From: slndw@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.brewing
Subject: Re: New hobbyist needs everything - things to buy, advice...
Date: 29 Jul 92 13:22:38 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <oe7moB2w164w@buscard.fidonet.org>, murph@buscard.fidonet.org (Brian Murphy) writes:
> Greetings!
> 
> I've been lurking for awhile now and enjoy how many of you are so into 
> the hobby.  Your knowledge and seriousness are impressive.  I'd like to 
> try my hand at zymurgy but don't know where to begin.  All I know is that 
> I can get started for $50-$100.  Is this right?
> 
> I suppose some basic questions might be:
> 
> 1.  What do I need, anyway?

a minimum of stuff.  You will need.
  1.  food grade plastic bucket or glass carboy (preferably 2)
  2.  siphon hose.
  3.  malt extract (I assume you will start with extract brewing)
  4.  hops (you can get hopped extracts,  but hopping your own is IMHO better)
  5.  sugar (for priming ie carbonation)
  6.  ~60 bottles --the stronger the bettrer (returnable coke bottles are
       wonderfull!!)
  7.  caps (for the bottles, of course)
  8.  a capper (to seal the caps)
  9.  I assume you already have a big pot, but you will need one to
      boil the wert.
 10.  oh, yeah.  YEAST.
 11.  and bleach, or some other sterulant(sp)
 12.  a little time.
 13.  a thirst for your own tasty brew.

> 2.  Where can I get this stuff?

there are many good suppliers.  Check your yellow pages under "beer making"
or "brewing" or "homebrewing" or "winemaking" or "zymurgy."  Or you can
get stuff from a catalog.  I have one here that is ok.  the prices on equipment
look a bit high, but the extracts look reasonable, and if you order over $30 (
or something) they pay the s&h.  Their address is:
	William's Brewing
	P.O. Box 2195
	San Leandro  CA  94577
          phone #(510) 895-2745

Another one is George(?) Paige out of Minnisota, but I don't have
that address handy.

> 3.  Does it matter that I'm not a rocket scientist?

That depends if you want to build rockets or brew beer.
If you want to brew, all you need is the desire and not
be totaly ignorant about how to operate a stove.  Be carefull
the burner is hot!!

> 4.  Can I do something so wrong as to kill my dog?

Not advisabel.   ASPCA kinda frowns on this behaviour.  Don't
let fido swim in the brew.

>     (Think *I'm* going to sample my first batch? <g>)
> 5.  Are there some FAQs I should have grabbed before posting this?

Don't know

> 
> I'm not all that interested in traveling to exotic locations to get the 
> equipment I need.  If necessary, can I improvise by brewing in my bathtub 
> or some other stupid thing?  


If you like to bathe, I am sure you could rig something up.  But
you will need an awfully big tub to accomidate you, your brewpot, AND
your dog.   Also, if you choose to do this, uuse a gas stove.  You are
not supposed to use electricity in the tub.

> 
>                      Your friend in Lawrence, Massachusetts...
>                                  - - - Murph
> 
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--toot
DoD#3323