down to is your budget to spend. I can hook you up with one of the best setup out there, but it's going to cost you. I can hook you up with something way cheaper to that will make good beer. Assuming you are like most Americans and you have a budget, I would go with something like this.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/home...mediate-kit-w-two-5-gallon-glass-carboys.html

Keep in mind you will also need a kettle to do the boil in. That I would go with as big as you can afford. Keep in mind if you go 5 gal or bigger, you will also need a propane burner. Those a relatively cheap though.

 

[andyxd]

Thanks for the reply,
I have no equipment starting from scratch, and wanting to make good beer at a reasonable price. Co-Worker and my self are going to split it. Saw a MR. BEER kit and didn't know if that was a good place to start or if it is cheap and makes cheap beer.

thanks

 

[cg2112]

Thanks for the reply,
I have no equipment starting from scratch, and wanting to make good beer at a reasonable price. Co-Worker and my self are going to split it. Saw a MR. BEER kit and didn't know if that was a good place to start or if it is cheap and makes cheap beer.

thanks

MR BEER is a good place to start. It's inexpensive, gives you the basics, and produces decent beer. You'll likely quickly move on, though. But it's good for a start. I enjoy some of their recipes enough that I've actually doubled them up and used my regular equipment.

 

[andyxd]

Ok cool ya not excited to try there normal recipe from what I've read all it is is a bud light or miller which I hate so might try and find a way to spice it up a little or change it completely

 

[andyxd]

Any suggestions on how we could spice up a BMC style recipe without ruining a batch of beer

 

[kmos]

Most folks start out brewing extract, which allows you to master the basics without having to worry about mash temps, etc. It also softens the monetary blow of "buying in" to the hobby, which tends to be a pretty gear-heavy one.

+1 for the suggestion of picking up the basic brewing kit from your local homebrew shop (LHBS). They will be able to give you the best advice for what you need to brew the beer you want, and will also be able to troubleshoot with you when it inevitably doesn't turn out as well as you hope. If you don't have a shop near you, you can order from one of the myriad online homebrew suppliers: Midwest, Austin Homebrew Supply, Northern Brewer, MoreBeer, the list goes on and on. Probably don't need a propane burner at this point though -- if you're doing 5 gal extract, you can get by with your stovetop.

As for a recipe, you will want to brew an ale, as the (all important) fermentation temperature is easier to manage for ales than lagers. Probably also want to do something relatively easy, like a pale ale. Any of the above retailers will have extract recipe kits, which will include everything you need to brew your first batch. Just browse the list and see what sounds delicious for drinking in about a month .

There's lots of great information on this board and folks are generous with their knowledge. There are also many great books on homebrewing that are definitely worth your while, such as those by John Palmer, Charlie Papazian, and Jamil Zainasheff.

Cheers, and welcome to the hobby.

 

[cg2112]

Ok cool ya not excited to try there normal recipe from what I've read all it is is a bud light or miller which I hate so might try and find a way to spice it up a little or change it completely

Nope, the Mr BEER stuff tastes nothing like Bud Light or Miller, I don't think they have a comparable recipe (it doubt that there's an American lager kit for Mr BEER). The standard kit is a pale ale, which is actually pretty decent. Their kits make pretty good beer, I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain about them.

 

[andyxd]

Ok good to hear. And do you guys happen to know of any other kits like the mr. Beer one or is it really the only one?

 

[Kealia]

There are other kits, but MrB makes a good, inexpensive (read: not using the word CHEAP) kit that produces very good beer.

What you lose with MrB if you use their pre-hopped extracts is a bit of control, but you don't lose quality by any means. It's a great entry point to teach you about the basics of beer making (sanitizing, temp control, etc.).

There's an entire thread dedicated to MrB here, and MrB has their own forums here.

Both are chock full of people who can provide insight on how to best make use of their kits and equipment and continue to use them as you grow and want to make your own recipes, too.

