Please click on an FAQ link below to view information regarding that question.   Question: What is the simplest, most basic way to get started?   Answer: The beginning brewer will need some basic equipment to get started.  The first item would be a stockpot.  The smallest pot we recommend obtaining would be a 3-gallon stockpot.  We do not recommend aluminum but stainless steel or an enamel-coated pot will work well.  We offer a few different grades of stainless steel pots to fit virtually any budget.  Next you will need at least a 6-6.5 gallon capacity fermenter, a fermentation lock, a bottling bucket, 5 feet of 3/8” ID siphon tubing, caps, a bottle capper, sanitizer, 2 cases of 12 oz bottles, and a set of ingredients. Midwest has three different starter kits, which provide varying degrees of the basic equipment.  In addition to any of the equipment kits you will need a stockpot, empty bottles, and the ingredient with which to make the beer.   Question: How do your equipment kits vary?   Answer: The Everything Kit - Complete Brewing Package Equipment Kit w/ Recipe Kit ($134.95) Choose from 3 recipe kits to be included with the Everything kit: Irish Red Ale (CPEK1-RED), Autumn Amber Ale (CPEK1-AMBER), Irish Stout (CPEK1-STOUT) This complete package is perfect for someone just getting into the hobby that wants to open the box and brew a batch right away. This kit includes EVERYTHING* you'll need to get started right away. You Even get to select one of 3 different recipe kits for your first batch. The Complete Package Equipment Kit #1 includes everything from the Brewing Basic Kit PLUS a 4-gallon Stainless Steel Brew Kettle, your choice (1) of the Irish Red Ale, Irish Stout, or the Autumn Amber Recipe Kit, and 2 cases of 12 ounce bottles. This kit is designed to be expanded as your level of homebrewing progresses. It is designed for single stage fermentation. **Well, almost everything - You'll actually need about 6 more empty beer bottles. We figure if you'd have trouble emptying 6 beer bottles, you should consider a different hobby. The Everything + A Carboy Kit - Complete Brewing Package Equipment Kit #2 w/ Recipe Kit ($159.95) As with the Everything kit above, choose from the Irish Red Ale (CPEK2-RED), Autumn Amber Ale (CPEK2-AMBER), and Irish Stout (CPEK2-STOUT) Why not step it up a notch? This kit includes EVERYTHING* you'll need to get started right away, PLUS everything you need to perform secondary fermentations. You even get to select one of 3 different recipe kits for your first batch. The Complete Package Equipment Kit #2 includes everything from the Brewing Starter Kit PLUS a 5-gallon Stainless Steel Brew Kettle, your choice (1) of the Irish Red Ale, Irish Stout, or the Autumn Amber Recipe Kit, and 2 cases of 12 ounce bottles. This equipment kit provides the essential equipment for the aspiring brewer who wants to make the best beer they can from the start, and is highly recommended if you inted to brew any high alcohol or lager beers. ***Well, almost everything - You'll actually need about 6 more empty beer bottles. We figure if you'd have trouble emptying 6 beer bottles, you should consider a different hobby. Our Midwest Brewing Basics Homebrewing Equipment Kit (#MBEK1, $59.95) has all the essentials without all the bells and whistles. This equipment kit has everything you need to start brewing beer at home (except for bottles and a brewing kettle). It is economical and designed to be expanded upon as your level of homebrewing progresses. This kit includes: an instructional homebrewing video or DVD, 71 page instructional booklet, a 6.5 gallon plastic fermenter and lid, a bottling bucket and spigot, 8 ounces of Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser, an airlock, a hydrometer (determines alcohol content), a bottle brush, a twin lever Red Baron bottle capper, 60 bottle caps, a liquid crystal thermometer, a bottle filler, a racking cane with bucket clip and siphon tubing. Our most popular kit, the Midwest Brewing Starter Equipment Kit (#MBEK2, $79.95), contains everything from the Starter Kit plus, a 5-gallon glass carboy (for two-stage fermentation), the rubber stopper for the carboy, and a carboy brush. Two-stage fermentation yields a better quality product by giving your beer time to mature and clarify. Sediment is left behind in the primary fermenter, avoiding off flavors and improving the clarity of your beer. Also the glass fermenter is airtight and of smaller volume resulting in a reduced headspace above your beer that will help prevent oxidation of your beer. This kit is highly recommended if you intend to brew any lager beers. The kit includes the FermTech AutoSiphon, which makes transfering your beer a breeze. The Midwest Brewing Intermediate Equipment Kit (#MBEK3, $109.95) presents the best value, as it contains many upgrades and items that many homebrewers buy after brewing for a while. This kit contains everything from the Starter Equipment Kit, plus another 5-gallon carboy so you can have two beers going at once! The kit also includes two rubber stoppers and airlocks, an 8 inch funnel, an additional liquid crystal thermometer, and a Fermtech AutoSiphon. We also provide the option of replacing the glass carboys with the light, scratch-resistant Better Bottles. The Midwest Master Brewer’s Equipment Kit with Kegging Setup (#MBEK4, $329.95) is the sweetest system that we could dream up! This kit is designed for someone who is positive they’ll love the hobby of