Equipment Kit

[dmcg1230]

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to the whole process of homebrewing. I made one batch of IPA that I never got to see to completion (it was lost in a pretty nasty car accident), and basically all of my equipment was lost/damaged. I want to start up again and I was wondering what equipment kit I should get.

My first kit was a Brewer's Best equipment kit, but I hear a lot of good things about the AHS kit. The issue for me though is that my LHBS carries the BB kit and I'd have to wait online for the AHS kit.

What do you think? Does the equipment kit make that much of a difference?

 

[Schumed]

I think you will find all the beginners kit are pretty much the same

 

[duboman]

Most of the kits that I have seen are pretty similar and provide the basics for what you need to get started. Primarily you want buckets or carboys to ferment in, airlocks, Hydrometer,Thermometer, tubing, racking cane, bottle filler and kettle and a recipe to brew. Also get Star San to sanitize and either Oxy or PBW to clean. While you're at it get the book "How to Brew" by Palmer.

Welcome back to a great hobby! If you have nay questions as you move forward don't hesitate asking Cheers!

 

[Rbeckett]

I try to give my local shop as much business as I can within reason. As long as the price including freight is comparable I would buy local and get instant gratification. You could also buy what ever else you need to get started with a big bang again. And that will help insure you have a place for that emergency ingredient on a saturday when the mailman has already come and gone for the weekend. At least all you lost was some brew and some equip. Could have been much worse.
Wheelchair Bob

 

[menerdari]

I started with the BB deluxe kit and have added things here and there but nothing wrong with BB hardware at all.

 

[BonzoAPD]

What is the AHS Kit?

 

[Rivenin]

AHS has a few different starter kits.
but with what was above mentioned, i would also get a fermometer, that would have saved my ass soooo many times when i first started brewing.

 

[menerdari]

AHS has a few different starter kits.
but with what was above mentioned, i would also get a fermometer, that would have saved my ass soooo many times when i first started brewing.

Without a doubt. most starter kits come with one but you want more.
i have one on every carboy and bucket i own with the exception of my cleaning bucket.

 

[evolcoms]

I found this info and thought I would share it.

How to brew by John Palmer

 

[BonzoAPD]

AHS has a few different starter kits.
but with what was above mentioned, i would also get a fermometer, that would have saved my ass soooo many times when i first started brewing.

What is AHS?

 

[Zuljin]

For extract
-5 gallon fermenter with lid
-5 gallon bottle bucket with spigot
-A thermometer that reads at least 60 to 180. More range is more better. Get two if you have to. A lot of kits have glass ones. I like the metal probe kind better having broken two glass ones.
-Hydrometer with cylinder
-Racking cane with the little foot
-Tubing
-60 glass Bottles even if you only use 50 something
-Caps
-Capper. A wing capper is fine.
-Air lock
-Bung for your bung hole
-Grain and or hops bag. Those muslin bags are fine.
-Big pot. 5+ gallons or at least 3. Unless you want to do smaller than 5 gallon batches. Your choice of metal.
-Long handle spoon.
-Sanitizer. Starsan, BEST or Oxy are popular
-Ingredients, of course

For all grain
-Mash tun. I use an Igloo cooler.
-Mash paddle
Both of these are in the DIY section

Truly, going ag is not hard. It can be as easy or complex as you want it to be.

Optional
-Scale
-Wort chiller, also in the DIY
-Secondary vessel
-Grain mill. Every local hb supply I've gone to will mill for you though.

As for where to guy, look local or cycle through the ads and vendor section here.

 

[kylevester]

What is AHS?

Austin Homebrew Supply

www.austinhomebrew.com