by James Michael

Created on: January 01, 2009

If you're reading this article, you've likely decided that brewing your own beer is something you would like to do. It can be a rewarding hobby that allows you to make a superior product for significantly less than the watered-down brew that most Americans call beer. But make sure you aren't doing it simply to save money. If you figure in the time spent and the cost of the equipment, you'll need to enjoy the process and the end product to make it worthwhile.

Still interested? Great. First, you need the right equipment. You can buy a beginner's kit from any number of homebrew supply companies. You might even be lucky enough to have a store nearby that stocks such supplies at competitive prices. Failing that, there are plenty of places on the Internet that can help you out, just beware of the total cost when shipping is included.

Here is a list of basic equipment to start out with:

- Brew pot
This should hold at least two gallons. Copper, stainless steel or an unchipped porcelain-lined pot will all work for the first time. Aluminum or chipped porcelain will react negatively with the acids in you beer. You can move up to a larger stainless steel kettle when you find one on sale.

- Long-handled stirring spoon
Most kitchens usually already have an appropriate plastic or stainless steel spoon like this.

- Strainer
I use a common metal mesh strainer that rests nicely on my plastic funnel. Again, there's a good chance you already have one of these, but it's always nice to have a clean one just for brewing. If you use a beer kit without separate grains or hops, you likely won't need this.

- Funnel
You'll want a decent size one that fits in the neck of a glass carboy - presuming you are using a carboy as a fermenter. Please don't get one out of the garage. Get one just for brewing.

- Fermenter
You have two choices: a plastic bucket or a glass carboy for a primary fermenter. I like the carboy better, but you'll still need a bucket for bottling, so why not get both? If you are ordering via the Internet, it might be cheaper to buy both at the beginning to save on shipping costs. You can also use two plastic buckets. For those who work in the food industry, you'll likely have access to free food-grade plastic buckets that bulk ingredients come in. Just make sure that you can get any soaked-in smells out and that they are unscratched on the inside.

- Fermentation lock
This lets gasses out while stopping contaminants from getting in. If using just the plastic bucket designer for brewing,

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