Home Brewing

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H2Daddy

I tried brewing about 15 years ago and loved it.  I did it for about 6 or 7 batches and life got in the way.  I sold all my stuff and forgot about it.  Fast forward until now.   A buddy and I have been talking about trying it and it has been so long, I don't remember much about it.  Any home brewers on here?  Any recommendations on good places to order from?  Any good recommendations for kits to start with?  Any help at all?  I have been researching this all weekend on the web.  I wish I lived near a shop so that I could go in and look at things.  Hard to tell in pictures. 

Comments (9)

LC
Lala Calamari·
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=6876\r \r That's a good starter kit and what I have. I did change from glass carboys to better bottles. Better bottles are plastic, lighter and not prone to breaking.
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ekattan·
Mmmmmm Moonshine.
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H2Daddy·
The only thing I saved from my original attempt at brewing is my glass carboy. It is heavy. I will have to check out the Better Bottles. My school has a filter on it so looking up beer making supplies is a little hard to do at work. I will check out that link when I get home. Thanks.
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Automan21k·
I stopped using kits years ago, and special order any of the hopps I use from local growers. as far as equipment...food grade Stainless steel may be a bit expensive but it makes a world of difference when you can cook your mash in your fermenting tank....\r (just don't expect to move it once you start brewing)\r I've started setting up my rig for the first time since we moved...and I'm starting off small....about 22 gallons, until I get back into my grove.
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H2Daddy·
22 gallons? I think I use to do it in 5 gallon batches. I take it you are kegging it? All I have ever done is bottles. Any links to the equipment you are using?
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Automan21k·
well, it's a bit custom made.....but its adapted from the tank on the right of this picture \r http://www.safetyrescuegear.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=Portable%2DEye%2DWash\r many places were getting rid of them when the safety standards in PA changed. but they are food grade, and can take alot of heat from a propane burner.
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Automan21k·
I do a bit of kegging, but I have a bottling opperation too. normally about 3-4 cases per batch.
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Snuphy·
I have my third 5 gallon batch ever currently carbonating in my basement. I bought both equipment and ingredient kits from Midwest, and recommend them for mail order goodies. I got the single carboy kit ($90), not the two carboy kit Geekboy suggested. Unless I start brewing batches more frequently when the whether cools, or if I get picky about how clear my beer is, I might pick up a second carboy. For now, one is fine. My stuff tastes like beer.\r \r I have some links to some online how-to videos. I'll try to send them to you.
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H2Daddy·
Thanks for sharing everybody. Keep the info coming. I can't wait to get home so I can check out some of these links.