Kits worth the purchase?

[ChiN8]

After a desire to brew my own beer for the last 6 years, I finally have purchased a house and have the room needed to take this project seriously.
Originally I was planning on buying a nice "starter" kit because I am a "starter" but after serious research and soaking up as much information as possible before my purchase I am wondering if kits are even a good purchase.

http://www.homebrewers.com/product/...ry-Fermenter-and-Deluxe-Bottling-Package.html
^^^ That is the kit I was planning on purchasing, I was adding a bottle tree and sani-tree topper with a Glass Carboy for fermenting.

My reason for home brewing is not to save money on my annual beer purchases like many do. I have always enjoyed going to a good micro brewery and brewpubs such as Granite City and the Mash House for the main reason being... I enjoy beer. I love the taste, aromas, the atomosphere beer creates, and the time I have while enjoying my beer. So I want to take this seriously and I want to do this right. I don't want to just buy kits and be limited to the type of beers only included in kits but I know that as a starter I am not about to reinvent the wheel over here.

So my question is, with my purpose for home brewing. Is a kit (specifically this kit) worth the purchase? Or should i take the ~$400 it will cost with my upgrades and buy my equipment individually to better suite what I'm looking for?

 

[celticcolorado]

This really depends on personal preference. If you take the kit and break down what it would cost you retail at a standard local Home Brew shop, the cost comes out about right. Obviously you could find this stuff a lot cheaper if you were to really search all over the internet. You just have to decide if this is the equipment that you want and need.

I started with a smaller kit, then added the additional items that I wanted. I made my own Wort chiller, bought a table top bottle capper etc. Regardless of what you decide, you will be able to make great beer. Welcome to Home Brewing and HBT.

 

[Wade E]

Getting a kit for the basics is a good idea but thats a lot of money for whats there if you ask me and the pot is very small which youll most likely want to replace. On top of that Id get a beer kit designed by the brew store instead of one from a box even though some of them are decent. Id personally think about getting a starter kit including the primary bucket and the carboy and then get a bigger pot. If you decide to start making beer from all grains later youll want a 8 gallon pot minimum and you can probably get that pot cheaper then what you are paying for that in the kit you posted. Pricing everything out separately usually doesnt save you money but that just seems very high. Id check out a few other sights and check out there store made fresh kits! These companies even contribute here and will answer questions you have here.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/index.php?cPath=178
http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/
http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/

 

[luniz7]

midwestsupplies.com is good too

 

[Kickass]

Assuming you’re looking to start brewing extract rather than all grain:

Here is what I started with: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-basics-equipment-kit.html and I recommend it for starters.

Then augment it with one or two 6 gallon carboys. I say 6 gallon over 5 because you have a little extra head space for fermentation and you’re not limited if you want to up your batch volume a bit.

Next buy one of these: http://www.bayouclassiccooking.com/30qt-aluminum-turkey-fryer-k30.html. It’s big enough to do full boils, which you’ll most definitely want to do, and a heat source all in one (waiting for the kitchen stove to get even partial boils going takes much much longer than I, and probably many others out there, want to wait).

Then you can either save bottles, pry tops only, to bottle or buy bottles or there is always kegging.

From there you’ll have all you need for your first batch at less $ without all the “filler” they put in those big kits. Then you can determine what little goodies and gadgets you’ll want after a batch or two.

Hope this helps!

 

[smokinghole]

If you plan on working into more serious brewing a kit isn't bad. I pieced together all the stuff I had because I only planned on making cider. Then I got the bug to make beer and so forth. So I probably spent way more coin buying a piece at a time rather than just getting a kit in one fell swoop. One suggestion don't get a wing capper you'll be happier if you spend the extra money on a bench capper, trust me.

 

[luniz7]

Assuming you’re looking to start brewing extract rather than all grain:

Here is what I started with: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-basics-equipment-kit.html and I recommend it for starters.

Then augment it with one or two 6 gallon carboys. I say 6 gallon over 5 because you have a little extra head space for fermentation and you’re not limited if you want to up your batch volume a bit.

Next buy one of these: http://www.bayouclassiccooking.com/30qt-aluminum-turkey-fryer-k30.html. It’s big enough to do full boils, which you’ll most definitely want to do, and a heat source all in one (waiting for the kitchen stove to get even partial boils going takes much much longer than I, and probably many others out there, want to wait).

Then you can either save bottles, pry tops only, to bottle or buy bottles or there is always kegging.

From there you’ll have all you need for your first batch at less $ without all the “filler” they put in those big kits. Then you can determine what little goodies and gadgets you’ll want after a batch or two.

Hope this helps!

oops, thats the site I meant

this is the kit i have http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-starter-kit.html

 

[KellyK]

Kits are nice and easy ways to start, but I agree with the other posters, this seems like a lot for what you're getting and I suspect there's a good deal of waste in the kit that you either won't use or would need to replace.

