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Recommended sources for equipment kits?
11/15/2011 2:19:16 AM
I am currently saving up for the equipment to start home brewing. I intend to start simple with ingredient kits and eventually graduate up to more complex practices. However, most of the kits all look the same to me.
I'm wondering what websites you guys trust, and what kits you guys recommend.
Thanks!
I'm wondering what websites you guys trust, and what kits you guys recommend.
Thanks!
11/15/2011 8:08:37 AM
I guess Austin Homebrew for you (if you have to buy online). I'm lucky that I have a couple of locals to buy from, but I did buy a few kits from AHS when I first started. AHS, Northern Brewer, Midwest are all pretty solid places to deal with online.
11/15/2011 8:35:57 AM
Austin Homebrew has free shipping over $100 and they have a build-your-own kit. 
11/15/2011 9:04:07 AM
I ordered mine from Northern Brewer, but I've since ordered stuff from Austin and Midwest and they all have great service.
I got the deluxe starter kit from NB and it was around $150. I bought an extract kit from them for my first beer, and I had everything except bottles to do my first complete beer.
If you have a local Brew shop them a try. It's nice to make friends there and have someone you can bounce ideas off of.
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I got the deluxe starter kit from NB and it was around $150. I bought an extract kit from them for my first beer, and I had everything except bottles to do my first complete beer.
If you have a local Brew shop them a try. It's nice to make friends there and have someone you can bounce ideas off of.
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11/15/2011 10:30:31 AM
EC Kraus has brewing supplies. Free shipping on orders over $25.
11/15/2011 11:59:52 AM
I would recommend your local home-brew supply store as a first stop as they're usually price competitive on kits to the online places but they offer local advise. Starting out you're going to need some advise and tips from experianced home-brewers and in most cases they'll steer you into the correct gear.
If you don't have a local sop close by I recommend Northern Brewer and Midwest, both are quality ops at reasonable prices. I've never ordered anything from Austin supply but they seem to have a good reputation.
If you don't have a local sop close by I recommend Northern Brewer and Midwest, both are quality ops at reasonable prices. I've never ordered anything from Austin supply but they seem to have a good reputation.
11/15/2011 1:27:15 PM
Austin, Northern and Midwest are my recommendations. Some have free shipping, some have fixed shipping and others have lower prices with actual shipping. You'll just have to compare what exactly you're after.
11/15/2011 3:55:23 PM
Were you asking about brewing equipment specifically? Or both equipment and ingredients?
My local brew shop had the Brewer's Best kits a a price below a lot of the mail order places. I would definitely check out any local resources you have first. I would also talk to them about equipment. I got the BB deluxe kit as a birthday present, but I could also see piecing together what you needed and saving some money. I "needed" a glass carboy. Now with only 2 brews under my belt I can honestly say I don't need it. Some of the other pieces were kind of the same way.
Another thing to keep in mind is almost all home brewers will tell you to stay away from aluminum brew kettles. They will give you reasons, sometimes. I managed to get a turkey fryer setup brand new for like $50 including the 30 qt pot. Until I'm ready to go out and get the $500 Blickmann 10 gal BK with all the attachments I'm pretty sure my little aluminum pot will work fine. And if I decide that Homebrewing isn't for me I'm not out a ton of $$. '
I'd either read Home Brew Talk Beginners forum or ask questions here to get an idea of what you really need. Understanding that brewing is a 2 part process and you only need half the stuff to start.
My local brew shop had the Brewer's Best kits a a price below a lot of the mail order places. I would definitely check out any local resources you have first. I would also talk to them about equipment. I got the BB deluxe kit as a birthday present, but I could also see piecing together what you needed and saving some money. I "needed" a glass carboy. Now with only 2 brews under my belt I can honestly say I don't need it. Some of the other pieces were kind of the same way.
Another thing to keep in mind is almost all home brewers will tell you to stay away from aluminum brew kettles. They will give you reasons, sometimes. I managed to get a turkey fryer setup brand new for like $50 including the 30 qt pot. Until I'm ready to go out and get the $500 Blickmann 10 gal BK with all the attachments I'm pretty sure my little aluminum pot will work fine. And if I decide that Homebrewing isn't for me I'm not out a ton of $$. '
I'd either read Home Brew Talk Beginners forum or ask questions here to get an idea of what you really need. Understanding that brewing is a 2 part process and you only need half the stuff to start.
11/15/2011 4:15:57 PM
Originally Posted By sburggsx:
Were you asking about brewing equipment specifically? Or both equipment and ingredients?
My local brew shop had the Brewer's Best kits a a price below a lot of the mail order places. I would definitely check out any local resources you have first. I would also talk to them about equipment. I got the BB deluxe kit as a birthday present, but I could also see piecing together what you needed and saving some money. I "needed" a glass carboy. Now with only 2 brews under my belt I can honestly say I don't need it. Some of the other pieces were kind of the same way.
Another thing to keep in mind is almost all home brewers will tell you to stay away from aluminum brew kettles. They will give you reasons, sometimes. I managed to get a turkey fryer setup brand new for like $50 including the 30 qt pot. Until I'm ready to go out and get the $500 Blickmann 10 gal BK with all the attachments I'm pretty sure my little aluminum pot will work fine. And if I decide that Homebrewing isn't for me I'm not out a ton of $$. '
I'd either read Home Brew Talk Beginners forum or ask questions here to get an idea of what you really need. Understanding that brewing is a 2 part process and you only need half the stuff to start.
