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The origin of brewing
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 7:40 am
by Chris
As inspiration from another topic in the 'making beer' section, I thought I'd pose the question...
Who here started with a Coopers Microbrew setup? (Either started to brew because of it, or bought it to start brewing)
EDIT- the question on the poll is a bit ugly. If you did, go yes, if not, go no.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 8:29 am
by gregb
Mine was a Wander kit.
Cheers,
Greg
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 8:36 am
by Kevnlis
Mine was a Malt Shovel kit... nah just kiddin.
I actually ordered my first carboy from a magazine back in the states when I was 19 (I thought it was a pretty cool way to make cheap beer and not get in trouble for buying it). There was (maybe still is) a loophole in the US that allowed a minor to produce and dispense alcohol at the age of 18, you just couldn't legaly drink it. Which I never did of course
I did not really make home brew until I moved to AU and met my father in law who makes some pretty great K&K brews. I then found how cheap it was to do here and never looked back.
My first fermentor in AU was from the HBS, not sure of the brand. Think it cost me $34.
I brewed for years without all the extras (bottler, hydrometer, etc.) and never had any worries. Just the good ole fermentor, a kit, some malt, and hops was the go!
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 10:24 am
by drsmurto
gregb wrote:Mine was a Wander kit.
Cheers,
Greg
Mine too. I shudder now thinking about the first beer i made - dubbed "I cant believe its not piss"
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 11:51 am
by rwh
I inherited my dad's setup, and then bought a bunch of plastic fermenters from the local HBS, then a Coopers kit from eBay, and now I've got a glass carboy as well.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 12:25 pm
by Danis
Mmm, mine sort of came from all over the place as well.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 12:57 pm
by earle
My first fermenter was left behind in a share house by a previous tenant. The kit that I used was Coopers lager though, a 'dented' tin from my girlfriend that worked at the Qld distributor.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 3:35 pm
by NTRabbit
My first was a Tooheys setup
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 4:39 pm
by warra48
First brew was in 1973 with the old fermenting in a plastic dustbin trick. Subsequently, my main fermenter is a Brewcraft one, but I've since acquired 2 more from a local camping store.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 5:20 pm
by Hip Hops
Mine was a Coopers (still is). My missus bought it for my 39th birthday nearly 6 months ago - up to brew no. 12. Should've started this 20 years ago !

Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 5:30 pm
by Trizza
My first was a cooper's starter kit, from my twin older brothers for my 19th birthday.
I've done nearly the entire coopers selection of cans since then, and I bought another starter kit to start racking and bulk priming.
They are great value for everything that you get, especially if you get them for less than $70
Trizza.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 6:04 pm
by wambesi
Started twice each time with Coopers Kits.
1. Back at uni with "the boys" only for a few brews though
2. Valentines day this year from the other half (she has cursed it each day since

)
Now have a taller one and a pail type both from e-bay locally.
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 6:11 pm
by Tipsy
I was about to vote Coopers but then remembered that I bought a Wander kit when I was 18.
I must have put out of my mind because we brewed with all sugar at 30c

Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 7:21 pm
by gregb
Tipsy wrote:I must have put out of my mind because we brewed with all sugar at 30c

Guilty memories; it was the Coopers Draught, white sugar and a heat wave (down Thurs. bottled Sun.) that made us think homebrew was pretty good.
Cheers,
Greg
Posted: Friday Oct 26, 2007 8:02 pm
by scanman
MIne was a Brewiser kit. Has the orange lid on the fermenter. Not sure even if you can still get them, but haven't seen them in the shops for a while. Did some bad brews at the start, till I discovere brew forums ( specially this one )
Got 5 fermeters now ( don't ask me why ). They have seemed to have appeared out of everywhere with people wanting to ditch them outof their sheds. Great for racking and lagering.
Had two pull down bottle cappers at one stage, but gave one away.
Posted: Saturday Oct 27, 2007 11:26 am
by Trough Lolly
I got sick of VB in 1995 - bought a Wander kit the same year I met my future bride....
....and she still married me! Go figure!!

Posted: Saturday Oct 27, 2007 1:32 pm
by blandy
My first set of brewing equipment was (and still is, with a few addons) a Brewcraft starter's kit.
Posted: Saturday Oct 27, 2007 2:43 pm
by lethaldog
My first was a coopers and 6 more since have been coopers ( a couple of old ones got retired)
Posted: Sunday Oct 28, 2007 6:41 pm
by Chris
scanman, I've got two of the orange lid ones- I never knew what they were though. I got them both new for $30 when the HB shop was trying to clear out the back room. I wish the damn things had volume marked on the sides!
But at least those stupid lids were the reason I went to gladwrap.
Posted: Sunday Oct 28, 2007 8:00 pm
by Rysa
Coopers here, nearly 12 months (christmas pressie that the wife wishes she'd never bought!) and 560 litres later.
A bit lazy with it lately, still stocks there so not too fussed but i'll be in strife if i don't get back into it.