| Now that you have decided that brewing beer at | | | | fewer. As well as the 12 oz bottles, you can choose |
| home sounds like a good idea, the next step is to | | | | 16, 22, or 32 oz. bottles. One note of caution |
| research what you need to get started. Thanks to | | | | regarding glass bottles; they are heavy and shipping |
| the internet, there are literally hundreds of merchants | | | | costs are correspondingly high. Also recommended is |
| out there who are just waiting to sell you what you | | | | a high quality brew kettle made of stainless steel or |
| need. | | | | enamel. These can be obtained individually for around |
| Like everything else in life you can spend quite a bit | | | | $40 or, they will be included in some of the higher |
| or you can spend just a little to get your feet wet | | | | priced kits. |
| and see how you really like it. Here is what is included | | | | As for the ingredients, let your imagination guide you. |
| in a typical starter kit offered by a Midwest US | | | | There are literally hundreds of recipe kits available for |
| distributor for less than $60.00. | | | | any kind of beer you might like. All these kits come |
| Instructional video | | | | with all the necessary ingredients to create that |
| - instruction book | | | | specific flavor and type of beer. Kit prices can vary |
| - 6.5 gallon Fermenter and lid | | | | widely between retailers so do your homework and |
| - 6.5 bottling bucket with spigot | | | | choose carefully. |
| - cleaner | | | | As you browse through all the different options |
| - airlock to keep air out of the fermenter | | | | available you will very soon notice that this is a hobby |
| - a hydrometer to determine alcohol content | | | | that can be a simple, or as complex as you want it |
| - bottle brush | | | | to be. For example, once you are adept at brewing |
| - bottle capping tool | | | | your beer from kits, you can move up in complexity |
| - bottle caps | | | | and begin buying the grains, hops, malts, yeast, etc. |
| - thermometer | | | | individually and doing the work yourself. |
| - bottle filler | | | | You will also quickly become aware of a hops |
| - racking tube and bucket clip | | | | shortage that began in 2007 and just got worse in |
| - siphon tubing. | | | | 2008. The reasons for this shortage were many and |
| There are more complete kits also available that | | | | included farmers switching to more profitable biofuel |
| offer additional items such as equipment required for | | | | crops. Fortunately, this shortage has now eased |
| two stage fermentation recipes. | | | | considerably and hops are again widely available to |
| While that is a very complete list, it is not all you | | | | the home brewer. |
| need to begin your new hobby. You will also need | | | | As this brief discussion has indicated you have many, |
| bottles and ingredients. You may be able to use | | | | many options available when you decide to try |
| bottles you have from commercial beer, but they | | | | brewing beer at home. Just spend an hour or so |
| cannot be the screw top type. They have to be the | | | | doing your research on what kits have the right |
| type that needs an opener. Another option is to buy | | | | balance of equipment and cost and what recipe you |
| a case or two of bottles at the start and recycle | | | | want to try first and you're on your way. |
| them. Or, you can purchase larger bottles and use | | | | |
