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Dave, do you homebrew? I am thinking about trying to brew at home as well as wine. I've checked the web and there are multitudes of sites to buy kits and stuff, but which one is a good one?

Or if anybody else knows of good sites, please advise.

Thanks,
Rich

RDC:

I have brewed a lot. William's brewing (online and by catalog) is always reliable and fairly priced.

My tip: always buy the expensive yeast (it will be liquid). It is always better and does a much better job.

Yummy!! I am going to have to open up a homebrewed bottle tonight. I would suggest starting with a bitter. Easy and rewarding.

I started with a plastic bucket setup. Then I bought the glass carbuoy. Love the carbuoy, bur hate cleaning the sediment out of it.

I'll have to find that book. Currently I have The Home Brewers's Companion by Papazian.

Homebrewing tip number 2:
Store your beer in champagne bottles. Champagne bottles have several advantages
[1] the plastic caps can be reused over and over again;
[2] empties are usually plentiful and free from wedding receptions;
[3] champagne bottles are more durable than regular beer bottles;
[4] you wash fewer of them (and caps, too) because they hold more beer than regular bottles;
[5] your guests think its cool that you put beer in champagne bottles.

Hey Guys,
My favorite passtime, other than smoking cigars and usually done at the same time, though not over the brewpot. As far as books, I like "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" By Chalie Pappazian. Though the Miller book, will work, I believe Pappazians book, more complete. As for online ingredent suppliers, I don't know. Buy all of my supplies through my clubs coop. The club buys in bulk, at wholesale. And resells it to members, the proceeds go to local charities.
As for bottling. I usually keg my beer, in cornielius kegs. Used to be Pepsi Kegs, but now are used for beer. 1 container, instead of 60 beer bottles. A little steep, initialy to start up, around $250, but well worth the investment, if you value your time. You can always bottle a couple of bottles, at time of kegging for competition, etc.
As far as what I make?? I used to make all styles, From Lagars, to stouts, and Porters. While I was in college, My Biology professor, let me brew batches, in a controlled enviroment chamber, so I could brew true Lagers, in exchange for allowing him to use my brewing, for a few experiments, to illustrate population growth, and carrying capacity.
I now stick to India Pale ales, and Irish Style Stouts. I have tried some weird ingrediants, such as coffee, so far the most interesting stout, Chocolate, mmm mmm good, oatmeal, touch of sweetness to way too much. Now I go from tried and true recipies, for 5 gallon batches, and save the experiments, for small 1 gallon batches. As far as wine, or Mead, I have been brewing Meads, meomels, and Pymets, for several years now. Traditional Sweet Meads, and Dry sparkling Ginger Meads. Made my first Peach Wine Just this year, should come off for Christmas, 30 Gal. worth. Much easier than Beer.
Besides, the sanitation tips, and somewhat related, WATCH YOUR WORT. A boilover SUCKS. Think about trying to clean up, the stickyest mess of syrup ever. Do not turn your back, on the stove, for eve long enough to touch up the burn on your cigar, it's not worth it. I now brew, outside, on my fishcooker, just in case. Then if there is an accident, a couple of blasts from the pressurewasher, no problem.
Happy Brewing, drinking, and Herfing.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)
P.S. When brewing and herfing, at the same time, keep the ashes out of the brewpot:-)

Yeah Rick,
I started brewing outdoors, when I had a girlfriend that didn't like me smoking, my cigars inside, though her cigarettes were ok???? I found that I really enjoyed brewing outside, anyway. I ran her off, if she didn't like me with my cigars, she didn't love me at all, but someone she wanted me to be. LOL I still have my house, truck, and all of my toys. But she is gone. LOL That's why I have never been married. This way you can move them in, and out, and still have most of my stuff when they leave, instead of buying each one of them a house and car. LOL But a Fall project, around beer brewing, is a great way to; 1. burn up some spare time, instead of watching tv. 2. Gives you something to drink during the Bowl games, and the NFL playoffs. 3. An excuse to drink more beer, I had to taste that last batch of IPA. and 4. You don't have to pay those outrageous taxes on your beer. Very important, down here, on the Buckle of the Bible belt.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)
P.S. Happy Brewing, and herfing.