I need a homebrewer

Mark C · 01-21-2009, 09:22 PM

I've been making wine for a few years, but I want to do beer now, and I want to keg it. The beermaking part I'm not too worried about, I plan to start with extracts, and my wine equipment should be enough. But I need help on kegging. I've got a small chest freezer I plan to use, and I want to start with a single keg, with plans to expand down the road. I've done some homework and have a rough idea what I need, but I could use some help with specifics.

Where's a good place to shop? I've seen regulators selling around $70, but a few sites have them for $40. Any good shipping deals on kegs, if I can't find them local? How about CO2 cylinders?

Are there any upgrades I should go with off the bat, rather than replace equipment somewhere down the road? I keep hearing the Perlick faucet is hands-down better than the 'standard', so I'm planning to go with that.

Any preferences for hose fittings? Flared fitting vs. barbed?

How about a good temp controller for the freezer?

And lastly, can you point me towards a good homebrew message board? There's got to be a Homebrew Asylum somewhere, right?

01-21-2009, 09:22 PM	#1
Mark C Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SE PA Posts: 674 Trading: (4)	I need a homebrewer I've been making wine for a few years, but I want to do beer now, and I want to keg it. The beermaking part I'm not too worried about, I plan to start with extracts, and my wine equipment should be enough. But I need help on kegging. I've got a small chest freezer I plan to use, and I want to start with a single keg, with plans to expand down the road. I've done some homework and have a rough idea what I need, but I could use some help with specifics. Where's a good place to shop? I've seen regulators selling around $70, but a few sites have them for $40. Any good shipping deals on kegs, if I can't find them local? How about CO2 cylinders? Are there any upgrades I should go with off the bat, rather than replace equipment somewhere down the road? I keep hearing the Perlick faucet is hands-down better than the 'standard', so I'm planning to go with that. Any preferences for hose fittings? Flared fitting vs. barbed? How about a good temp controller for the freezer? And lastly, can you point me towards a good homebrew message board? There's got to be a Homebrew Asylum somewhere, right?