Note: This article is definitely audience specific to beginning brewers. If you’ve brewed before, you probably will know all of this, have all the equipment mentioned, and otherwise have no need to read on — BUT with that said, hopefully you’ll do me and the intended beginner audience the favor of commenting with your own advice, etc.
So you’re feeling ambitious and you want to brew your own beer for the first time, eh? Even with no experience, you can make a fairly respectable beer in around two weeks with basic equipment.
First things first, you’re going to need equipment, but where to buy it, and what will you need? My first piece of advice is simple. Google this : “Homebrew shops near [your zip code here].” Or, you can check out Beer Advocate’s BeerFly application, which will provide reviews as well as locations. I can’t emphasize enough the value of getting actual face to face interaction with a homebrew shop owner or employee who has been brewing for a long time. The advice an actual person can give you is infinitely more valuable than anything I can tell you here. Sure, there are plenty of online homebrew shops, but I really think a beginning homebrewer is missing out on a wealth of information and interaction by using one. Seriously, go to a physical location. Besides, you don’t have to pay for shipping when you pick it up yourself. (more…)