Were you asking about brewing equipment specifically? Or both equipment and ingredients?
My local brew shop had the Brewer's Best kits a a price below a lot of the mail order places. I would definitely check out any local resources you have first. I would also talk to them about equipment. I got the BB deluxe kit as a birthday present, but I could also see piecing together what you needed and saving some money. I "needed" a glass carboy. Now with only 2 brews under my belt I can honestly say I don't need it. Some of the other pieces were kind of the same way.
Another thing to keep in mind is almost all home brewers will tell you to stay away from aluminum brew kettles. They will give you reasons, sometimes. I managed to get a turkey fryer setup brand new for like $50 including the 30 qt pot. Until I'm ready to go out and get the $500 Blickmann 10 gal BK with all the attachments I'm pretty sure my little aluminum pot will work fine. And if I decide that Homebrewing isn't for me I'm not out a ton of $$. '
I'd either read Home Brew Talk Beginners forum or ask questions here to get an idea of what you really need. Understanding that brewing is a 2 part process and you only need half the stuff to start.
But you'll get alzheimers. But you'll get alzheimers.
I don't subscribe to getting alzheimers from alumn. pots. The only reason I have a stainless one is because it was just as cheap, at the time, as the alumn. one
11/22/2011 8:16:06 AM
Northern for brew supplies.
Micromatic for hardware.
Micromatic for hardware.
11/22/2011 3:31:00 PM
Originally Posted By Couch-Commando:
I am currently saving up for the equipment to start home brewing. I intend to start simple with ingredient kits and eventually graduate up to more complex practices. However, most of the kits all look the same to me.
I'm wondering what websites you guys trust, and what kits you guys recommend.
Thanks!
I am currently saving up for the equipment to start home brewing. I intend to start simple with ingredient kits and eventually graduate up to more complex practices. However, most of the kits all look the same to me.
I'm wondering what websites you guys trust, and what kits you guys recommend.
Thanks!
Support your local homebrew store!!
If you don't have one, then go to the internet. My local is Adventures in Homebrewing. They just opened their second store about equal distance from me, so I have a 40 min drive to either store!!
Full disclosure: I have no financial interest in the store, but consider the owner and many of the employees friends. Many hours that I should have been studying while in college I was at Jay's shop BS'ing and drinking beer!
K
11/23/2011 1:55:12 AM
Just found one local with good prices. I figure my parents will probably give me some cash at Christmas time, and I'll buy the equipment then.
They have a 200 dollar kit that comes with all the basics including two cases of bottles, a brewing kettle and one ingredient kit.
http://brewyourownbrew.com/
They have a 200 dollar kit that comes with all the basics including two cases of bottles, a brewing kettle and one ingredient kit.
http://brewyourownbrew.com/
12/14/2011 3:16:22 PM
I'd say go with Mr. Beer. I know, it's the cheapest kit, but you'll get a taste for homebrewing without spending too much. If you will stick with homebrewing, you can buy larger equipment as needed and still use the Mr. Beer for small or experimental batches.
12/14/2011 6:26:54 PM
Originally Posted By abnk:
I'd say go with Mr. Beer. I know, it's the cheapest kit, but you'll get a taste for homebrewing without spending too much. If you will stick with homebrewing, you can buy larger equipment as needed and still use the Mr. Beer for small or experimental batches.
I'd say go with Mr. Beer. I know, it's the cheapest kit, but you'll get a taste for homebrewing without spending too much. If you will stick with homebrewing, you can buy larger equipment as needed and still use the Mr. Beer for small or experimental batches.
I think for just about the same price, you can get larger 5 gal buckets kits.
12/14/2011 9:45:29 PM
I already had a Mr. Beer kit. That's how I know I enjoy doing this stuff.
12/14/2011 10:01:00 PM
Originally Posted By Couch-Commando:
I already had a Mr. Beer kit. That's how I know I enjoy doing this stuff.
I already had a Mr. Beer kit. That's how I know I enjoy doing this stuff.
Good deal. Have you checked with your local homebrew suppliers? They often have their own kits or will let you put your own kit together.
12/16/2011 1:23:24 PM
morebeer is a good place too. I like northen brewer too
12/17/2011 12:44:05 PM
Also I am looking to buy faucets for my deep freezer turned kregator. Seems the johnson controller and the faucets are cheaper at amazon then at their actual stores.
I guess you got to do your shopping.
I guess you got to do your shopping.
1/2/2012 3:52:24 AM
Originally Posted By Couch-Commando:
Just found one local with good prices. I figure my parents will probably give me some cash at Christmas time, and I'll buy the equipment then.
They have a 200 dollar kit that comes with all the basics including two cases of bottles, a brewing kettle and one ingredient kit.
http://brewyourownbrew.com/
Just found one local with good prices. I figure my parents will probably give me some cash at Christmas time, and I'll buy the equipment then.
They have a 200 dollar kit that comes with all the basics including two cases of bottles, a brewing kettle and one ingredient kit.
http://brewyourownbrew.com/
This - on top of supporting a local business, they seem to be good guys, and in my opinion, really work to earn your business.
