I want to start brewing my own beer. I’ve never brewed beer really, but I want a starter kit. Should I buy kits pre-assembled or beer get all the peices together? Should I start with a kit cheap and easy as Mr. Beer and then make my way when I am better at the brewery? What are good recipes or kits ingredient in beer?
If you want to do this as a one-time thing, then the kits make a lot of sense. Everything you need is already in the kit. So, if you are doing it as kind of a goofy, fun idea, it’s fine to go with a kit.
But if you think you will be doing it frequently and are interested in experimenting with lots of different beer styles, then get the pieces individually. Find a beermaker’s supply store in your area (if you can) and get the supplies from them. You will get much higher quality that way. Over the long run, it will also cost less, because the equipment will be re-usable. And as you learn what you are doing, you will be able to make just the kind of beer that you like.
One more thing. If you want to get lots of ideas for recipes and how-to information, check out the American Homebrewers Association, and their magazine, “Zymurgy.” (The word refers to fermentation.) http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/zymurgy/current-issue
And remember: “Relax. Don’t Worry. Have a Homebrew.”
Good luck!!
Hey there, glad you’re considering joining our obsession….I mean mean hobby. I will make this fairly short and simple. Mr. Beer. is a pretty good starter kit. I know I’m going to take flak as it is in fact of low quality. However it is fairly cheap, comes with everything you need to start, and if you decide brewing is not for you then you can usually get about 10 bucks out of it on E-bay.
That being said if you find you enjoy brewing I would recommend find a local home-brew shop and upgrading as soon as possible. Also, because I’m sure it will come up, the beer is brewing fine. You most likely didn’t ruin it. You don’t know what that means yet, but when it comes up you’ll know.
Here is a similar system to Mr Beer but it has more features, and costs more.. I have 2 of them so I can make 5gallons and split it between the 2. Makes it a lot cheaper than using their kits. But again down south you can buy beer for about 1/3rd what we pay, $20 a dozen for a descent brew.
I’d say no to Mr Beer, the Beer Machine, and the other “toy” kits. They are limited in what you can do with them. I started with Papazian’s book (New Complete Joy of Home Brewing), a Brewers’ Best equipment kit, and a trip to my nearest home brew shop. The proprietor started me off with an all-extract ale that I still make from time to time. (It was not a “kit” but he picked what I needed.) From there, I gradually worked my way to greater complexity.
Papazian has the best published recipes I’ve seen. You might want to check http://byo.com too.