I've been wanting to get into homebrew for a while now and that "itch" to get started has begun. It was recently my birthday and I received a $60 gift card to a local shop that has some kits and supplies. I really am the type to "go big or go home" and I feel that I will enjoy this hobby, therefore I am leaning towards getting the Deluxe kit right out of the gate. I look forward to AG brewing sooner than later. Any brewers opinions on my choices or the kits themselves? There are 2 Kits that I'm looking at, essentially a "standard" and "deluxe". Standard ($70) 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Primary Fermenter with Grommeted Lid 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Bottling Bucket with Spigot Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser Siphon and Bottling Set-up "Home Beermaking" Book Hydrometer Liquid Crystal Thermometer Bottle Brush Twin Lever Capper Airlock Bucket Clip Equipment Instructions Deluxe ($120) 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Primary Fermenter with Grommeted Lid 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Bottling Bucket with Spigot 5 Gallon Glass Carboy "Home Beermaking" Book Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser Twin Lever Capper Triple Scale Hydrometer Siphon Hose and Shut-Off Clamp Driilled Universal Carboy Bung Liquid Crystal Thermometer Lab Thermometer Brew Paddle Airlock Fermtech Auto Siphon Bottle Filler Bottle Brush Carboy Brush Equipment Instructions
Without knowing what is meant by some of the descriptions, it looks like the standard might be a better deal. Ex: I don't know what "siphon and bottling set up" is. Is this an auto-siphon or a racking cane. Looks like the biggest addition to the deluxe is the carboy. They cost about $30 alone, so not sure its worth it. I should add that I'm not knocking the deluxe kit. I'm sure its worth the price. Just not sure I would have bought it when I started out. Either way I would probably start with the standard kit and build on it. But buying new stuff is part of the fun for me, so I'm glad I didn't buy everything I could before I started. Welcome to the addiction.
The auto siphon, paddle, and bottling wand are basically necessities. It really should only come down to whether you want the glass carboy or not. I would (and did) go the deluxe route if it's not putting a hurtin on your wallet.
