Expert: Dave Nyce - 5/8/2005

Question
Would like brewing beer at home, what do i need
to get started?

Answer
The best way to start is to visit your local brewing supply store.  They will usually have a kit of equipment that you can buy for about $120.  This will include a fermenter (7 1/2 gallon high density polyethylene bucket with sealable lid and airlock), spigot, siphon, stirring spoon, capper, caps, and powder to make a sterilizing solution.  Then buy a set of ingredients.  To start out, get a can of hopped malt that comes with yeast and a package of hopps.  Also get an additional pouch of liquid malt and some corn sugar (you will only need 3/4 cup of corn sugar).  The hopped malt, liquid malt, hopps, and yeast are used in making the wort (or unfinished beer), the corn sugar is used for charging the wort when bottling it (so it will become carbonated).  You will need a large stainless steel pot for brewing.  The siphon is for putting the beer into the bottles, and the capper seals the caps onto the bottles.  You will need 2 1/2 cases of dark colored long neck bottles (this kind uses a cap that needs to be opened with a bottle opener).  The instructions for the whole process will be included with the can of hopped malt.  You select the hopped malt and the additional malt for the type of beer that you want to make.

Hope this helps!

Dave