homebrewing or has brewed beer in the past. PLEASE NOTE that if you go with this kit, you will need an extra refrigerator with at least 27 inches of clearance to fit your keg inside. Used refrigerators are easy to find. Check your local want ads; many of our local customers have found them very cheap or even free. This equipment kit is for the homebrewer that knows they will be brewing for a long time to come. We start with an all-glass fermentation system, which includes one 6.5 gallon carboy for your primary, and two 5 gallon carboys so that you can have two batches in the secondary at the same time. Of course there are stoppers and airlocks for all three carboys, a triplescale hydrometer with test jar, 8 oz. of One Step No-rinse Cleanser and an airlock brush. Then we set you up with all of the siphoning items you’ll need: a Fermtech AutoSiphon, 5 feet of siphon tubing, and a carboy brush. Also includes three Fermometers, so that you can monitor the fermentation temperatures on all of your vessels. We also include a Refrigerator Thermostat Control so that you will be able to brew lagers and keep your kegged homebrew at the optimum temperature. Did we mention that this kit also includes a Cornelius Keg System? No more bottling! Also includes our instructional homebrewing video or DVD. As a special promotion, you may add more Cornelius kegs to this system at a price of $28.00 each, limit three.   Question: Is homebrew expensive to produce?   Answer: Not after the initial investment for the necessary equipment. In fact if you prefer imported or micro-brewed beer you’ll be surprised to learn that you will save a lump of dough. The average cost of a 5 gallon recipe kit at Midwest sells for about $26. After capping 54 twelve-ounce bottles you are looking at a cost of under 50 cents a bottle. We sell a few high gravity kits that will average slightly higher per bottle but we think the point is clear. Our all-malt recipe kits contain only the freshest unhopped malt extract, specialty grains, hops and yeast available. We order all of our beer ingredients weekly so you can be sure that you are getting the freshest there is. Each of our recipe kits contains fresh, unhopped malt extract, specialty grains, a mesh-steeping bag, and hops, priming sugar, active dry brewer’s yeast and detailed instructions. We also offer our famous Clone Kits, which set out to approximate various styles of popular imported and domestic micro-brewed beers. In addition to this we offer our 20-Minute Boil Kits, which require less boil time than our other kits due the use of hopped malt extracts. Great for the brewer who doesn’t have a lot of time but enjoys the luxury of delicious and fresh homebrewed beer. All of our recipe kits can be upgraded to liquid yeast for a few dollars more. All-grain brewing is considerably cheaper than extract brewing due to the simple fact that grain is much cheaper than extract. All-grain brewing requires more of an initial investment in extra equipment but this is rapidly offset by the low production cost. All-grain brewed beer also takes a good deal more time to produce. The average infusion mashed batch takes roughly 4 hours to complete. The all-grain brewer has the added advantage of greater control over the subtle nuances of his/her beer. As an example of the difference in cost consider that an average pale ale might cost $25.00 for an extract kit where as the ingredients for a pale ale for an all-grain brewer will cost roughly $15.00, for 2 cases of beer! Either way it is inexpensive by comparison to shelling out full retail for quality imported or micro-brewed beer.   Question: Quick directions for brewing 5 gallons with malt extract, specialty grains, hops, yeast, and priming sugar.   Answer: If you upgraded your recipe kit with Wyeast Liquid Yeast or White Labs Liquid Yeast, refrigerate the yeast ASAP until you are ready to brew.  With the 1.75 oz Wyeast Slap-pack, place the pack on a hard surface and break the inner pouch with the palm of your hand.  Wait 1-3 days (room temperature) for the pouch to expand to over 2 inches thick. At this point are starter should be prepared and the contents of the expanded pack pitched into it.  With White Labs and Wyeast Activators, simply warm the yeast to room temperature, 4-5 hours prior to brewing. Start heating 1.5-2 gallons of water in your brewing kettle.  Place the specialty grains in the muslin bag, tie the open end in a knot and steep in the cold water while heating to between 150-158 degrees F.  Once you have reached this temperature range remove the kettle from the heat and steep the grains for 10-20 minutes. Remove grain and gently squeeze liquid from the bag.  Discard grains and bag, return the kettle to the stove and bring to a boil. Once a boil is achieved remove the kettle from the burner and add the malt extract while stirring.  When the extract is added and dissolved, return the kettle to the burner and bring to a boil. Boil for one hour adding the hops as specified by the kit instructions.  Chill and pour the wort (unfermented beer) into the sanitized primary fermenter.  Top off with cold tap water to the 5.5-gallon mark on the side of the fermenter. Add the yeast. Seal up the fermenter and wait for the fermentation process to finish. ( usually 10-14 DAYS) Transfer the beer into the bottling bucket.  Add ¾ cup of priming sugar and bottle. Patience is a virtue!  Wait 3-4 weeks and sample.  Aging almost always will make your homebrew taste better.