My two cents, price out what you actually need at a LHBS. For the "main" equipment, I'd buy 1 6.5 gallon glass carboy (primary), and 1 5 gallon glass carboy (secondary), an immersion wort chiller, 1 - 8 gallon stainless steel pot, and a bottling bucket. Skip the plastic for fermenters, too easy to scratch and harbor infections in my opinion. You could opt for better bottles in equivalent sizes if the weight of the glass is an issue.

Additional equipment needed is a stirring spoon (the plastic ones are fine), a hydrometer - you can test in the vial it comes in, and something to rack with. You can pick up a thermometer just about anywhere. You'll need a capper and bottle caps, but I don't see any reason to pay for bottles. You drink beer, right? Rinse and save your own. The bottle tree is a good add on.

How to Brew is a great book, not sure why they're including two different books in the kit since HTB tells you all you need to know. FYI Palmer's made it available on line for free so unless you want a hard copy it's pretty easy to use the electronic consultation method.

I'd also junk the one-step sanitizer they're using in favor of getting StarSan. You'll get a lot of reaction on here to which sanitizer is best, but in my personal experience I had issues with the effectiveness of one step and have never had issues with StarSan.

Good luck with your brewing endeavors. It's a wonderful hobby!

 

[ChiN8]

I have fallen in love with this forum already, and mostly because of how imformative and active the users are! I want to thank you all for your help already!

I was mainly only researching brewing with extracts because I thought Partial mash and full gain brewing would be on a larger scale but after viewing BREWPASTOR's Partial mash and full grain brewing I am really like a little school girl with this purchase.

After everyone's posts I completely agree with starting off with a smaller kit and seperately purchasing what I will actually USE and NEED not what the company wants to throw in.

I wanted to ask, I know there are 1,000s of websites for home brewers but is there a favorite or best site people use? The closest Local Home Brew shop to me (Fort Bragg, NC) is about an hour away. So to me the trip is worth it on some scales but I probably will do most of my purchases online. Anyone know of a good reliable site that values Quality?

 

[Kickass]

My LHBS is about 3 miles away but I don’t think they are that great so I almost exclusively frequent http://www.midwestsupplies.com/. Their prices are comparable with everything I’ve seen and if you have any problems or question that arise you can call their physical location where, from my experience, they are always friendly and willing to help.

 

[Malticulous]

I don't think the price is all that bad considering it has everything you need down to the bottles and a ingredient kit. I still use my 20qt pot doing AG heating watter and boiling decoctions (but I boil in a 60qt pot.)

You can spend much less. Get your own bottles. Chill in an ice bath. You don't have to have a secondary, or the books. I can get 6.5 gallon buckets for $7.

 

[starrfish]

I'm SC and the closestgood homebrew shop is Alternative beverage ebrew.com they just expanded and started carrying just about everything I need if not i order from northernbrewer.com. I have 2 buddies I pointed to this kit:

http://brewgadgets.com/beerequipkits.htm

$68.59 for a starter kit... Cheapest I've Found!
This Kit Comes With a Fermtech AutoSiphon and Includes:

* True Brew Handbook
* 6.5 gallon Primary Fermenting bucket with D&G Lid
* 6.5 gallon Bottling Bucket with spigot
* Fermometer adhesive fermentation thermometer
* Fermtech Springless Bottle Filler
* Fermtech 3/8” Auto Siphon
* 5’ x 5/16” Flex Vinyl Tubing Hydrometer
* Emily Double Lever Capper
* Bottle Brush
* 3 Piece Airlock
* C-Brite Sanitizer 8-pack

Used this set up with out the auto-siphon to brew 100's of gallons.
I use palstic unless I'm doing long ages ( like my old hopless ale ((mug wort, sweet gale, heather, and juniper berries)) which has a brett culture that will take another 6-9 or 12 months depending on how the brett works (notoriusly slow fermenter and I pitched it after it fermented down to 1.020)

Grain mill is a plus but most shops will crush for you (I have a corona, bit of a pain but have gotten up to 91% efficencey out of it with a fine crush and thin mash... just not consistant, wort chiller... there are work arounds, but not sure why I waited so long, 5 gal bucket mash tun with fly sparge and false bottom... won one years ago... didn't use until last year but am looking to up grade to a 10gal rubbermaid cooler since the capacity is about 12lbs of grain, will probably sell to a buddy or here if he doesn't bite. ($25). I'm up to 3 buckets, and 1 6.5 gallon glass. I HATE glass carboys... heavy when fulll and a pain to clean ( my 2¢).

Oh and a good breing thermometer for about $6 is essential, as well as a cheap $4 test cylinder for your hydrometer.

where are you in NC? Like I said Alt Bev. can have my stuff to me in two days, good prices, good inventory GREAT customer service!

