Use Specialty Grains - Many brewers use liquid or dry malt extracts in their brewing. For extra character in beer, try using a cup or two of crystal, toasted, or dark malts in the beer. Add the grain to cold water, heat to 170 degrees and remove. Avoid Plastic Fermenters - Plastic fermenters are easily scratched. These scratches harbor bacteria and other critters that can hurt your beer.
Plastic can also pick up aromas that can be transferred to beer.
Carboys are available at your homebrew supplier. Take Notes - change something minor each batch you brew. Keep notes of what you did. When you find a particularly good beer, go back to your notes and see what you did right. If a batch is not as tasty, check your notes and find out what's wrong.