john doe wrote:[color=blue]
> 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$qo2.8@newsfe09.lga...[color=green]
>> On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:42:06 +0000, john doe wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> What do you think about this:
>>>[/color][/color]
> [url]http://www.mrbeer.com/view.php?id=probrewkit&toplevel=Brew%20Kits&currentite[/url][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> m=1&showgroup=Brew%20Kits&menu=sub2&mactive=1&subactive=0
>>>
>>> Free shipping.
>>>
>>>
>>> "DragonTail" <" DragonTail281"@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:Lsgch.3684$U81.1805@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>>>> john doe wrote:
>>>>> I would like to get my dad a home brewing kit for Christmas but there[/color][/color]
> is[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>>> quite a selection on the internet and I don't know anything about it[/color][/color]
> and[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> he
>>>>> is very much into beer so I would like it to be a nice kit and not
>>> something
>>>>> cheap. I wouldn't say he is a connoisseur, yet, but he is well on his
>>> way.
>>>>> Which ones would everybody recomend and why? Price range is around[/color][/color]
> $100.[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]
> have[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]
>> 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=green]
>> 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=green]
>> 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]
>
>[/color]
First off, I haven't heard alot god about the Mr. Beer kits, other than
the fact that it can get you into the craft. From what I understand
they make "small" batches and I remember seeing problem with sealing the
"system".
As for growing your own ingredients, that is possible. I grow hops to
use. Grain though is another story. Growing it isn't a problem, but
malting and kilning is. Not that it can't be done, just a lot of work.
Plus, you would still be buying grain, unless you only do a few batches
a year or have a large barley (grain) field.
Cheers,

--
Michael Herrenbruck
Dragon Tail Ale
Drunken Bee Mead