Boyfriends Birthday Present

[jedibrittany]

Hello, brewers. I've been going insane searching online for the right beer brewing kit/set-up for my boyfriend. His birthday is the 11th, & I have yet to decide on what to get him! I joined this forum to get some advice. Can anyone point me in the right direction!?



Thanks!

 

[JFK]

How much are you looking to spend? Is he already a brewer or a beginner? Whole grain brewing or extract/kit brewing? If its kit and extract brewing all you need is a beer kit of the type of beer he would like to brew and a eight gallon stainless pot. A food thermometer and some star san for sanitation. If you give me some more info I can find you what you need in about an hour.

 

[RM-MN]

Kit as in equipment kit or kit as in ingredient kit? Since he may or may not want to continue brewing (I'll bet he does though) I'd start with a basic equipment kit. He won't need a carboy to start brewing (perhaps never) and the basic kit will have everything needed to make beer except the boiling pot (I started with a 20qt stainless steel because I had one, aluminum or enameled steel will do for now), bottles (unless he decides to start kegging immediately he'll need about 50 bottles for a batch), and ingredients.

If you are asking for an ingredient kit, I'd probably start with a cream ale. It will be an easy start into brewing and it won't take forever to be ready to drink. Done right, cream ales are easy to drink and pretty tasty.

 

[woody34]

I used the basic kit from northernbrewer.com. I bought a 7 gallon stainless steel pot from a separate store. Plan on $200 or so to get equipment. Add some more for a recipe kit. I never had any problem finding free used bottles.

 

[billf2112]

You do understand you may be giving him an addiction?

 

[SharonaZamboni]

There are also one gallon kits available. Has BF expressed an interest in brewing?

 

[beergolf]

Check if there is a store nearby that sells homebrewing stuff. They would be glad to assist you. They may be slightly higher priced but you will get what you need.

BTW my wife bought me the equipment to get started in this hobby/addiction.

 

[MMJfan]

My intro to this hobby/addiction was also a birthday present from my wife!

 

[ahaley]

You do understand you may be giving him an addiction?

Ooooh snap! That's exactly what happened to me. Was shopping for brothers Christmas gift saw mr beer and grabbed 2 of them. Now I'm doing all grain!

And I would suggest buy a little bigger than you need because I've boughten for what I thought was the right size just to find out i need more this or that.

Good luck!

 

[biggrizzly]

You have two large home brew stores not far from you. One in Virginia Beach and the other in Hampton. You can probably get some good advice and a decent beginner kit there. Here is a link to what I googled for you.

http://www.homebrewusa.com/

A basic kit with a couple pails, airlocks, hydrometer, bottling stuff and transfer siphons etc. They will also offer ingredient kits that he will need.

I think you could get into it minimally for about $150.

Good Luck and tell him Happy Birthday from the Home Brew Forums

 

[jedibrittany]

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone! I've decided to go to the store closest to me and get help there. Guess I should have googled, huh?! Haha. We're both interested in brewing due to the fact that we love beer so much (mostly IPA's). Thanks again, and I'll be sure to keep you updated on how the first batch goes.

 

[BrewerBear]

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone! I've decided to go to the store closest to me and get help there. Guess I should have googled, huh?! Haha. We're both interested in brewing due to the fact that we love beer so much (mostly IPA's). Thanks again, and I'll be sure to keep you updated on how the first batch goes.

Maybe should have,but you know that none of the replies here are wanting your money. I would suggest what ever kit you get to make sure you have at least 2 primary buckets,that way you don't have to wait on the first one to be finished to brew again.

 

[turvis]

Clear your mind and let the force guide you.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Here's where I'd begin my search. You'll also need to make sure that you get an ingredient kit, or an equipment kit that includes one.
I too, started brewing after receiving a kit as a gift. It's gone downhill from there, I now have half a dozen fermenters, two converted ten gallon coolers, 4 kegs and a two tap kegerator and a lifetime membership to HBT. Enjoy!!

 

[MMJfan]

Midwest Supply is where I got my start as well!

 

[EnjoyGoodBeer]

You do understand you may be giving him an addiction?

Lmao true

 

[rhamilton]

*chanting*

Boneyard...... Boneyard..... Boneyard...... Boneyard.....

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Best gift you could get him is 3 gift certs. (2) worn as bikini top, (1) worn as bikini bottom.

 

[Pie_Man]

If neither one of you has brewed before, I'd suggest reading some of the stickies on the beginners forum as well as picking up a book like How To Brew, or the Complete Joy of Homebrewing. Both are great books and I found that reading the beginner section of the books prior to my first batch was helpful. The older version of how to brew is available for free at howtobrew.com

Welcome to the forum and hobby and good luck.

 

[cgherrington3]

Forget the kit. Get him this http://www.lingeriediva.com/sexy-maiden-costumes?gclid=CMmT3tmMnbICFQif7Qod4SwAhA

 

[iaefebs]

Remember guys this is the "beginners beer room". Not the "Tap Room"

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Remember guys this is the "beginners beer room". Not the "Tap Room"

Your point being?

 

[billf2112]

Yes it's the beginners beer room, we still see the girl before the beer.