The beginning brewer will need some basic equipment to get started.  The first item would be a stockpot.  The smallest pot we recommend obtaining would be a 3-gallon stockpot.  We do not recommend aluminum but stainless steel or an enamel-coated pot will work well.  We offer a few different grades of stainless steel pots to fit virtually any budget.  Next you will need at least a 6-6.5 gallon capacity fermenter, a fermentation lock, a bottling bucket, 5 feet of 3/8” ID siphon tubing, caps, a bottle capper, sanitizer, 2 cases of 12 oz bottles, and a set of ingredients.

Midwest has three different starter kits, which provide varying degrees of the basic equipment.  In addition to any of the equipment kits you will need a stockpot, empty bottles, and the ingredient with which to make the beer.

Not after the initial investment for the necessary equipment.  In fact if you prefer imported or micro-brewed beer you’ll be surprised to learn that you will save a lump of dough.  Most of our recipe kits range in price from $19.95 to $24.95 and each kit will produce five gallons of beer, which translates roughly to $.42 to $.52 per bottle.  We sell a few high gravity kits that will average slightly higher per bottle but we think the point is clear.  Our all-malt recipe kits contain only the freshest unhopped malt extract, specialty grains, hops and yeast available.  We order all of our beer ingredients weekly so you can be sure that you are getting the freshest there is.  Each of our recipe kits contains fresh, unhopped malt extract, specialty grains, a mesh-steeping bag, and hops, priming sugar, active dry brewer’s yeast and detailed instructions.  We also offer our famous Clone Kits, which set out to approximate various styles of popular imported and domestic micro-brewed beers.  In addition to this we offer our 20-Minute Boil Kits, which require less boil time than our other kits due the use of hopped malt extracts. Great for the brewer who doesn’t have a lot of time but enjoys the luxury of delicious and fresh homebrewed beer.  All of our recipe kits can be upgraded to liquid yeast for a few dollars more.

All-grain brewing is considerably cheaper than extract brewing due to the simple fact that grain is much cheaper than extract.  All-grain brewing requires more of an initial investment in extra equipment but this is rapidly offset by the low production cost.  All-grain brewed beer also takes a good deal more time to produce.  The average infusion mashed batch takes roughly 4 hours to complete.  The all-grain brewer has the added advantage of greater control over the subtle nuances of his/her beer.  As an example of the difference in cost consider that an average pale ale might cost $25.00 for an extract kit where as the ingredients for a pale ale for an all-grain brewer will cost roughly $15.00, for 2 cases of beer!  Either way it is inexpensive by comparison to shelling out full retail for quality imported or micro-brewed beer.

1. If you upgraded your recipe kit with Wyeast Liquid Yeast or White Labs Liquid Yeast, refrigerate the yeast ASAP until you are ready to brew.  With the 1.75 oz Wyeast Slap-pack, place the pack on a hard surface and break the inner pouch with the palm of your hand.  Wait 1-3 days (room temperature) for the pouch to expand to over 2 inches thick. At this point are starter should be prepared and the contents of the expanded pack pitched into it.  With White Labs and Wyeast Activators, simply warm the yeast to room temperature, 4-5 hours prior to brewing.

2. Start heating 1.5-2 gallons of water in your brewing kettle.  Place the specialty grains in the muslin bag, tie the open end in a knot and steep in the cold water while heating to between 150-158 degrees F.  Once you have reached this temperature range remove the kettle from the heat and steep the grains for 10-20 minutes.

3. Remove grain and gently squeeze liquid from the bag.  Discard grains and bag, return the kettle to the stove and bring to a boil.

4. Once a boil is achieved remove the kettle from the burner and add the malt extract while stirring.  When the extract is added and dissolved, return the kettle to the burner and bring to a boil.

5. Boil for one hour adding the hops as specified by the kit instructions. 

6. Chill and pour the wort (unfermented beer) into the sanitized primary fermenter.  Top off with cold tap water to the 5.5-gallon mark on the side of the fermenter.

7. Add the yeast.

8. Seal up the fermenter and wait for the fermentation process to finish. ( usually 10-14 DAYS)

9. Transfer the beer into the bottling bucket.  Add ¾ cup of priming sugar and bottle.

10. Patience is a virtue!  Wait 3-4 weeks and sample.  Aging almost always will make your homebrew taste better.