I want to brew my own beer. How do I start?

Get a good homebrewing book, Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Papazian is a great one to get you started. There is also How to Brew by John Palmer that is an online free book (http://www.howtobrew.com/ ).

After that, get the brewing equipment and ingredient kits from a good store, Midwest Brew Supplies (http://www.midwestsupplies.com/ ) is a good supplier, but there are many more. Get used to making a couple kits, and then put your own recipes together.

Or just start by making your own recipes after reading the book. They're fairly simple if you start with extract. Find some decent recipes, and make some beer using dry malt extract or liquid malt extract, some crushed specialty grains for color and flavor, and hops for bitterness, flavor, and aroma. And then you can add your choice of beer yeast.

I do hate to promote just one company, but I like Midwest Brewing because if you buy an ingredient kit, you get a free DVD that shows you how to brew as well, beginner, and more advanced.

Step 1) Get and read a good beginner's book. I was started on Papazian's New Complete Guide to Homebrewing. Homebrewing for Dummies isn't bad either.

2) Buy your equipment kit. Brewer's Best puts out a pretty good one. You might get a good deal on eBay.

3) If you have a local homebrew shop, start there. The proprietor will see you as a potential repeat customer and will try to make your first brew the best it can be. I got started with an all-extract English Brown ale. It was good enough that I've repeated the recipe so I don't run out.

4) Visit the Brew Your Own (magazine) website. Click on "Readers' Resources" to get to links to suppliers. I think Brew By U is the one I use most often.

5) Make your first brew a simple ale. That way, you will have a basis for comparison with future brews.

6) If you need help, don't be afraid to ask. You might want to try craigslist.net's discussion forum #1855 (homebrew).

I would like to homebrew as well, maybe someday....

Anyways, I've researched this a bit before and thought that if I were to I would be able to find a recipe from beertools.com. They seem to have a pretty good collection of recipes that are everything from malt extract and pelletized hops (beginner, potentially better than a kit) to full on boiled mashes from pure grain with fresh hops (not for beginners).

Looks like midwest supplies has a good selection of ingredients. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/ On the left there is a green section, has a bunch of different grains and hops to pick from. Can probably find what ingredients you need here, or atleast something that will work. Part of the fun is coming up with something yourself.

In terms of equipment, you don't particularly need too many special tools. A large pot, industrial sized 7 gallon or bigger (5 gallon brews + room for foam while boiling). Then you need a fermenter -- bucket with an air lock. Would be helpful to have a secondary fermenter or a glass carboy (could do wine in this). A rack is a good idea, but not required. A bottle wand (filler), and a case of bottles with new caps and a capper or just get swing top bottles (or belgians with corks). Important is a hydrometer to measure the ABV, which also indicates how much sugar is left.

I would probably pick out each component for equipment individually and go for quality. Although some of the kits have everything you need for a good price, can always replace whatever you want later.

Find a local homebrew shop or club in your area. www.beertown.org and www.byo.com

A couple of starter books:

Charlie Papazian "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing"

Ray Daniels "Designing Great Beers"

John Palmer "How to Brew" www.howtobrew.com

If you cannot find a local homebrew shop, check out www.northernbrewer.com. They have a great selection and you could even call and they will be glad to help out with all your questions.

Also, check out homebrewing podcasts:

www.brewbubbas.com

www.basicbrewing.com

www.brewcrazy.com

www.brewingnetwork.com

don't listen to dattdude he spending all his time answering questions on his computer and probably will be all night. Get a girlfriend punk or go shave your hairy palms. I would love to brew my own beer and I've been to almost every site but it usually ends up taking me to those already made kits.that sucks if anyone knows a real way to brew beer at home let us know. ( I'm drinking some store bought budweiser and getting ready to go out with friends, not like some losers)