I am wanting to start experimenting with home brewing but don't know where to start. Looking for some websites to get some of the equipment from. Can anyone point me in the right direction or give me some good pointers.

I got started with a couple of my dads old fermenter buckets and a borrowed brew kettle. Also had a kegerator that my wife won. I would check Craigslist but all you'll need is a big pot for the kettle as long as you're not doing a full grain brew and a plastic bucket that can be bad cheaply at a home brew store plus an airlock. Than bottling or kegging gear. Also, it adds up but is fun.

Take a look at homebrewtalk forum. There is a classified section as well as a beginners section. I am a member but rarely post. There is a lot of good information there though.

Another idea is to join the American Homebrewers Association or at least contact a local club. They will typically invite you over for a brew day to show you the ropes. Click here:

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/community/clubs/find-a-homebrew-club/

Homebrewers are the friendliest group of guys / gals that I have been around. My club just did a big brew day at my house. We had several new people over that just wanted to watch and one guy brewed his first batch. We had a big chili lunch (no beans obviously) and brats later. We even have equipment we will lend to new brewers. If you are in east Texas give me a holler. we would love to have you at our next brewday. My email is in my profile.

There are some occasional homebrew threads that show up here on the outdoor forum..

Edit: I typically use Northern Brewer or Austin Homebrew Supply to buy supplies.

You may also want to check in on the Food & Spirits forum here on TexAgs. Lots of homebrew talk there.

My suggestion would be to start with partial mash brewing first... then when you get comfortable, switch over to full grain brewing. To do partial mash, all you really need is a big brew pot... a fermenter w/ airlock.... and a fermentation fridge or depending on where you live and what temp you keep your house at... a cool dark closet.

One thing I do recommend is to skip bottling as a newbie and just go straight to kegging. It's a little more expense upfront, but far less hassle. You'll thank me later.

Been homebrewin' since 2010. In fact brewed 2 - gal batches last sunday!

+1 on homebrew talk.
Check groupon for deals! We got our started kits (2 - LME brews, fermenter, hydrometer etc) which is everything you need without the cooking pot and burner for $60 from Midwest Supplies.

I have some old used equipment that I'm sure we could work a deal on if you are interested. I'm in McKinney.

If you ever have questions, your welcome to shoot'em my way at rjakebennett @ gmail

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My suggestion would be to start with partial mash brewing first... then when you get comfortable, switch over to full grain brewing. To do partial mash, all you really need is a big brew pot... a fermenter w/ airlock.... and a fermentation fridge or depending on where you live and what temp you keep your house at... a cool dark closet.

One thing I do recommend is to skip bottling as a newbie and just go straight to kegging. It's a little more expense upfront, but far less hassle. You'll thank me later.

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Good advice here. Bottling is a beating! It will hours of your time and create a pond in your kitchen. If you decide to bottle, I have had no issues using the antibacterial cycle on my dishwater for sanitation (not cleaning, sanitation).

Kegging is def the way to go. Invest in the 1/2" i.d. autosiphon for transferring.

Buy stock in oxyclean. You need to keep the green lid (fragrance free) in stock at home.

Poor guy, you have no idea what you are getting into...

Kd2012, where are you located? If you're in BCS, you can come over to my house, have a beer, and I'll teach you

I started two years ago and have jumped all in. It's an addiction. I'm reading up on it constantly. Welcome to the group of home brewers, and get ready to start stocking up on equipment

I would not start kegging until you know you are going to stick with it.

Cleaning can be a PIA but it's a great hobby. Great sense of satisfaction when you're drinking a homebrew while brewing. I got my starter kit from a little homebrew shop in Ft. Collins (7 gallon boil kettle, bottling bucket, bottle capper, syphon, and extract ingredients). My progression was 2 extract kits, 5 mini-mash kits, and by my 8th brew I went with a gravity system for all-grain. I've been tinkering with that ever since.

In my opinion the best upgrade for a beginner kit is a 6 gallon glass carboy for primary fermentation. I still use it in my upgraded system 4 years later.

Cheers.

Started making 1 gallon cider and apple wine batches this past November. It has been fun and a learning experience. I am about to step up production to 5 gallon batches. The great part the wife likes it to just the drinking part. I have learned plenty in this forum. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/

I just starter about 6 months ago. I bought a starter kit with fermenting bucket and bottling bucket plus a brewers best extract kit to start. There are some basic videos on the American Home Brewers Association website. Check those out. It's not that hard, even the bottling. Bottling is just a hassle to keep the used bottles clean. A good Saison can be made at room temperature (75ish), but other beers need to ferment at a little lower temperature. I'm sure there are lots of people in your area that are willing to show you the ropes as well. Have fun with it, but know that it will become a money pit for gadgets just like any other good hobby.

Buy a 1 gallon extract kit like this one: http://craftabrew.com/collections/brewing-kits/products/starter-kit-american-pale-ale-recipe-kit

It will teach you the basics for cheap. If you like it, then you can spend a little more money on 5 gallon equipment.

If you still like it then build a water cooler mash tun and start all-grain brewing. Also build a keezer and start kegging.

Here's the Food & Spirits board main thread on homebrewing.

On my 5th batch of brew now. I lucked out and live near a homebrew supply shop. Started with a Brewers Best startup kit and the setup works fine. I have a few more advanced pieces of hardware in mind, just need to save some scrill

If you decide to bottle and are in College Station I have around 20 cases of empty brown beer bottles for $5 a case. As few or many as you need.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have been wanting to home brew for a couple years now. I just need to break down and start doing it. I am located in Arkansas so maybe I can find some folks here that home brew.

I brewed a couple of batches with a 1-gal kit from Northern Brewer. I ultimately decided it wasn't for me, which is why I'm glad I only had a 1 gal setup instead of 5 gal. NB has a good selection of different extract brew kits for 1 gal at good prices.

One piece of advice, don't put your carboy in a coat closet (because it's cool and dark) after you've pitched your yeast with an airlock in place and leave it for primary fermentation. Trust me.

After you get a batch or two in and you like it then controlling fermentation temp is the most important next step. Easy to get caught up in cooler things but its a must.

What JFrench said!

My first batch was a saison that turned out great at room temp. Second was a cream ale that was meh. Got a chest freezer over Christmas with STC-1000 controller and the first batch from that, milk stout, is AWESOME. Got a dunkelweizen and American wheat in there now that I plan to bottle this weekend. I'm expecting similar results. Next step will be all grain, probably beer in a bag. Just need a larger kettle. You can never have too much beer on hand... unless the wife catches you.

I have been looking into getting started with something with absolutely zero previous knowledge.

Does this look like a decent set up?

http://www.brewhoundsupplies.com/store/p496/BrewHound_Beginner%27s_Beer_Equipment_Kit.html

That's a very nice kit, but it doesn't include the boil kettle. You'll either need to have your own 5+ gallon stock pot or go buy one separately.