Mr. Beer Brewer Looking To Upgrade...

The most cost effective is just to get a 5 gal food grade plastic bucket, or a water bottle with a lid. you can drill a hole in the lid for your mr beer airlock. you can get the beer extract kits for around 10-14 dollars also using them with some specialty grains and hops will give you more control and better flavor. then make the jump to all grain.

Starter kits vary from supplier to supplier. I have ordered from Willliams on several occassions with no problems. If you can deal with someone local, you are better off. They will be able to answer your quesions.

When purchasing a starter kit, make sure it has the following items:

-6-6.7 gal plastic fermenter with drilled lid

-5 gal glass carboy with drilled stopper or universal cap

-hydrometer

-thermometer

-airlock(s)

-cleaning brushes

-siphoning hoses

-racking cane

Stuff you will need that may or may not come in a starter kit:

- Sanitizer

- bottle capper

- turkey baster (for taking samples)

- Good brewing book (probably Papazian or

If you do choose to go mail order, check out Listermann.com. He provides the best support in the business and is very active on the newgroups.

Good luck.

Bottle washer. They're faucet adapters or stand-alone gadgets that shoot water upwards. They answer the question "How do I fit this carboy in that sink?" You will shoot water all over the place at least once, even with a safety valve; remove important water-damageables from the line of fire for the first few uses.

If you're lazy or just can't get the hang of siphoning (the turkey baster may help here), drop $10 on an autosiphon instead of the racking cane.

Either of the recommended books will recommend hardware, too.

I like Midwest, they have the best prices and freshest ingredients. I've found and are the friendliest people. And no I don't work for them or even live in the same state.