Getting Equipment, Part 2

I went to the local homebrew store to get a brewing kit. I chose a kit because it was cheaper than buying everything individually. Here is a list of the equipment that is needed to brew a basic batch of beer:

• Plastic fermentation pail - Something to brew in. Glass carboys are also available, but plastic is cheaper and works just as well. Plastic fermentation buckets hold 6.5 gallons and have a lid that seals out air. The lid has a hole in it to hold the airlock. Simple brewing requires only one, but I found that a second one made things a lot easier.
• Brew Pot - Get the biggest heaviest pot you can afford. For a 5 gallon batch, at least 5 gallons. 7 or 10 is better. Stainless is best, but aluminum will work.
• Airlock - Allows CO2 to escape from the fermenting beer and keeps air out.
• Siphon - get an autosiphon. You'll be glad you did
• Thermometer - get an accurate one. You'll need it
• Hydrometer - an instrument that helps you tell when your beer is ready to bottle and how much alcohol is in it.
• Hop and grain bags
• Big plastic spoon
• Turkey baster - to draw samples of the wort/beer at various times
• Strainer - to separate sediment from wort
• Sanitizer - I love StarSan. It is little more expensive, but it's no rinse.

Ok. I had everything together. Time to make my first brew in 10 years!