 

[ChiN8]

I'm SC and the closestgood homebrew shop is Alternative beverage ebrew .com they just expanded and started carrying just about everything I need if not i order from northernbrewer.com. I have 2 buddies I pointed to this kit:

http://brewgadgets.com/beerequipkits.htm

$68.59 for a starter kit... Cheapest I've Found!
This Kit Comes With a Fermtech AutoSiphon and Includes:

* True Brew Handbook
* 6.5 gallon Primary Fermenting bucket with D&G Lid
* 6.5 gallon Bottling Bucket with spigot
* Fermometer adhesive fermentation thermometer
* Fermtech Springless Bottle Filler
* Fermtech 3/8” Auto Siphon
* 5’ x 5/16” Flex Vinyl Tubing Hydrometer
* Emily Double Lever Capper
* Bottle Brush
* 3 Piece Airlock
* C-Brite Sanitizer 8-pack

Used this set up with out the auto-siphon to brew 100's of gallons.
I use palstic unless I'm doing long ages ( like my old hopless ale ((mug wort, sweet gale, heather, and juniper berries)) which has a brett culture that will take another 6-9 or 12 months depending on how the brett works (notoriusly slow fermenter and I pitched it after it fermented down to 1.020)

Grain mill is a plus but most shops will crush for you (I have a corona, bit of a pain but have gotten up to 91% efficencey out of it with a fine crush and thin mash... just not consistant, wort chiller... there are work arounds, but not sure why I waited so long, 5 gal bucket mash tun with fly sparge and false bottom... won one years ago... didn't use until last year but am looking to up grade to a 10gal rubbermaid cooler since the capacity is about 12lbs of grain, will probably sell to a buddy or here if he doesn't bite. ($25). I'm up to 3 buckets, and 1 6.5 gallon glass. I HATE glass carboys... heavy when fulll and a pain to clean ( my 2¢).

where are you in NC? Like I said Alt Bev. can have my stuff to me in two days, good prices, good inventory GREAT customer service!

I'm at Fort Bragg, are you in any organizations or clubs in the area that would be driving distance for me?

 

[starrfish]

No, wish I had a club. have been in 2 over the years in PA LOT's OF FUN! Wish there was one close. Guys at Alternative Beverage sometimes have events... they are having a campout brew day this weekend ( http://www.ebrew.com ). wish I could make, it just a bit too far, with having something else going this weekend.

I know there are some brewers around the florence area, (hear say supposedly they meet in a local restaurant), the west side of SC and columbia from this board just haven't met any of them yet... been considering starting a club... just need to figure out the best way to start one... and how to get them involved.

 

[1ratdog]

kit is great. i love it. and being fairly new to homebrewing (just brewed 5th batch) the kit takes alot of stress away.

 

[1ratdog]

midwest is great but be sure to check out www.northernbrewer.com

 

[starrfish]

OH Pots!... I have a 3 a 5 & a 10gallon 3 & 5 gallons came from big lots $20 for $15 for 3 all steel. 10 Gallon economy pot from Northern Brewer 3 does mash water 5 does sparge 10 does boil for most batches big all grainers 5 & 10 recycle 10 back to boil pot.

 

[ChiN8]

No, wish I had a club. have been in 2 over the years in PA LOT's OF FUN! Wish there was one close. Guys at Alternative Beverage sometimes have events... they are having a campout brew day this weekend ( http://www.ebrew.com ). wish I could make, it just a bit too far, with having something else going this weekend.

I know there are some brewers around the florence area, (hear say supposedly they meet in a local restaurant), the west side of SC and columbia from this board just haven't met any of them yet... been considering starting a club... just need to figure out the best way to start one... and how to get them involved.

If you decide to go ahead with this venture, PM me. If your not to far into SC (from Fort Bragg) I'll be able to assist

 

[ChiN8]

Without trying to take up much room on the Forum. I found this kit that will basically allow me to pruchase what I want but allows for a good starting point.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/starter-kits/better-basic-starter-kit.html
^^ I'm going to choose the 6 Gal better-bottle

I'll add a 30 QT Kettle, Bench Stand Bottler, Spring-loaded bottler, Grain bag, Air lock (because I don't know what a bung is), a bottle tree and tree topper.

Other than that?
Would anyone else add anything?

 

[turtleboy3737]

Without trying to take up much room on the Forum. I found this kit that will basically allow me to pruchase what I want but allows for a good starting point.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/starter-kits/better-basic-starter-kit.html
^^ I'm going to choose the 6 Gal better-bottle

I'll add a 30 QT Kettle, Bench Stand Bottler, Spring-loaded bottler, Grain bag, Air lock (because I don't know what a bung is), a bottle tree and tree topper.

Other than that?
Would anyone else add anything?

I got the better basic. It comes with an airlock and a blowoff assembly.

Good kit, the only thing I added was starsan, since it only comes with a tiny thing of onestep.(That and a 5gal SS kettle I got off amazon for 20 bucks)

A bung is a stopper, in this case with a hole in the middle for your airlock

 

[starrfish]

better bottles and carboys are a pain to clean IMO. can't really get down in to scrub... that's why I like buckets. lived with glass (not better) for too many years. betters are lighter only advantage.

other than they look cooler and you can see what's going on but then you really need to cover with a black trash bag or black sweat shirt to prevent light strike if you leave them out of a dark closet.

 

[smokinghole]

I have another advantage for better bottles. If you drop it, they bounce. Plus I hate siphons and if you wanted to drop the coinage for ported BBs with the racking adapter it makes life so easy.