How do your beer equipment kits vary?
Midwest Brewing Basics Homebrewing Equipment Kit (#MBEK1) has all the essentials without all the bells and whistles. This equipment kit has everything you need to start brewing beer at home (except for bottles and a brewing kettle). It is economical and designed to be expanded upon as your level of homebrewing progresses. This kit includes: an instructional homebrewing video or DVD, a 6.5 gallon plastic fermenter and lid, a bottling bucket and spigot, 8 ounces of Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser, an airlock, a hydrometer (determines alcohol content), a bottle brush, a twin lever Black Beauty bottle capper, 60 bottle caps, a liquid crystal thermometer, a bottle filler, a racking cane with bucket clip and siphon tubing.
Our most popular kit, the Midwest Brewing Starter Equipment Kit (#MBEK2), contains everything from the Starter Kit, plus a 5-gallon glass carboy (for two-stage fermentation), the rubber stopper for the carboy, and a carboy brush. Two-stage fermentation yields a better quality product by giving your beer time to mature and clarify. Sediment is left behind in the primary fermenter, avoiding off flavors and improving the clarity of your beer. Also the glass fermenter is airtight and of smaller volume resulting in a reduced headspace above your beer that will help prevent oxidation of your beer. This kit is highly recommended if you intend to brew any lager beers.
The Midwest Brewing Intermediate Equipment Kit (#MBEK3) presents the best value, as it contains many upgrades and items that most homebrewers buy after brewing for a while. This kit contains everything from the Starter Equipment Kit, plus another 5 gallon carboy for secondary fermentation, two rubber stoppers and airlocks, an 8 inch funnel, an additional liquid crystal thermometer, and a Fermtech AutoSiphon. This kit comes standard with two 5 gallon glass carboys, but you may substitute Better Bottles if you prefer.
The Midwest Master Brewer’s Equipment Kit with Kegging Setup (#MBEK4) is the sweetest system that we could dream up! This kit is designed for someone who is positive they’ll love the hobby of homebrewing or has brewed beer in the past. PLEASE NOTE that if you go with this kit, you will need an extra refrigerator with at least 27 inches of clearance to fit your keg inside. Used refrigerators are easy to find. Check your local want ads; many of our local customers have found them very cheap or even free. This equipment kit is for the homebrewer that knows they will be brewing for a long time to come. We start with an all-glass fermentation system, which includes one 6.5 gallon carboy for your primary, and two 5 gallon carboys so that you can have two batches in the secondary at the same time. Of course there are stoppers and airlocks for all three carboys, a triplescale hydrometer with test jar, 8 oz. of One Step No-rinse Cleanser and an airlock brush. Then we set you up with all of the siphoning items you’ll need: a Fermtech AutoSiphon, 5 feet of siphon tubing, and a carboy brush. Also includes three Fermometers, so that you can monitor the fermentation temperatures on all of your vessels. We also include a Refrigerator Thermostat Control so that you will be able to brew lagers and keep your kegged homebrew at the optimum temperature. Did we mention that this kit also includes a BrewLogic Cornelius Pin Lock Keg System? No more bottling! Also includes our instructional homebrewing video or DVD.
