| Description and use of the minimum equipment | | | | You will need a fermenting vessel for the brew after |
| requirements for the home brewer. | | | | the yeast has been added. It should have a decent |
| Right, you've decided (very wisely I might say) to | | | | fitting lid and handles for lifting. When I started I used |
| brew your own beer. What basic equipment do you | | | | a plastic dustbin (garbage bin) from my local |
| need? As in many processes the equipment can be | | | | hardware store. It was bright yellow and I thought it |
| varied, and indeed complicated. But to start with you | | | | was cool. Only later did I discover that the yellow |
| do not really need much in the way of equipment. | | | | colour was due to the use of the heavy metal |
| The first thing to aquire is a large container (mashing | | | | cadmium, pretty toxic to humans. This cadmium |
| vessel). This can be as small as a large soup pot, or | | | | would leach out into the brew due to the effect of |
| as large as you can comfortably handle. A large | | | | the process. Well I got away with that one (I think). |
| preserve or stew pan is good. Try a second hand | | | | But the lesson here is to only use containers |
| catering supplier, you'll get a good deal. At the same | | | | guaranteed to be brewing friendly. I would favour a |
| time, although by no means essential at this stage, | | | | five gallon plastic container sold by a reputable |
| see if they have a free standing gas ring which you | | | | brewing supplies store. |
| can use with bottled gas. This means you can brew | | | | A length of plastic tubing around quarter inch |
| out in the yard or in the garage. | | | | diameter and about a yard or so long will be wanted |
| Trust me, your partner will be much more forgiving if | | | | to siphon off the brew when ready into whatever |
| you are not underfoot in the kitchen, and the smell | | | | containers yopu have decided to use. Probably a |
| (although I love it) can be a bit of an aquired taste. | | | | plastic cask or bottles. Ideally the tube should have a |
| The other advantage of using gas is the instant | | | | glass siphon tube fitted (with a trap like a sink u- |
| controllability of temperature. Electricity can be a bit | | | | bend) so as not to draw up sediment when siphoning. |
| hit and miss as it's not instant. Unless of course you | | | | These are pretty cheap from the brewing supplies |
| have a halogen hob. But you don't really want to be | | | | place. |
| in the kitchen unless you have no other choice. | | | | All bottles used should be in good condition, and free |
| You are also going to need a thermometer, | | | | from any flaws. If you can get screw top bottles all |
| temperature is fairly critical in the brewing process. | | | | the better. It goes without saying that they should |
| Again, go to a brewing supplies store and you will find | | | | be scrupulously clean. |
| quite a variation, but I would go for one at least 12 | | | | O.K. That's it. That's really all the basic equipment you |
| inches in length, or even larger if you can. Especially if | | | | need. Of course there are other items that I would |
| you have bought a large mashing vessel. They are | | | | call optional, that may make the job a little easier, |
| easier to read anyway. By the way, a spare | | | | and I'll cover those in another article. But if you're |
| thermometer is always useful. They can be dropped | | | | working on a budget you can start with just these |
| and broken! | | | | items. Just go for it, and good luck. |