With home brew kits in general, can you use your own ingredients, say if I
wanted to grow my own hops and grains, or do you have to buy them for the
kit you have?

"James T." <turajb@_NOSPAM_hoflink.com> wrote in message
news:8yjch.14$qo2.8@newsfe09.lga...[color=blue]
> On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:42:06 +0000, john doe wrote:
>[color=green]
> > What do you think about this:
> >[/color][/color]
[url]http://www.mrbeer.com/view.php?id=probrewkit&toplevel=Brew%20Kits&currentite[/url][color=blue][color=green]
> > m=1&showgroup=Brew%20Kits&menu=sub2&mactive=1&subactive=0
> >
> > Free shipping.
> >
> >
> > "DragonTail" <" DragonTail281"@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:Lsgch.3684$U81.1805@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=darkred]
> >> john doe wrote:
> >> > I would like to get my dad a home brewing kit for Christmas but there[/color][/color][/color]
is[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> > quite a selection on the internet and I don't know anything about it[/color][/color][/color]
and[color=blue][color=green]
> > he[color=darkred]
> >> > is very much into beer so I would like it to be a nice kit and not[/color]
> > something[color=darkred]
> >> > cheap. I wouldn't say he is a connoisseur, yet, but he is well on his[/color]
> > way.[color=darkred]
> >> > Which ones would everybody recomend and why? Price range is around[/color][/color][/color]
$100.[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> > Thanks.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> Look for someplace that is near you so shipping won't be too much. I
> >> live in Wisconsin and get most of the things that I don't get locally
> >> for either Northern Brewer or Midwest, both are in Minnesota. Both[/color][/color][/color]
have[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> kits that range from ~$60 to $300+ depending on how many "extras" you
> >> want. I'm willing to bet that there is someplace within a reasonable
> >> shipping distance that should have something in your price range. You
> >> could also try to find a local home brew supply (LHBS), that is either
> >> near you or dad, that would be even better for getting supplies and
> >> answering questions that may come up in the future. When I got started
> >> I got an "starter" kit that had a plastic primary bucket, 5 gal glass
> >> carboy, plastic bottling bucket, airlock, hydrometer, caps, capper,
> >> tubing, racking cane, bottle filler, sanitizer, a book about
> >> homebrewing and video. I think it was around $75. Other things to
> >> consider are a large stock pot, if he doesn't already have one that has
> >> about a 4 gal capacity, and bottles, about 48 12oz. Hope that helps,
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> --
> >> Michael Herrenbruck
> >> Dragon Tail Ale
> >> Drunken Bee Mead[/color][/color]
>
> If you are actually considering going down the Mr Beer router, then for
> that money I would suggest going with the Beer Man starter
> kit ([url]http://www.beermanmicrobrewery.com/starterkit.htm[/url]) or something
> better from your local brewhome shop.
>
> The Beer Man start kit is the one that I selected several months back. The
> extract based beer kits are good & easy to do. I can get extract beer
> refill kits at my local brew shop (which I located after buying my kit) &
> move up to a partial or whole grain when I'm ready.
>
> I've only made a few batches thus far (IPAs, Hard Ciders
> & working on a Export Stout right now).
>
> So far the brews I've made via this starter kit were great. I get a lot[/color]
of[color=blue]
> compliments from people who have had really good homebrew or
> local microbrew beer before -- so I must be doing something right with[/color]
this[color=blue]
> kit. ;-)
>
> Overall I'm happy with this starter kit and the results I have
> received for the price. And the batches are twice the size as the Mr Beer
> kits (Beer Man makes 5 gallons [about 36 - 16oz bottles] vs. the Mr Beer
> which makes half that).
>
> I did however expand upon this kit a bit, since purchasing it.
> -- moved to EZ-Cap glass bottles, instead of those PET ones.
> (I still use the PET ones, but just to give away beers to
> friends/family, so I don't have to collect the glass ones later)
> -- picked up a hydometer test kit for gravity readings
> (makes it easier to see what is happening with my brews)
> -- picked up some extra cleaning supplies
> (simply to keep everything sanitary & in good condition)
> -- picked up a few homebrew books
> (learn more homebrew things, learn tips/tricks, know more on how to
> proceed/grow with this hobby, among other things.)
>
> I hope this helps...
>
> James T.[/color]