Start Up - Equipment

Not the most exciting post,  but perhaps a helpful one for those starting out.

This is what I bought from http://www.brewsmarter.co.uk/  for about £100.
It was a reasonably priced website which had everything I had researched.  Easy to navigate etc etc.


33 Litre Fermenter, Lid and Bung for Airlock (where the beer is mixed and left in for however many days)

23 Litre Fermentation Vessel and lid fitted with drum tap (where the beer is syphoned into for bottling)

Bubbler Airlock with Cap ( to release the CO2 from the bucket without letting anything back in)

Thermometer (to ensure the beer is at the right temperate to ferment)

Hydrometer (measures the sugar content to check fermentation is complete and to figure out the alcohol %)

Auto Syphon 23 litre ( to transfer the beer quickly and without contamination)

Nylon Bottle Brush

Beer Plastic Paddle (used for mixing)

Twin Lever Capper (for capping bottles)

Crown Caps (bottle tops)

VWP Cleanser 400g (steriliser - invaluable stuff, it is your friend use it!!!)

Little Bottler / Bottling Wand (a must have for easy bottling without a mess)

Brew Belt (heats the bucket to keep it at the right temperature if you keep your beer in the garage or shed)


All you need now is the beer.

****KEEP THE SHIPPING CARDBOARD BOX YOUR ORDER COMES IN,

IT WILL COME IN HANDY****

A Mine Field

That's exactly what this is.  Its difficult coming into something totally new and be able to see the wood for the trees. 
Extract, grain, hops, malt, fermentation, conditioning, steeping.......I found it difficult not to get disheartened and lose interest, thinking "nah this isn't for me, i thought it would have been simpler".

Well, like anything you learn, you need to strip it back, go to basics.  I trawled the Internet and YouTube to get familiar with what the terms were, what the processes were and where it was best, or should I say easiest to start.

Before I got involved with which beer to make, what process to chose, I decided to look at the equipment needed and what they all did.

Basics, learning to drive, you learn how the car works.  Same.