Starter kits?

[brewingmadness]

I've been wanting to get into homebrewing for a few years now, but it has also been put on the backburner. I asked a few questions almost a year ago, but I've decided I wanted to take a different route. I know I want to do extracts for a bit, and am looking for a good starting kit that has almost everything I need. I want to do kegging also. I found this set http://morebeer.com/view_product/15915/102142/Personal_Home_Brewery_%235_-_Kegging_Super_Deluxe
I looked around a lot and this seemed like it came with the most. I think the pot is solid, and love that it comes with the keg and co2 cylinder and wort chiller. I don't like that it only comes with 1 plastic carboy though. Is $479 a fair price? The reason I want a kit is because my brother lives in CA and I live in AR and we are both going to get the same set and try and brew around the same time. Should I go this route or are there better options out there?

 

[shawnbou]

This is just my 2 cents, but if it were me, I'd wait to make sure homebrewing was really something I was going to be into before going straight to kegging. If you've got the money, I know you're thinking why not just jump in ... but remember that:

• You will have to have a dedicated kegerator or keezer to keep the keg cool. That's a bigger investment of money and space.

• I can assure you that you are going to want more than one beer ready to drink at a time. That means one keg is not going to be enough, very quickly.

If you're dead set on getting the kit with the keg, it seems like a good kit. But you could save yourself $144 by getting the #4 kit. You can buy a lot of plastic carboys for $144.

Just a suggestion.

 

[brewingmadness]

I've got an extra fridge in my garage that I will be using. I already measured it and it will fit 2 kegs and a co2 tank easily on one side(the other is reserved for the wife). I will be doing more brews, just got to get started. I was going to do bottling before, but the one thing I hate is doing dishes, and kegging seems so much easier. I already plan on getting a burner, and just wanted to know if this set was good.

 

[Andrew5329]

Not gonna lie, I started with the equivalent of Kit #1 and I've added equipment incrementally as I've done more adventurous brews and transitioned to partial mash recipes.

IMO buy a basic kit, then after you have 2 or 3 successful beers under your bet buy your kegging kit.

If you want to avoid the "dishes" while maintaining the simplicy of bottling just get Growler Jugs, you can usually find them in .5gallon and 1gallon capacities for $5 or $6 a bottle. And they look really cool.

 

[mjmac85]

Will growlers seal for bottling? Have a few of the Dead Guy growlers that I would love to use.

 

[Rbeckett]

I would think a good basic kit would have a fermenting pail, a bottling pail an auto sipnon, thermometer, hydrometer, capper, caps and a few other small accessories. The extra cash for the kegging kit is kind of high if you ask me. The midwest basic kit and the beveridge elements kegging kit will run you around 290 bucks including freight. And you can spend the cash in stages so SWMBO wont get her panties in a wad about how much money your spending. Just my .02 FWIW
Wheelchair Bob

 

[mr_bell]

I was going to do bottling before, but the one thing I hate is doing dishes, and kegging seems so much easier.

Be aware that bottles are not the only things that need to be cleaned and sanitized, when brewing...carboys, tubing, siphons, pots and so on. I don't recall who said it, but some wise brewer said something like, if you want to be a brewer, you better like cleaning.

Not to discourage, just something to think about before making a big investment. I've been brewing (and bottling) for 4 years, and likely will continue to bottle. I've got it down to a science, and with a 2nd person (one fills, one caps) it's not an unpleasant experience for me. Having a homebrew or 2 while bottling certainly helps too.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I kinda enjoy the bottling process. It's zen. My mind wanders over the process of the next beer I'm going to brew, and i come to my senses just as the final bottle is capped and sliding into the case.

 

[Homercidal]

I say go for it. I personally don't have a problem with bottling, but kegging is easier. There is more work getting started than most people admit to, but the common issues are easily overcome.

 

[Andrew5329]

Will growlers seal for bottling? Have a few of the Dead Guy growlers that I would love to use.

You've gotta make sure you twist the cap on tight but yea, I haven't had one not pressurize yet.

 

[mjmac85]

Bottling ins annoying. Don't go straight to kegging. Do a few batches first. It's just a few batches and you can focus on MAKING the beer instead of storing the beer.

 

[ahaley]

My growler failed to carb, it was barely bubbly, but good luck with your growler maybe my top wasn't tight enough?

 

[icepatrol]

Have you looked at the coopers kit. I bought one around xmas time and did the first batch that came with it with good results.real simple just boil the can of malt extract & ferment.Then moved on to a second batch with fresh ingredients & made a fantastic amber ale with the same kit.just started drinking my 3rd attempt an german hef and its great.paid $120 plus shipping well worth it .perfect for a good start.

 

[brewingmadness]

I appreciate all the input. Thanks!

 

[Andrew5329]

My growler failed to carb, it was barely bubbly, but good luck with your growler maybe my top wasn't tight enough?

Well I know it has to be just the right cap for your growler or the seal isnt perfect and you lose carbonation, maybe that was the issue?

 

[BuddyWeiser]

Have you looked at the coopers kit. I bought one around xmas time and did the first batch that came with it with good results.real simple just boil the can of malt extract & ferment.

+1 I like my Cooper's DIY kit too. Super easy instructions. However, I have bought more equiptment since (10 gal pot, wort chiller, propane turkey fryer burner, etc. etc.) and I'm only my 10th brew.

I like bottling, but want to be able to keg as well. If you can cover the costs to keg, way to go! In any case, try to improve your point of view about cleaning by focusing on the good part (a squeeky clean kitchen, happy SWMBO, etc.). It is an important part of the process, so you might as well enjoy it!

 

[ahaley]

Well I know it has to be just the right cap for your growler or the seal isnt perfect and you lose carbonation, maybe that was the issue?

Most likely, but I'm going to check once I have a little free time