Start here. http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/recomended-materials-for-beginners.72840/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/homebrew-novice.79446/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/just-another-noob-recipe-recommendations.78667/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/want-to-get-into-homebrewing-what-to-get-and-tips.76666/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/homebrewing-where-to-start.70838/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/absolute-noob-here.56172/ http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/how-do-i-start-homebrewing.62630/#post-853379 http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/absolute-beginner.22189/
My brother asked me this a few months back and I put this list together for him. Also I'd pick up John Palmer's How to Brew. Chapter one will get you started bare bones. Brewing Must Haves: Brew Pot - $80 - You could use a 5 gallon for $40 but the 7.5 gallon makes boiling so much easier 2x Fermenting Bucks - $9 each 2x Lids - $2.20 each Auto Siphon - $12 You will need a couple feet of tubing to go along with this its a couple bucks. Air Lock - $2 Star San Sanitizer - $16.50 You will want the big one Digital Thermometer - $20 I have one very similar Plastic Paddle - $4 Brewing Recommended: Wort Chiller - $68 I would highly recommend this (you also need a special adapter for this to fit on your kitchen sink) The Kitchen Sink Adapter - $3.50 Hydrometer - $7 Not Necessary but really nice to have to make sure you are on the right track. Kegging: Kegging System $250 - Single Keg system with everything you need Bottling: Bottles - I have plenty I can give you for free Capper - $19 Caps - $5 144 caps Bottle Filler - $6
Welcome to the BA site, rayotl, and to the Homebrewing forum. Your question is one that is frequently asked (per the list of threads from @scurvy311) so take the time to read all of them to get the most exposure to a wide variety of opinions. As you progress thru this hobby, keep coming back to this forum and read everything. If that isn't enough, you'll see very often in the 'newbie' threads that John Palmer's howtobrew.com should be read from cover to cover. I recommend that you get the printed version instead of using the online text because you can mark that book up with notes, highlighting, etc. Note taking and record keeping are important things for a beginner to learn right from the start. Hang around the forum as long as you'd like, and enjoy your time on the site.
^great advice!^ Personally I would call my brewing more of an addiction than a hobby, just saying. Read read read, these guys on here are a wealth of knowledge, and John Palmers book is a must.
I would also strongly recommend getting involved in a Homebrew club. https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/community/clubs/find-a-homebrew-club/ Shadowing an experienced home brewer is gold.
All the above are good info. It's also easy to get a ready made kit from any of the online brew shops - and most likely your local homebrew shop (LHBS) should have or be able to put one together. http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/beer-equipment-starter-kits http://www.williamsbrewing.com/WILLIAMS-HOME-BREWERIES-C9.aspx Most of the online ones have several levels of kits available, depending on how sure you are you want to stick with it. Personally, things I recommend are: (presuming you'll be going with 5 gallon batches) A pot that allows you to do full boil. Purpose-built brew kettles are great, but they are pricy. I have and still use a 33-quart graniteware pot I got at Bed Bath & Beyond for something like $45 minus the 20% off coupon they always send out. Accurate temperature is a must, so a good thermometer is a requirement - I use a couple of them, and it just comes to making sure which is accurate and how off the others are. Cooling your wort: a good chiller is useful and cuts much time off things, but a sink full of ice water works as well.
