Hey everyone, my name is Paul and I'm new to this forum. I love Dogfish and after learning more about the history of Dogfish and how it started, I've decided to try home brewing my own beer. I've always wanted to try it but I never really knew where to start or who to ask. Thankfully, I found this forum. My main question is what are some good and trustworthy sites where I can purchase a home brewing kit?
Hi Paul...Welcome to the wonderful world of Craft Brewing and, in particular, Home Brewing. If I were you, I would be doing a local search of my home town to see if you have any local Brewing Supplies stores. While there are several reliable sites on the internet...including even buying a fairly decent starter kit on Amazon...I think you are best off going to a local home brewing supply store and talking to the owner or the people who work there. Tell them what you are interested in brewing and let them guide you as to what you should be buying.
If you get a general starter kit, it will probably include a fermenting bucket. But a lot of places will swap out the fermenting bucket for a carboy...especially a glass carboy. You probably want a glass carboy over a fermenting bucket, as you can see what is happening as your beer ferments. Most home brewing is done in 5-gallon batches. So, do you want a 5-gallon carboy or do you want a 6.5 gallon carboy that will give you extra room to ferment Dogfish Head-style ales or add such things as wood chips to the fermenter, or are you just going to be brewing boring light beer kits that you buy pre-assembled at the store??? You will also need to decide if you want to brew on your stove top or whether you want to do it outside, over a propane flame. The stickiness of the wort can ruin your stovetop if you are not vigilent in making sure you go not get a spillover. You don't have to worry about that outside...
These are just some of the questions you will probably be asked and that you should think about...but the internet is not going to ask you these questions like a local brewing supply store operator would. As you get more experience and deceide you want to upgrade...say to a wort chiller instead of using an ice bath...that is something you can probably decide on your own and buy on the internet. But I definitely would recommend searching locally as a beginner. Even if you want to buy the eqiupment on the internet, at least look at it in person and get an idea of what you want/need before you place an order on-line.
Hope this helps and good luck!!!