The same principle still applies. Start out simple with a 5lb C02 tank, regulator, 1-2 kegs in your mini-fridge, and picnic taps. If it works for you then you can always expand to a fully-fledged keezer with a stout tap on nitrogen (and keep a look out for keezers for sale in the classifieds here and on Craig's List).
Thanks mongoose!
I'm having trouble finding a kit exactly to my liking. I really think I'd like to start out kegging. From what I can tell, I'll be best served piecing what i want together.
I have a mini fridge im willing to donate to the cause, and I have room for a full size refrigerator or an ample chest freezer. Any advice on the best angle to start kegging right out of the gate, or is this an ill advised decision...
BTBNL has some good advice on kegging. I did exactly that--had a couple kegs, used refrigerator, a regulator, bought a 5# CO2 tank and a picnic tap, and I was in business. Made it easier to take my time on the keezer.
Even the picnic tap--if you build a kegerator or keezer--will remain useful. I have a small 1.5-gallon keg to take to a party or camping weekend or whatever, and the picnic tap is what I use to serve from that.
Let me note a few other things too. I just finished brewing my 19th batch; first three were extract, then all grain from there. So I can remember fairly vividly what it was like to be new at this. YMMV.
1. I've bought the 6.5-gallon Bigmouthbubblers made from PET plastic from Northern Brewer. After reading the horror stories of broken glass carboys, I knew I'd never go there. Heavy, harder to handle, and if they break you can be seriously injured. The BMBs are very light, and since the mouth is wide, you can reach all the way inside to clean with a soft cloth (never clean plastic items with anything that might scratch them as that will make them very difficult to clean effectively).
There are other big mouth plastic fermenters. There is a downside currently w/ the BMB--their universal lid sometimes doesn't seat correctly. There's a workaround for it, but I like these enough I bought a 3rd one. I never liked the idea of using a pail for fermenting. I know lots of folks are good brewers with them, but since I can't see through the pail, I'd have to remove the lid to see inside, there are just a number of things I don't like about it. (Same comment for those now angry--I know that many people brew fine beer in them).
And that brings to mind this: I'm old enough to have experienced, many times, cheaping out early on something only to later regret that purchase as I bought something better. Buy quality now if you can. I know not everybody has a lot of disposable income to devote to this hobby, but try not to cheap out if you can.
And BTW, there's never a top to this. There will always be something better than I have, so what's "cheap" to one is high quality to another.
2. I really do think kits are the way to go for new brewers. To me at least, it's a hard hobby to get comfortable with right away. There are all these new terms that don't mean anything yet: sparge, rack, vorlauf, tun, mash, cold break, hot break, coffee break (j/k); malt, diastatic power, strike water, starter, etc. etc. etc. At least kits will not leave you with some crucial piece missing as you set up for brew day. Still, they may leave out something desirable, like a long-handled spoon, or a hydrometer, or whatever.
The Northern Brewer good kit includes an extract recipe as part of the kit--so you don't even have to worry about what to buy in that regard. You get something known to work well, so that you can focus entirely on the process.
3. Good on you for thinking ahead on things like kegging. Once you order your equipment and set up a brew day and then brew, you'll still have 2-4 weeks of that beer sitting in the fermenter. So there's no urgency, other than paying attention to deals and sales, to have to have all that kegging equipment at the outset.
This will allow you to focus on and begin to master the brewing process. It's not rocket science but there can be a lot to do, in the right order. Heck, my very first brew (with the NB kit) was a goof--I was supposed to add the extract when water temp reached boiling but I added it after the steeping grains were finished, at 170 degrees. Oh well. Didn't help matters much.
But I survived.