 

[BlakeL]

I guess it depends on your situation. I picked the Brooklyn Brew Shop kit because its very cheap to get started and I have limited space for this hobby. It doesn't include everything needed for bottling but I'll buy that when I'm ready for that. After this first beer is done I plan on getting some more gallon jugs and probably a 2 gallon bucket. I don't want to brew anything larger than 2 gallons since I'll be experimenting.

 

[petey_c]

andyxd, My initial experience with Mr. B was kind of a let down. But, I'd picked up some questionable kits. Think craigslist cheap. A co-worker I just turned on to brewing, made some okay brew with Mr. B.. It's a good place to start. As with most brewers, as you continue, you tweak/improve (hopefully) your process. As they say, "Form follows function."

 

[HopSong]

Mr Beer is ok.. however, I would suggest you find Groupon.. or do a Groupon search here in the forums. Quite often they have a very good kit that even includes not only a beer kit but also contain a $25 gift certificate for your next purchase. I didn't need one, but got one anyhow.. just because it was so inexpensive.. and I can give the kit itself to one of my kids as a starter. The Groupon is from Midwest Supplies.

 

[boscobeans]

How about the Cooper's DIY beer kit, which also is all inclusive and contains everything you need to make a full 23 liters of beer.

The fermenter is a new design that works for me. No airlock or blowout problems.

It can make a 5 or 6 gallon batch with no problems. Most beer ingredient kits sold, whether they are for all extract, partial extract or whatever, are designed to make 5 gallon batches not 2 gallons.

It is a simple mix, ferment and bottle from the one vessel system, no secondary involved. Can always be added on to with extra buckets and such if and when you plan on expanding your production.

If you go with this system I would think about what style of beer you prefer and order a complete recipe kit for that style along with the system. The kit comes the makings for a lager. I used the lager kit with added amber malt, a half pound of oatmeal and extra aroma hops to make a great dark brew.

bosco

 

[JDFlow]

I'm new to brewing too, just brewed my first batch over the weekend and it's in the fermenter as we type. Before I approached purchasing or brewing anything I bought a couple books (a much appreciated tip from my LHBS), How to Brew and Homebrewing for Dummies. I read Homebrewing for Dummies and used How to Brew as a cross reference for things I didn't understand. After learning the process and the science I was better able to judge both my starting comfort level and my level of interest. Both were high so I went to my LHBS and bought a kit.

 

[HopSong]

I have the Coopers DIY kit as well. I like it as a fermenter.. however, if you search Coopers beer kits you will find most people seem to think the beer turns out thin. That can be overcome by adding more LME or DME. The DIY seems to work best with Coopers type kits as there is very little boiling involved.. which is quick.

I haven't used the setup I bought from Midwest yet.. but, that'll be the next brew. One plastic fermenter and one bottling bucket.. plus all the goodies that come with it including a bottle capper and extract kit.

The Coopers kit, if used without a bottling bucket uses sugar tabs in the bottles. Also, the bottles that come with the Coopers kit are very nice plastic bottles.. Nylon lined so they don't lose gasses.

 

[Calichusetts]

Brooklyn Brew shop has a nice kit for a small 1-gallon start. Helps figure out if you like it before you blow a lot of money on it. If you are sure you want to do this...have the time and money, go with a 5 gallon kit setup like midwest

 

[barneygumble]

Brooklyn Brew shop has a nice kit for a small 1-gallon start. Helps figure out if you like it before you blow a lot of money on it. If you are sure you want to do this...have the time and money, go with a 5 gallon kit setup like midwest

This^

And get the "deluxe" one with a carboy or better bottle. As to recipe kits that can approximate the BMC beers, a cream ale is a good one. Or get one of the American pale ale kits and hold back on half of each hop add.

 

[Tinga]

midwest supplies has a groupon that pops up rather frequently. kits includes nice equipment and some ingredient kits which are really nice.

 

[gonpce]

I just purchased a groupon from midwest for $64 yesterday. It includeds equipment and also an extract kit. Go to groupon and search different locations. Mine was listed under Charleston, SC. You can buy from any location. This will be my first time brewing, so I hope this has all thats needed.