Buying Cheap Beer Kit

[xtrace]

I looked on ebay, and I looked on the internet a little. I even looked in my
local area. I can,t find a starter kit for making beer for under 90 dollars. I
don,t think Mr. Beer gives you that much beer in one kit, so that is out. I heard that you can get a starter kit for 30 dollars.

 

[Kungpaodog]

My brother in law just picked up all his equipment off of Craigslist used for next to nothing, and then spent the money he saved on building his own wort chiller, an extra carboy, and some other goodies that are nice but not necessary. Keep looking for some deals, try to get a pot somewhere like Big Lots, and try to get things from alternative sources like food grade buckets from restaurants.

$30 bucks might be a little low for getting your home brewery up and running, but it can certainly be a good start.

 

[youngstroma]

The cheapest website I was able to find for a kit was here: Specials

Free shipping since it's your first order and comes with an ingredients kit for $75.
I picked up a 'granitware' 8.5 gallon pot at Bed Bath and Beyond for $30.
For much less than that you'll probably have to search craigslist

 

[0202]

Well you should be getting a 6 gallon glass carboy or
bucket with a spigot, siphoning tube, an airlock, a thief,
a hydrometer, funnel, stirring spoon, thermometer,
brewpot, sanitizer, capper, caps, priming sugar...

I might've missed some stuff, but for $30 that's a lot to
ask. Ebay or craigslist might be best, but you'll have to
wait for someone selling their kit.

New carboys are ~$45 on ebay. Better bottles might be
cheaper. Either way, I don't know if you can get a setup
for $30 without finding a used deal.

Piece together things and treat it like an investment

Edit - $54 on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Home-Brew-Equip...0|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

 

[KerryD]

IMHO, it's a $80-$100 start up if you're going to buy the basic stuff you won't use one or twice and then feel are inferior.

 

[jmendez29]

When most people are talking about a kit for $30, I think they're talking about an ingredient kit. Most of the ingredient kits I've seen are around the $25-$40 price range, depending on the ingredients in it. However, this doesn't include the equipment to process the ingredients. If you are in a hurry to get started, then you may have to just buy a pre-assembled equipment kit, but if you do a little research, you should be able to find some fairly inexpensive recommendations. But if you are patient, just keep an eye out on craigslist and elsewhere and you will eventually find some good deals.

 

[0202]

See my post above for a complete kit for $54 buy it now price on ebay

 

[KDM]

If buying a good kit for cheap is what you're asking, my response would be that you may as well stop dreaming right now (or commence patiently monitoring Craigslist). But if you're willing to get busy and start scrounging and otherwise using a little ingenuity to cobble together a workable solution, chances are excellent you'll end up with a superior set up for a fraction of the price. Forget instant gratification; beer making isn't conducive to it anyway.

I make my own fishing tackle, telescopes, boats, and all sorts of other stuff (read: toys), so this ain't just something I dreamed up to say. Buying kits is paying for convenience, pure and simple. I have little doubt a determined individual could get into it for $30. And then spend $40 on a recipe kit.

 

[Bobby_M]

There are certainly ways to limp into the hobby cheaply by using second hand buckets and bottling in recycled soda bottles but the truth is, you'll eventually replace it all with proper equipment. Yes, the alternative is a craigslist or garage sale score, with the best deals no doubt coming from someone who inhereted the stuff and doesn't know what it's worth.

Bare minimum, you need at least a 16qt pot, spoon, two 6 gallon buckets, an airlock, sanitizer, a racking cane, tubing and either 2 cases of pop top bottles and a capper or Grolsch flip tops.

 

[Homercidal]

Well, you are all right, but if one were to open their minds, on would see that it IS possible to spend a small amount to brew beer. But the fact is, you are only buying a couple of necessary pieces of equipment at that price. I'm talking a free or nearly free bucket with lid, airlock, hose, sanitizer (starsan), capper. Scrounge up some bottles and caps.

I'm assuming that one already has a large enough kettle for late extract additions, or two to split a full boil.

So, technically it can be done. What the people here are saying is that you will have an easier and likely more successful time if you actually purchased a new kit for about $100. The stuff you get is going to make your brewing so much easier.

I remember my first batch was boiled in a large stock pot, and really all I bought was a glass carboy for $20 a can of extract w/yeast, some caps, airlock, and hose. I got a capper from a friend who did wine, and the bottles were free from the store (returnables). Not great beer, but passable. Mount Mellick American Light.

If you are talking about getting a brewing kit for $30, and not a recipe kit, then I gotta tell you that I highly recommend buying the $100 kit instead of scrounging/making do. Yes, you can, but it will likely be a lot more frustrating. (or highly rewarding if you are th type who likes to be resourceful and save money).

EDIT: Bobby_M got in there with essentially the same thoughts as I.

 

[OLB]

Try your local freecycle group. You may not be able to get things like carboys and hydrometers there, ubless you are lucky, but you will probably be able to find pots, empty bottles, and other misc. stuff. Good luck.

 

[0202]

+1 to freecycle, thats an awesome concept.

 

[Joos]

I(as someone said before)limped cheaply into the hobby.
6.5G bucketwith airlock $14
5G bucket with spigot $10
capper $15
caps $2.50
one step sanitiser 1lbs. $3
Delicious homebrew beer...priceless

 

[KDM]

Amazing the things to be learned here: The Freecycle Network

 

[youngstroma]

The Frugal Beer Brewers Guide To Brewing Aids

 

[Homercidal]

Hmmm... I'll have to look into that freecycle thing. I like the idea, and I no doubt can find stuff useful, and possibly have useful stuff.

 

[DOGBOY]

I purchased almost everything seperatly,I wish i bought a kit like this to save on shipping..plus you get everything.some even give you beer kits too,...
True Brew Maestro Beer Equipment Kit
This is the perfect Beginners Beerbrewing Equipment kit. If you want to try brewing your own beer then this is a great kit to get you started with all the basic equipment. Simply add the ingredients of your choice and in four weeks you be enjoying your first frosty homebrew! Regardless of how advanced this Hobby may take you this is a great starter kit. You can customize this basic kit for your advanced needs by simply adding additional equipment. Purchase this True Brew equipment kit and begin a new adventure! Ingredient Kits Sold Separately

True Brew Maestro Beer Equipment Kit Basic Book, 6.5 Gallon primary fermentor with lock and lid. Bottling bucket w/spigot, bottlefiller, adhesive thermometer. Rack and Fill Kit, Hydrometer, capper, bottlebrush, santizer.
Excellent starter kit. Additional equipment recommended, Large boiling pot, 2 cases of 12 oz bottles



True Brew Maestro Beer Equipment Kit
SKU: BRK0004, Ship Wt: 10 lb. $79.95
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TrueBrew Maestro Kit /with Autosyphon
Same as regular TrueBrew Equipment kit (featured above), however it includes the new semi autosyphon setup to ease syphoning. True Brew Maestro Beer Equipment Kit with Auto Syphon includes: Basic Book, 6.5 Gallon primary fermentor with lock and lid. Bottling bucket w/spigot, bottlefiller, adhesive thermometer. Rack and Fill Kit, Hydrometer, capper, bottlebrush, auto syphon and santizer.
Excellent starter kit. Additional equipment recommended, Large boiling pot, 2 cases of 12 oz bottles



TrueBrew Maestro Kit w/Autosyphon
SKU: BRK0003, Ship Wt: 12 lb. $89.55
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[alpo]

The Frugal Beer Brewers Guide To Brewing Aids

I've heard of infected beers, but purposely brewing AIDS is ridiculous