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Thinking about getting started in homebrewing? Considering buying a
homebrewing a equipment kit as a gift? The following information may
help you make your decision.
There are 4 different products needed to brew beer at home.
-
Equipment
Kit
-
Recipe
Kit (Ingredients)
-
Brewing
Kettle (Stock Pot)
-
Bottles
Equipment Kits
The biggest and most important part of getting started is choosing
an Equipment Kit. All of Midwest’s equipment kits will provide all
of the components needed to brew 5-gallon batches of beer. Read each
of the descriptions to determine which equipment kit is right for
you.
Brewing Basics Equipment Kit:
(MBEK1) $59.95 This equipment kit has everything you need to start
brewing beer at home except for bottles, ingredients and a brewing
kettle. Our starter kit includes all of the essential equipment
needed to start homebrewing and is an economical way to get started.
If you are worried that brewing beer at home is complicated and
difficult, don’t be. When you get your equipment and ingredients,
just put your free homebrewing video/DVD in your VCR or DVD player
and go. Just follow along as we boil it, bucket it, and bottle it.
After 2 hours you’ll be surprised how easy brewing is. Our starter
kit is designed to be expanded as your level of homebrewing
progresses. Be sure to check our new upgrade options! Brewing Basics
Equipment List:
-
Instructional
Homebrewing Video or DVD
-
71 page
instructional book
-
6.5 Gallon
Fermenter and Lid
-
6.5 Gallon
Bottling Bucket with Spigot 8 Oz. of Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser
-
Airlock
(Keeps air out of the fermenter)
-
Hydrometer
(Determines alcohol content)
-
Bottle Brush
-
Twin Lever
Red Baron Bottle Capper
-
Bottle Caps
-
Liquid
Crystal Thermometer
-
Bottle Filler
-
Racking Tube
with Bucket Clip
-
Siphon
Tubing.
*If you’re on a
tight budget, this equipment kit along with a Midwest Recipe Kit
will provide the basic components to get started.
Brewing Starter Kit:
(MBEK2) $79.95 This is our most popular brewing equipment kit. This
equipment kit provides the essential equipment for the aspiring
brewer who wants to make the best beer they can from the start. This
is accomplished through two-stage fermentation. Primary fermentation
is the first step. During this 5-7 day process, most of the
fermentation takes place and by the end of this period most of the
particles and solids will settle to the bottom. The second step is
transferring the beer in to the secondary fermenter. (7-21 days)
Separating the beer from the sediment will result in clearer beer
and improve the characteristics of the beer. Beer can condition and
clarify in the secondary fermenter for weeks or months depending on
the style and strength of the beer. Transferring the beer in to a 5
gallon glass carboy or better bottle will reduce oxidation of the
beer. This kit is highly recommended if you intend to brew any high
alcohol or lager beers. Brewing Starter Equipment Kit List:
-
Instructional
Homebrewing Video or DVD
-
71 page
instructional book
-
5 Gallon
Glass Carboy
-
6.5 Gallon
Plastic Fermenter with Lid 6.5 Gallon Bottling Bucket with Spigot
-
8 Oz. of Easy
Clean No-Rinse Cleanser
-
Drilled
Universal Carboy Bung Airlock (Keeps air out of the fermenter)
-
Hydrometer
(Determines alcohol content)
-
Bottle Brush
-
Carboy Brush
-
Twin Lever
Red Baron Bottle Capper
-
Bottle Caps
-
Liquid
Crystal Thermometer
-
Bottle Filler
-
Fermtech
AutoSiphon upgrade
-
Siphon Tubing
-
shutoff
clamp.
*6 out of 10
customers purchase this equipment kit.
Brewing Intermediate Kit:
(MBEK3) $109.95 We have revamped this equipment kit to incorporate
Better Bottles. These are becoming more and more popular for their
many advantages over glass. In addition, we have upgraded this
equipment kit to include a Fermtech AutoSiphon, the easiest method
of starting a siphon. The components of this kit represent a
considerable savings compared to being purchased separately. This
equipment kit is sure to keep you brewing for years to come. Brewing
Intermediate Equipment Kit List:
-
Instructional
Homebrewing Video or DVD
-
71 page
instructional book
-
Two 5-Gallon
Better Bottle
-
6.5 Gallon
Plastic Fermenter
-
6.5 Gallon
Bottling Bucket with Spigot
-
8 Oz. of Easy
Clean No-Rinse Cleanser
-
two #10
Rubber Stoppers
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2 Airlocks
(Keeps air out of the fermenter)
-
8 Inch Funnel
-
Hydrometer
(Determines alcohol content)
-
Bottle Brush
-
Carboy Brush
-
Twin Lever
Red Baron Bottle Capper
-
Bottle Caps
-
2 Liquid
Crystal Thermometers
-
Bottle Filler
-
Fermtech
AutoSiphon
-
Siphon Tubing
-
shutoff
clamp.
*During 2005,
the popularity of Better Bottles has exploded. This kit is highly
recommended.
See our
Equipment Kit link see all Equipment Kit options.
Midwest Recipe Kits
Midwest
offers a large selection of 5 gallon recipe kits. For first time
brewers we recommend brewing an Ale recipe kit. Ales ferment at room
temperature and are ready to drink faster than lagers. Some of our
more popular recipe kits include: Liberty Cream Ale, Big Ben Pale
Ale, Autumn Amber Ale and our most popular recipe kit, the Irish Red
Ale. Check out our Light, Amber, Dark and Wheat beer recipe
sections. Any of the recipes in these sections will be the perfect
addition to our Equipment Kits.
*9 out of 10 gift givers will
include a recipe kit with their gift.
Brewing Kettle
The brewing
process requires the brewer to mix and boil the ingredients from our
recipe kits in a stock pot. Many brewers might already have a stock
pot in their kitchen that might work for this process. The pot must
be at least 2-3 gallons in size. Stainless steel, Enamel and
Silverstone coated pots will work fine. We do not recommend using
aluminum pots. They can oxidize the beer. Midwest offers a 4 and 5
gallon stainless steel brewing kettles for homebrewing. Our high
quality pots have riveted handles and can be used for other things
like boiling pasta or crab legs. Our brew kettles are found on our
boiling equipment link.
*Including a new shiny stainless steel
brewing kettle will complement any gift equipment package from
Midwest.
Bottles
Five gallons of beer will require 52-56 twelve ounce beer bottles.
Roughly two cases of 24 and a six pack. Shipping glass bottles can
get expensive due to the shipping weight. Many homebrewers will
collect empty 12 ounce as they drink them, rinse them out and use
them for their homebrew. IMPORTANT: the bottles can not be screw off
bottles. They must be pop top bottles. These are the bottles that
are commonly found in the 24 bottle case returnable. The kind of
bottle that requires a deposit when purchased. If all of that seems
like too much work. Buy one or two cases of bottles when getting
started with Homebrewing.
*Most homebrewers who accumulate 10 case of bottles typically will
have purchased 5 new cases and cleaned 5 used cases of pop top
bottles.
Other homebrewing accessories that complement an equipment kit
include:
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