Hi all,
I'm about to embark on my first home brew and have got my eye on the following stuff as a starter kit.
The Beer Starter Kit herE:
http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalo ... ___20.html
Plus the "BEER FERMENTING BIN (BUCKET) 5g" here for bottling:
http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalo ... ___27.html
Plus the AoB Pilsner and Muntons Nut Brown ale from here as a couple of starter brews:
http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalo ... ____9.html
Am I missing anything equipment-wise and will I need to add anything else to the kits in order to brew?
Also, as I'm intending to bottle do I need any extra equipment to correctly start a siphon? I read previously that it can be easy to infect a beer by doing this incorrectly.
First Brew - Equipment Advice Required
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maxashton
Munton's Nut Brown is lovely, and your equipment selection is fine... HOWEVER!
My very first HB kit was from AoB as well, and i had a lot of trouble with the tap. I'm sure YMMV, but i had to replace the tap with a better one.
If you're going to use a bottling bucket, i would strongly suggest you get a bottling tap, little bottler, or the like, and some hose for your fermenter tap.
If you don't have the hose you risk aerating your fermented beer when you transfer to the bottling bucket, which can produce off flavours or even cause an infection.
Also, invest in some nice brewer's sugar or pure glucose instead of table sugar. It dissovles easier if nothing else.
Best of luck, and be sure to take some pics on your brew-day!
My very first HB kit was from AoB as well, and i had a lot of trouble with the tap. I'm sure YMMV, but i had to replace the tap with a better one.
If you're going to use a bottling bucket, i would strongly suggest you get a bottling tap, little bottler, or the like, and some hose for your fermenter tap.
If you don't have the hose you risk aerating your fermented beer when you transfer to the bottling bucket, which can produce off flavours or even cause an infection.
Also, invest in some nice brewer's sugar or pure glucose instead of table sugar. It dissovles easier if nothing else.
Best of luck, and be sure to take some pics on your brew-day!
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stevezx7r
If it were me bottling my beer I would make sure I had a tap on my fermenter, a length of hose (from tap to bottle) a small funnel, a bag of sugar and a spoon 
Basically, I'd ferment the beer for 10 days in the FV. Then, on the 10th day, check the gravity. If it's about right get your bottles/caps/capper/hose/spoon/funnel etc sanitised. Rinse and rinse again. Dry the funnel (don't make it "unclean" though).
Now, get a good work area where you can afford to spill beer - you will spill beer. Line up your bottles and fill each one with the same amount of table sugar i.e about 1/2 a teaspoon per pint bottle for ale or 1 teaspoon per pint for lager. Don't get the funnel wet or the sugar will stick and you'll have a mare.
Now attatch the hose to the tap and fill each bottle to the top. Once they've all been filled cap them anyway you fancy and invert a few times to stir in the sugar.
Now leave them in the dark and no more than say 25C for a couple of weeks. Once they've turned the sugar to c02 you can pop them in the fridge for another week or so and serve once chilled to your desired temps.
After a few goes at doing this you'll think twice about bottling and get a barrel instead
Basically, I'd ferment the beer for 10 days in the FV. Then, on the 10th day, check the gravity. If it's about right get your bottles/caps/capper/hose/spoon/funnel etc sanitised. Rinse and rinse again. Dry the funnel (don't make it "unclean" though).
Now, get a good work area where you can afford to spill beer - you will spill beer. Line up your bottles and fill each one with the same amount of table sugar i.e about 1/2 a teaspoon per pint bottle for ale or 1 teaspoon per pint for lager. Don't get the funnel wet or the sugar will stick and you'll have a mare.
Now attatch the hose to the tap and fill each bottle to the top. Once they've all been filled cap them anyway you fancy and invert a few times to stir in the sugar.
Now leave them in the dark and no more than say 25C for a couple of weeks. Once they've turned the sugar to c02 you can pop them in the fridge for another week or so and serve once chilled to your desired temps.
After a few goes at doing this you'll think twice about bottling and get a barrel instead
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macleanb
Didnt see a Hydrometer any where on that kit list - you'll want one of those. Also I would recomend some stick on thermometer strips so you can keep an eye on your fermenting temps.
If you are going to bottle long term I would also recomend a bottle tree and a bottle rinsing attachment for your tap.
If you are going to bottle long term I would also recomend a bottle tree and a bottle rinsing attachment for your tap.
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Bromley Brewery
Hey ho !
I'm new to all this too. I bought the Yorkshire Bitter Starter Kit put together by the Hamstead Brewing Co (on t'internet)
I am very pleased with it. I am now drinking my first brew (the premium Yorkshire Terrier bitter that the starter kit comes with).
I haven't needed anything else at all. Kit comes with keg, gas, FV etc etc. not cheap mind (with delivery costs) but good value and good quality.
I'm new to all this too. I bought the Yorkshire Bitter Starter Kit put together by the Hamstead Brewing Co (on t'internet)
I am very pleased with it. I am now drinking my first brew (the premium Yorkshire Terrier bitter that the starter kit comes with).
I haven't needed anything else at all. Kit comes with keg, gas, FV etc etc. not cheap mind (with delivery costs) but good value and good quality.
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youreds91
Car boot sales are your friend when strating up home brewing. There must be thousands of folks who tried & given up.
My missus always attends these things (I lose the will to live if I go with her) & she rings me with any finds. You can easily inspect buckets & barrels for cleanliness, but there's not usually anything that a splash of bleach won't put right.
Basic stuff should be easy to find, you'll be lucky to find anything more exotic.
Even if you have no use for them Boot's branded kit fetches money on ebay. For instance, Boot's 2 Demijohn heater tray brand new, car boot 50p - ebay £11. My missus also got a Boot's fruit press for £2 which I've hung on to, £30+ on ebay.
The Holy Grail for a car boot find will be the Boot's grey metal pressure barrell, I live in hope.
CD
My missus always attends these things (I lose the will to live if I go with her) & she rings me with any finds. You can easily inspect buckets & barrels for cleanliness, but there's not usually anything that a splash of bleach won't put right.
Basic stuff should be easy to find, you'll be lucky to find anything more exotic.
Even if you have no use for them Boot's branded kit fetches money on ebay. For instance, Boot's 2 Demijohn heater tray brand new, car boot 50p - ebay £11. My missus also got a Boot's fruit press for £2 which I've hung on to, £30+ on ebay.
The Holy Grail for a car boot find will be the Boot's grey metal pressure barrell, I live in hope.
CD