The best place to start with is to purchase a starter brewing kit from your local home brewing supply store. It has all the equipment you need to start an extract brew kit. The same equipment will be needed once you get into an all grain brew. So, it isn’t a waist of money at all.
- 27″ Spoon
- 27 litre Bucket Primary Fermenter
- 27 litre Secondary Fermenter
- Air lock
- Drilled Rubber Stopper
- Drilled Rubber Stopper
- Siphon hose
- Regular Auto Siphon
- Auto Siphon Clamp
- Thermometer
- Hydrometer
- Hydrometer Test Jar
When looking for a starter brewing kit, look for a kit that has at least the following items:
From here you can add additional equipment when you need it. And only if you need it. The idea is to keep the hobby inexpensive at the start so you don’t get in trouble with your spouse for spending to much money. I have been in the dog house a few times over this over the years. So, live by my wisdom on this.
Bottling
At the same time, it would be a good time to buy bottles. Buy enough to fill around 26-27 Liters. You won’t get the full 27 Liters out of the carboy due to the sediment on the bottom and pouring from the bucket to the secondary fermenter. But you will get most of it. The bottles come in sizes of 500ml and 1L. Usually 2 dozen 500ml bottles should be enough, but to be safe buy a few extra.
There are a lot of options for bottles. And this is the end presentation of all your efforts for you and your friends. Most beginners, myself included, start a plastic beer bottle that comes with a plastic screw top. These are reusable and easy to clean.
If you want to keep things inexpensive, you can go to your local recycling center and purchase used glass bottles. But you will then have to purchase a bottle capper.
If you are planning on kegging right off the start then it is a different set of equipment, and a much higher cost up front.