[jacnal]

What does an aspiring homebrewer need? I'd love to have a go at the easiest recipe available to start with. So what tools do I need? Dont mind either for wine or beer, so long as it's easy for a beginner.

Ps: Wilkinson's aroung the corner, so anything I can get from there is a added bonus please!

[DD.]

What does an aspiring homebrewer need?

An elephant's liver!

[jacnal]

An elephant's liver!

Tee hee!

And before the liver.........?

Must say I'm a good drinker. Only once in a while (about once/year or 2) do I totally indulge. I'm a very cheap date and one glass of wine or 1 pint of beer is enough to make me merry. Any more than that and I'm giggling constantly if I have to be awake, or I go to sleep. A whole wine bottle makes me pass out and do all the other drunk stuff (like being sick, last done in Sep 2005). Spirits and cocktails are taken with caution, especially as I tend to guzzle (too sweet to sip, then the alcohol content hits me unawares :oops:) . 2 tots usually enough then water all the way.

I'd love to experience the above with a home made brew or 2 soon!

[DD.]

Not made any for years and thinking about it, you don't see so much about these days.

Late 70's early 80' when I was in full swing with it, Boots stocked all the stuff & there were several dedicated home brew shops in the town.

I started with a kit from concentrate and that had all the basics in there. I've probably forgotten a lot over the years, so you're better off speaking to some one who's up to speed, but you'll need, demijohns, bungs, airlocks, camden tablets (or something for sterilising), bottles, brushes, corks............ and of course soemthing to brew!

[fluffypebble]

Sugar, raisins, yeast, yeast nutrients, tannin (can use tea), campden tabs, 2 demi johns, bucket, sieve, fine mesh bag, fermentation lock.

Then pick the fruit of your choice and make your wine.

I got most of my stuff from wilkinsons, demi -johns were from freecycle.

Some recipes don't need raisins.

Have fun.

I have just racked my tinned peach wine (took 3 tins at 19p each, makes a gallon - bargain)

[fallen angel]

I have bought complete kits on ebay and the equiptment is reusable so it will be cost effective i just have not got around to brewing yet  :oops:

Nicky

[seadart]

For equipment have a look at Freecycle there is usually someone giving away demijohns etc on there.

Make sure everything you use is clean and sterile else you'll get a duff wine.

Choose a yeast that suits the wine your making and be prepared to wait to let the wine mature.

Some of the easiest are fruit juice wines.
And once your hooked there be no going back    

[Celtic Eagle]

OK

Two things to consider is it wine or beer, is it from scratch or kits.

Lets take the simple option first its from kits
Minimum kit
 Beer
5 gallon bucket
siphon tube
bottles  or 5 gallon keg
crown caps
capping machine
gas cylinder

Wine
Demi-johns 2 minimum
siphon tube
corks
bottles
corking machine
optional filter
Air locks and bungs

As other people have said watch ebay, loot freecycle
remember demi-jons cost about 4.50 new guide for second hand a quid each
Buckets about £8
corks £2-50 for 50 use waxed corks if you cget then they work better
King Keg £40 new might pick up for £20 secondhand

Now to get onto from scratch

Wine not much else cept a recipe book loads around take your pick look in the library find one you like then buy it use the beer bucket for pulp fermenting

Beer
Hmm a lot more needed in terms  of cash
Boiler  £100+ new
mashing bucket

I'd stick with beer kits at first I make all my beer from kits give the single can kits a miss and buy 3Kg 2 can kits  better quality or use a tin of malt with a one can kit.

Biggest tip of all find a local homebrew shop run by an enthusiast someone who makes it not just sells it

Good Luck and Have fun