Most people have added all the things to get started already. I will say that if you're brewing 5 gallon or bigger batches, then don't waste your time on bottles, go straight to kegs (it's very simple, tastes better, and much much easier than bottling. I wish i'd done this right from the start rather than bottling). Corny kegs are so good. Means a little extra cost to start, but buy them used and the c02 tank used and you'll be fine.
If you do keg, make sure you can find a place nearby to you that will do c02 tank exchange/refills (exchange is better I think, since they will test the tanks before they get them ready to exchange, so you know it's safe). Most welding supply places will do C02 exchanges (just give them a call and let them know you're homebrewing and they'll either say they can do the exchanges or know where to send you)
If you are going to go with bottles, then make sure you only get brown bottles (just recycle any brown commercial brand beer bottles you have after finishing their contents). Or invest in some grolsch style flip top brown bottles. They're easier than capping 50 odd bottles with a bottle capper. Not a fun process.
Cleaning them is why i stopped bottling and started kegging.
Craiglist or Offerup and other places always have some nice deals on brewing equipment. It may need a clean, but get some Oxyclean or PBW and use that to clean everything and then get some StarSan to sanitize everything on brew day. If you sanitize, you will brew good beer all day long.
+100 on not getting a glass carboy. Not worth the risk of seeing your floor covered in broken glass and sticky wort. Get some Ale Pails or something if you want to start out with a bucket. They work great (i used them for several batches before i moved to Stainless Steel buckets (which I still use now)).
Oh and when you're done with the brew kettle, clean it up once you've moved the wort into the fermenter. Don't let it sit for days. Clean as you go, makes it easier.
If you do keg, make sure you can find a place nearby to you that will do c02 tank exchange/refills (exchange is better I think, since they will test the tanks before they get them ready to exchange, so you know it's safe). Most welding supply places will do C02 exchanges (just give them a call and let them know you're homebrewing and they'll either say they can do the exchanges or know where to send you)
If you are going to go with bottles, then make sure you only get brown bottles (just recycle any brown commercial brand beer bottles you have after finishing their contents). Or invest in some grolsch style flip top brown bottles. They're easier than capping 50 odd bottles with a bottle capper. Not a fun process.
Cleaning them is why i stopped bottling and started kegging.
Craiglist or Offerup and other places always have some nice deals on brewing equipment. It may need a clean, but get some Oxyclean or PBW and use that to clean everything and then get some StarSan to sanitize everything on brew day. If you sanitize, you will brew good beer all day long.
+100 on not getting a glass carboy. Not worth the risk of seeing your floor covered in broken glass and sticky wort. Get some Ale Pails or something if you want to start out with a bucket. They work great (i used them for several batches before i moved to Stainless Steel buckets (which I still use now)).
Oh and when you're done with the brew kettle, clean it up once you've moved the wort into the fermenter. Don't let it sit for days. Clean as you go, makes it easier.
