First, forgive me if I ramble. I've been drinking.
I always had an interest in getting into homebrewing. I decided I'd do it one day, but I didn't know when. A few days ago, as some of you may know, Woot.com offered the Mr. Beer kit for just $20. Awesome. I ordered it without much thought. I knew it was crap compared to a "real" kit, but I figured it'd be a good way to just mess around and see what there is to see.
Well, while waiting, I had "How to Brew" quickly shipped to my house (Amazon Prime is pretty awesome, not a shill) and began reading it. I also started looking up starter kits. As well as Mr. Palmer explains things, it all sounds horribly complicated (although some youtube videos make me believe that it doesn't have to be as complicated as it sounds). Just the act of cleaning and sanitizing alone sounds like a mess (beerstones and soaking them, followed by an acidic bath? ugh).
And then reading these forums (along with others) and hearing about all of the various equipment not included in the starter kits... What are some things that you own now that you wish you owned from the start? I was thinking about the various bottle cleaners and faucet-attachment rinsers to save some time.
I also wish suppliers offered a bit more customization to their starter kits. I'm so torn between a glass and plastic carboy (Plastic is easier seems easier and safer to handle, but the glass carboys seem a lot easier to clean... and look neater). And I'd like to exchange the default cappers for a bench capper.
Oh, and I wish I had any idea which brew was the easiest (and preferably quickest! I do want to drink this stuff after all) to start out with. I love stouts, but they all seem to take forever to brew and I want a little more instant gratification for my first brew.
The too long; didn't read version:
1) I've seen suggestions for Midwest stuff (intermediate), but which starter kit, looking back, would you go with? I'm not really wanting to spend $400 on a keg kit, but half that price is cool.
2) What equipment, not normally included with a starter kit, would you consider useful? Something that you own now, but didn't own when you started out, that you wish you did.
3) Give me some brew recommendations. I'm a pretty open guy. I love my craft brews and spend way too much money on them, but I can easily bring myself down to bud light mode if needed. I want something that is fairly quick and straight forward to allow me to get the basics of brewing down.
I always had an interest in getting into homebrewing. I decided I'd do it one day, but I didn't know when. A few days ago, as some of you may know, Woot.com offered the Mr. Beer kit for just $20. Awesome. I ordered it without much thought. I knew it was crap compared to a "real" kit, but I figured it'd be a good way to just mess around and see what there is to see.
Well, while waiting, I had "How to Brew" quickly shipped to my house (Amazon Prime is pretty awesome, not a shill) and began reading it. I also started looking up starter kits. As well as Mr. Palmer explains things, it all sounds horribly complicated (although some youtube videos make me believe that it doesn't have to be as complicated as it sounds). Just the act of cleaning and sanitizing alone sounds like a mess (beerstones and soaking them, followed by an acidic bath? ugh).
And then reading these forums (along with others) and hearing about all of the various equipment not included in the starter kits... What are some things that you own now that you wish you owned from the start? I was thinking about the various bottle cleaners and faucet-attachment rinsers to save some time.
I also wish suppliers offered a bit more customization to their starter kits. I'm so torn between a glass and plastic carboy (Plastic is easier seems easier and safer to handle, but the glass carboys seem a lot easier to clean... and look neater). And I'd like to exchange the default cappers for a bench capper.
Oh, and I wish I had any idea which brew was the easiest (and preferably quickest! I do want to drink this stuff after all) to start out with. I love stouts, but they all seem to take forever to brew and I want a little more instant gratification for my first brew.
The too long; didn't read version:
1) I've seen suggestions for Midwest stuff (intermediate), but which starter kit, looking back, would you go with? I'm not really wanting to spend $400 on a keg kit, but half that price is cool.
2) What equipment, not normally included with a starter kit, would you consider useful? Something that you own now, but didn't own when you started out, that you wish you did.
3) Give me some brew recommendations. I'm a pretty open guy. I love my craft brews and spend way too much money on them, but I can easily bring myself down to bud light mode if needed. I want something that is fairly quick and straight forward to allow me to get the basics of brewing down.