So you want to make beer?

Beer is one of the world's oldest beverages, dating back to the 6th millennium BC. Fortunately it is fairly easy to make a great tasting beer at home in about 4 weeks without spending a fortune.

You can probably get everything you need to start for $100 - $150  and it can be found on our site. Here is what you need.

1. Primary fermenter
2. Airlock and stopper
3. Plastic hose
4. Bottling bucket
5. Bottles
6. Bottle brush
7. Bottle capper (if glass bottles are used)
8. Stick-on thermometer
9. Hopped malt concentrate kit

Brewpot

A brewpot is a huge pot made of stainless steel or enamel-coated metal which is of at least 16-quart capacity. You might have a pot at home, but if it's made of aluminum you can't use it.

Primary fermenter

The primary fermenter is where the wort goes after you've boiled it. The primary fermenter must have a minimum capacity of 7 gallons, and a lid which seals airtight and accommodates the airlock and rubber stopper.

Airlock and stopper

The airlock is a handy gadget which allows carbon dioxide to escape from your primary fermenter during fermentation, thus keeping it from exploding, but doesn't allow any of the bad air from outside to enter your beer's hygienic little world.

Plastic hose

This an ordinary five-foot length of food-grade plastic hose. You need it to siphon beer from place to place, and you need to keep it clean and free of kinks or leaks.

Bottling bucket

This is a large, plastic bucket with a spigot at the bottom. It must be at least as big as your primary fermenter, because you need to pour all the liquid from your primary fermenter into your bottling bucket prior to bottling your beer.

Bottles

After primary fermentation, you place the beer in bottles for secondary fermentation and storage. The best kind of bottles are solid glass ones with smooth tops (not the twist-off kind) that will accept a cap from a bottle capper.

Bottle brush

This is a thin brush which you can insert into a bottle in order to clean it out really well.

Bottle capper and caps

The best sort of bottle capper is one which can be affixed to a surface and worked with one hand while you hold the bottle with the other. I have used the cheaper ones which require two hands on the capper and they work fine, you also need to buy bottle caps.

Stick-on thermometer

This is a thermometer which you can apply to the side of your primary fermenter. They look like thin strips of plastic and they are the same as the ones used on aquariums.  

Hopped malt concentrate kit

I would start with a Coopers kit, they have many different styles of beer to choose from.