The Beer Barons

A Brewer’s Tools

When people find out that I brew my own beer, they are usually very curious to know what my brewing equipment looks like.  I often get questions like “Do you have some sort of laboratory?” or “Do you have a high-tech brewery?”  The answer to these and many other related questions is no.  I think most people imagine the large copper boilers and enormous stainless steel conical fermenters that are often on display (purposefully I might add) in places like Gordon Biersch, or local Franklin’s in Hyattsville.  However, on a small and/or amateur scale, the equipment necessary to brew beer is far less elaborate.  Here’s a very basic list of the main items needed to brew beer:

1. A Large Pot – typical size is anywhere from 3 to 10 gallons.  Stainless steel is preferred (but expensive).  A common and cheaper alternative is aluminum
2. Two Large Buckets – most brewing supply stores and websites sell prepackaged kits that include two 6.5 gallon plastic buckets made from food grade plastics.  You will probably make use of both. 
3. About 52 Bottles – these are available at brewery supply stores, and unless you plan to keg your beer in the near future, you will want to invest in self capping bottles.
4. Accessories – all of the fun tools necessary to move, store and drink your beer.  These include cleaning supplies, sanitizers, bucket lids, siphon canes and tubes, airlocks, strainers, etc. Most of these are included in the prepackaged kits.  Although I certainly recommend some upgrades…

Now I must emphasize that this is a very basic list.  Its intention is to show how little equipment is needed to brew beer.  Really, you just need something to boil your wort (the proper term for unfermented beer), something to ferment it in (so it becomes beer), and something to store and drink it out of (once it is beer).

You can expect to spend anywhere from $75-$175 to get started, depending on how much of the necessary equipment you have already on hand.  I will be sure to post a full list of everything I use and have found to be necessary in brewing.    

For those of you who want to peruse some products and prices, one of my go to sites (and stores) is www.marylandhomebrew.com.  The people there are friendly, and they have a pretty good selection.  The problem I have these days is that Columbia, MD is a little too far from the city…

*Franklin’s Restaurant, Brewery and General Store

5123 Baltimore Ave.
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-927-2740