Best Homebrew Kits for around $200?

With that amount of cash...you might as well skip the kit and build it yourself. You can easily enter into AG with that kind of money.

Cooler + false bottom & Ball valve
Fermenter
Brew Pot
Hoses, airlocks & accessories

=

>$160

Most of the major equipment you need:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-10-Gallon-Water-Cooler-Orange/21633485


http://www.amazon.com/Winware-Profe...184722&sr=8-1&keywords=aluminum+10+gallon+pot


http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=128


http://www.midwestsupplies.com/6-5-gallon-plastic-fermenter-with-lid.html


http://www.midwestsupplies.com/5-16-auto-siphon.html


http://www.midwestsupplies.com/midwest-supplies-bottle-capper.html


http://www.midwestsupplies.com/10-stainless-steel-false-bottom.html

 

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/stainless-steel-immersion-wort-chiller.html

With the immersion chiller it would probably put you into the $210 area.


Anyway, point being...it depends on what you want to do. Extract or All-grain. Extract is considerably cheaper.

 

For that money you can get a very good kit that will lead you into the beginning realm of extract and partial mash brewing from one of the bigger suppliers like Northern Brewer or Midwest. You'll probably even find that your first basic ingredients kit comes with it. That's where it sounds like you want to go.

One of the hardest things I think some folks here deal with is scaling down their own passions to fit a beginner's needs. Going straight to all-grain may not be the best option if you have no experience, knowledge or guidance.

One of the best ways to become knowledgeable is to spend time with Palmer's How to Brew.

Search these forums for like topics . Read and learn. Good luck

 

This is true for the fixed costs. All-grain is cheaper per batch aka the long run aka variable costs.

 

Hi, welcome to the obsession Big River. I don't know if it makes you feel any better but I think there are at least three days a week that I'm cursed.

I like the questions: "How serious do you want to get?" and "Do you know anyone else who homebrews?"

Homebrewing can be an expensive hobby. It's not really that cheap to just dabble in either.

If you know you're going to be hanging in there for the long run, I'd recommend spending most of your money on a good kettle and a turkey fryer. Otherwise, I'd recommend getting a kit from said block website or homebrew store.

If you know someone who brews you should hang out for a batch. Otherwise, find a local homebrew club. They like new people and are willing to help you with your needs. You'd be surprised how many people will let you sit in on a brew session. It'll usually run you a 6 pack of craft brew and an afternoon.

 

Here's one now
http://www.northernbrewer.com/promo...HD+-+Free+Nut+Brown+with+Starter+Kit+Purchase