What is the best home brewing kit?

1. 81

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years ago

   What is the best home brewing kit?
   
   I think I'd like to try making my own beer sometime.  I have absolutely no idea how to go about it though.  I know home brewing kits and supplies can be purchased in stores and online.
   
   If you've used a home brewing kit, how did you like it?  Were you happy with the product?  Was it easy to learn to use?  Do you recommend one?
   
   

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2. 58

   justomposted 11 years ago

   Mr. Shaw, I can't tell you which one is best but one of the main things is good hops. Years ago I made beer, wine and even root beer and the hardest part of any of them was waiting for them to be drinkable. I will say it's WAY cheaper and the brew is a lot stronger so the buzz is killer. Do it man, it's a good thing!!

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   1. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hell yeah, Tom!!!!!!!!!
      
      I have to do it.  Nobody can afford my daily beer consumption these days!!!!!!
      
      Where does one get really good hops?

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   2. 58

      justomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'd have to check that out for you Todd, I got mine locally from a guy who won awards for his brew but I think he died. When you buy the stuff  don't be fooled into spending big $. The main thing with the vessel etc. is sterilization. Let me know whe

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   3. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I'm not ready to buy now.  I can get one from my amazon earnings if I want to, but I'm not ready right now.
      
      I'm going to do it though, and the cheaper ones would likely be the best place to start...If I understand right, it's the ingredients!

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   4. 58

      justomposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Shit Todd I think Justin got one a couple of years ago and never used it. I'll check it out when I talk to him later. If he ain't gonna' do it and still has it (the kit) I'll get it and send it to you. I forgot he even had one :-P

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   5. 62

      Brandon E Newmanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The question is do you want to do all-grain, or an extract brew. If you will not be mashing grain, all you need is a big pot, caps,capper, and a glass carboy.(and ingredients of course!) Start collecting bottles now- the ones that do not twist off.

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   6. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hell Yeah Tom!!!!!!  I'd sure appreciate it, but only if he ain't interested, you know!

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   7. 61

      Perry the Catposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You know, the monks were the first to make beer.  You might visit a monastary.

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   8. 74

      alancaster149posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Too bad if the monastery's Dominican. You'd get the thumbscrew treatment from them(- might as well quiz the CIA on foreign policy)!Try www.ehow.com>Food & Drink

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   9. 61

      Perry the Catposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, at least they're not Jesuits... wow, talk about hell on wheels...

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3. 62

   Brandon E Newmanposted 11 years ago

   Go to homebrew headquarters Richardson TX, on Coit rd. They will answer any questions you have and put together an amazing kit. Have in mind what style of beer you want to brew when you go. Ales are easier. Lager styles must be strictly controlled temp-wise. 50-55 degrees is the temp needed for lager fermentation, and aging.(you will need a modified freezer for that in this Texas heat)Go for an ALE.

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   1. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Brandon, I had no idea there was a place like that in Richardson.
      
      Yes, it is certainly the wrong time of year for making Lagers in Texas!!!!

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4. 61

   Perry the Catposted 11 years ago

   Mom and I made peach wine one time.  We added extra sugar so it would be sweet. It was really good.  Then we made watermelon wine.  It was so strong that the only person who could drink it was a Crazy Cajun friend and he sucked it down like it was swamp water.  Then we made peach wine again, but it turned, so mom bottled it and gave it away as Aunt Katie's Peach Wine and Douche Vinegar.  Sadly, after that she never tried again. 
   
   Were I to brew anything, I'd make a real McCoy Still complete with the copper coils and corn mash.  Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water you see, so you have to watch it carefully.  You also have to beware of revenuers.  But it's cheap and easy to build. Just use the stuff lying around the trailer.

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   1. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm a Hvac dude...so copper tubbing and brazing are no problem for me...
      
      My daily four 24 oz cans is just getting too dang expensive!
      
      I'm going to do this.  ...I don't know how soon, but I'm going to! Lots of pear trees here,pear wine sounds good!

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   2. 61

      Perry the Catposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well wine is the easiest, I think.  Good wine, however, is a matter of opinion.  Once we made root beer.  That's not too hard.  Once I drank Birch Beer.  I'll never do that again!

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   3. 62

      Brandon E Newmanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      To make wine out of anything but grapes you have to use sulphite. It's an anti-browning, anti-vinegar preservative. They have the tablets at HBHQ. The dose is 2 tabs per gallon juice, 1 tab per gallon fermented must.It absorbs oxygen.(camden tablets)

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5. 74

   alancaster149posted 11 years ago

   Here it is, Wes: the definitive answer to the home-brewer's prayers -
   www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk ;
   
   www.homebrewtalk.com ;
   
   www.burghley-homebrew.com
   .- 30 years in the home brew retail trade, ph 01733 810259. On the site are
   * Spirits and liqueurs,
   * Bins and barrels,
   * Equipment,
   * Ancillaries,
   * Mashing,
   * Chemicals,
   * Information, contacts, links.
   It's all here for you, let's see you start off the Wesman Todd-Shaw Texas (WTST) Micro-brewery to eventually rival that lot in Milwaukee! (What made Milwaukee Famous Made a Millionaire out of me, excuse the paraphrasing)!
   Bags I first exported bottle!

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   1. 61

      Perry the Catposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Brandon:  I used Camden Tablets, a commercial anti fungal that keeps wine from browning or turning to vinegar.

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   2. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Alan!  Nice resource links!!!!!!!!

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   3. 74

      alancaster149posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You never know, we might see the WTS brand at Wetherspoon's over here during one of their Real Ale Festivals. I'll look out for it!

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   4. 81

      Wesman Todd Shawposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Heck Yeah, Alan!!!!!!!!
      
      I'd sure be telling everyone about it were I to come up with something unique that I couldn't do without!!!!!!!!

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6. 50

   beerbrewerposted 10 years ago

   I purchased a home brew kit for my son in early June from a company called www.theamericanhomebrewer.com. The wife and I searched long and hard to find this little gold mine and I must admit their prices are in fact the lowest we could find. Apparently not a very big company and rarely show up on Google but, if you can find them they are and excellent resource. We compared their kits to many others and they did provide more bang for the buck. Plus, they offered flat rate shipping which was a nice little savings for us. We've used them 3 times now for miscellaneous supplies, malts and hops. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 ¢ worth!

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