Requirements to yeild a half barrel?

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My advice would be to start there and learn to brew on a smaller scale first. Trying to start with equipment capable of brewing a 15+ gallon batch would be a recipe for disaster IMO. Don't worry though, others will probably be along to tell you where to spend your money.

 

I recommend that you only buy ONCE. If you think this is something you really want to do then I'd say find someone else who homebrews. Sit in on a brew day and see how it goes. I'd say you'll want a 20 gal kettle and 3 fermenters to hold the brew. It'll be pretty expensive.

 

a Sabco Brew-Magic will produce a 14 gallon batch, just short of a full keg. the Sabco systems are $6,000 to $7,000 plus freight and tax. you can't just place the system in your basement without any prior thought and planning. and you'll need a way to serve this kegged beer as well.

but, this is not something you just do without any understanding or training from the school of experience. nobody is going to tell you what to do. but nobody around here will likely recommend you drop around $7,000 on a 1/2 bbl system without having learned something first. so yes, plan for the big system. but be sure you know what you are getting into first. otherwise expect to have a lot of kegs of crappy beer.

everyone would love to fly jets, you know? nobody goes out and buys a Gulfstream before they have been in the cockpit of the Cessna for a while.
Cheers.