good starter equipment around 150 dollars?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by ThomasKoren, Sep 23, 2014.

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  1. ThomasKoren

    ThomasKoren Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Finland

    as I am living in Finland, I'd like to buy a decent all included set, minus ingredients,which I prefer to get locally.

    what is a good set preferably 6 gallon? Has to be from somewhere that ships to Europe.
     
  2. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I think you can get the basics for that amount, but you'll want 'extras' too if you really want to brew. For basics, I get by with a turkey deep-fryer kit (enamel cook pot with a lid, and the LP gas burner, but you'd still need to buy the LP tank). Then you'll want a plastic 'Ale Pail' for fermenting, etc. plus a plastic bottling pail. An air lock is also a must-have. An auto-siphon (or a racking cane), tubing, long stainless steel spoon, hydrometer (don't skip this item), and other smaller items are also important.

    I also use a 6.5-gallon carboy for my fermenter, plus a 5-gallon one for when I want to use a secondary fermenter, but your 'Ale Pale' will suffice for a basic starter.

    Then, depending on how you package your beer, you'll need to spend more money for bottles and a bottle capper, or if you want to keg your beer then you'll need to check how much more room that you have on your credit card limit. :wink: (I don't keg my beers, so I can't address that expense.) I'm probably missing something here, but someone else will chime in with it.

    I'm guessing that everything here would set you back more than $200. But look into getting used equipment if you can.
     
  3. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm not sure what a Finland dollar's worth, and I'm not sure why you're speaking of gallons. :slight_smile: You can get on the internet and look around for some basic gear. Don't buy any bells and whistles until you know you need them. You'll need:

    A pot that's bigger than the batch size, by at least 10 liters (2.5 gal).
    You'll need ingredients (beer kit for your first time?)
    A large brewing spoon
    a muslin bag for steeping grains
    a way to cool the wort (immersion chiller?) If you want to just throw a bunch of ice water in the bath tub the first time, that's ok too.
    a way to rack beer (auto siphons are nice)
    Sar San and a spray bottle
    a fermenter with an airlock and gasket
    a cool place to ferment the beer (18C) mid 60sF
    a bottling bucket with spigot
    nylon hose
    a bottling wand
    50 empty, clean beer bottles
    50+ caps
    a wing capper
    milk crates are great for moving bottle to and fro
    a beer clenser (do you have Oxy Clean over there?)
    Above all else, you need patience. Take your time with your first recipe and make a checklist. If the beer isn't tasty if a week, then you're still in great shape. Let the beer age appropriately.
     
  4. ThomasKoren

    ThomasKoren Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2014 Finland

    I've got bottles, bought a few crates of grolsch beer to be emptied and cleaned as they are swing cap design.
    as I'll have to import from either uk or us, a set would be best as it's harder to forget something.

    the kettle size might be hard to get here, can ot be done in 2 batches?
     
  5. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    To save money on the kettle skip the fancy stainless steel kettles you see for sale online and look for an aluminum kettle from a restaurant supply store
     
    jsullivan02130 likes this.
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