What you need to get started


You will need to lay hands on the following items (* denotes items regularly carried at homebrew suppliers and many are contained in starter kits):
A stainless steel spoon, spatula what ever
A 4-6 foot length of plastic tubing for siphoning food grade *
A large funnel
An air lock *
A 5 gallon food grade bucket preferably with a lid *
A stainless steel or enamel pot, 12 to 16 quarts
A bottle capper *
60 or so beer bottles *
Bottle caps *
Thermometer *
Hydrometer *

The spoon, pot, thermometer and funnel can be purchase anywhere that sells kitchen supplies, or Mom has them stashed in the kitchen. Garage sales and second hand stores are also a good place to get by cheap.
The 5 gallon bucket can be found at a restraint (yes even McDonald's qualifies this time)often for the asking.
Bottles can be had at bars again for the asking. Some may ask you to pay something for the hassle of collecting them others won't. Better yet collect your empties and have your friends do the same. THEY CAN NOT BE TWIST OFF. Pry off only. Twist tops are not strong enough and are impossible to cap correctly.
There are a couple of options for the airlock. Gas must be allowed to escapee will preventing unwanted bacteria in. There are a couple of options in this. On is the standard airlocks at homebrew suppliers, the "blow off" method, or as my boss at work used in his Navy days, a rubber glove. More details here.
The hydrometer is semi optional. I didn't use one for my first several batches by following the recipes on the malt kits exactly (yeah right). I didn't know what my alcohol content was and guessed when my fermentation was complete by tasting the brew. I also killed my yeast a couple of times by adding to much sugar. Typical beer yeast will die off around 6-7% alcohol. This will mean very sweet beer with no carbonation. It's easier to just get one. They are only 5 or 6 bucks.

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