Brewing Master » Homebrew Beer » The Beer Machine Pros-Cons
The Beer Machine Pros-Cons
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I have recently decided that I would like to try my hand at brewing my own beer. The other day I saw a product called the Beer Machine in the store. It is basically a self contained fermenter and "keg". I guess it only holds 3 gallons. Does anyone know about this? Has anyone had experiences with it? I would like to know if this would be a good starter kit. Could I make my own 3 gallon recipes in it? Please excuse my ignorance but I have started reading "The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing". Eventually I would like to try a bottling kit if I could get a homebrew that would be worthy of sharing with others. If you respond to this article could you please CC an E-mail response to me. My newsreader is always about a week behind and misses some posts. Thank you for your time. * Eric Christian Firmware Engineer * * Cabletron Systems Inc. * * * * * * * * Any opinions expressed have absolutely nothing to do with my employer *
I’ve also seen them advertised in Mail Order catalogs(DaMark, if you’re familiar with that name), but they want $89.99 US and it seems you have to buy their "brew kits". I figured it would be cheaper to go buy the supplies at my local supermarket(Save-U-More in Ames, IA). At least you got Charlie Papazian’s book! I would say just follow his directions in the beginner’s chapter and…. DON’T WORRY…HAVE A HOMEBREW!
Response:
Mark A. Louwerse writes: I’ve also seen them [Beer Machines] advertised in Mail Order catalogs(DaMark, if you’re familiar with that name), but they want $89.99 US and it seems you have to buy their "brew kits".
Sounds like a bargain to me — here in Japan one friendly mail-order concern is trying to fob them off on unsuspecting souls at US$600, with each additional "brew kit" (consisting of a single 1.5 kg can of hopped malt extract and yeast packet) running a cool $60. At least they can’t be accused of dumping. Chris Green Tokyo, Japan
Response:
Well, my well-meaning mother in law bought me one of these things several years ago after I had been brewing for about 5 years. Go figure. Anyway, she even went to the expense and trouble to buy me several extra "kits". Bless her heart. Anyway, the "beer" was pretty well indistinguishable from Budweiser strained through dirty socks, so I’ve advised anyone who asks about it to run, don’t walk, as far away as possible from it. If you have the sense to read this group and ask the opinion of the beerus herein you probably have the sense and intelligence to do it yourself without a contraption like the Beer Machine. Spend $50 for the materials and another $30 for the ingredients for your first batch. Making beer isn’t easy, but it is fun. : this group semi-regularly, and no-one has suggested a "pro" yet. I took mine apart and use the bottom half as a trough to hold dog food. Knight the Dog doesn’t mind much, but he still prefers Guinness Draught and Kona the Dog doesn’t really care because she will drink Coors Light given the opportunity. -E — | 12459 W. Atlantic Ave | 303/763-8118 (Home) | 4725 Independence Street | | Lakewood, CO 80228 | 303/467-8352 (Work) | Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 |
Response:
it comes up in this group semi-regularly, and no-one has suggested a "pro" yet. Hello, I have recently decided that I would like to try my hand at brewing my own beer. The other day I saw a product called the Beer Machine in the store. It is basically a self contained fermenter and "keg". I guess it only holds 3 gallons. Does anyone know about this?
Yes. It costs three times as much as usual starter equipment, traps you into them as a supplier so that you can pay more for a 3 gal. batch with mediocre ingredients than for a 5 gallon batch with good ingredients. Has anyone had experiences with it?
see above. I would like to know if this would be a good starter kit.
no Could I make my own 3 gallon recipes in it?
conceivable with great difficulty Please excuse my ignorance but I have started reading "The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing". Eventually I would like to try a bottling kit if I could get a homebrew that would be worthy of sharing with others.
no problem. your best bet is to go to a homebrew shop if there is one locally. Buy the basic kit, and a store-brand kit, rather than a "canned" kit. It should have instructions, malt extract, some premeasured flavoring grain, premeasured hops, and yeast. The total cost should be about $40 for the equipment and $20 for the ingredients. THrow in a $25 8-gallon pan at k-mart, and you’re stille $15 ahead of that machine, with more beer as well. If you don’t have a local shop, or if they try to talk you into using a canned "kit" and corn sugar, try mail order. The Home Brewery (800-588-DARK)(nevada), HopTech (800-DRY-HOPS)(NCal), Williams Brewing (oregon?), and The Malt Shop (wisconsin)all have kits like these at about these prices; I’ve dealt with all of them save williams, and have had no problems with any. THere are many more shops, as well; every couple of weeks someone posts a batch of 800 numbers in this group. — R E HAWKINS
Response:
Hello, I have recently decided that I would like to try my hand at brewing my own beer. The other day I saw a product called the Beer Machine in the store. It is basically a self contained fermenter and "keg". I guess it only holds 3 gallons. Does anyone know about this? Has anyone had experiences with it? I would like to know if this would be a good starter kit. Could I make my own 3 gallon recipes in it? Please excuse my ignorance but I have started reading "The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing". Eventually I would like to try a bottling kit if I could get a homebrew that would be worthy of sharing with others. If you respond to this article could you please CC an E-mail response to me. My newsreader is always about a week behind and misses some posts. Thank you for your time. * Eric Christian Firmware Engineer * * Cabletron Systems Inc. * * * * * * * * Any opinions expressed have absolutely nothing to do with my employer *