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Suggestions for a Brewing Newbie
Hey all - first of all, welcome to all the new members here! Its great to see some new faces. If you guys ever have any questions, feel free to shoot me a private message - I'd be glad to answer. 
Secondly, part of the reason I started this forum was to help me get involved in home brewing. I've been wanting to do it for a while, but didn't have a good enough reason. Now I can tell the wife that its part of my work. 
So here's the deal...I'm going to head out this week and buy some equipment to get started with my first home brew. I am looking for any and all suggestions. I won't be spending much, but I would like to make a fairly simple brew, something in the red lager category.
Any suggestions for a newbie?
Well, if you're a newbie, I would avoid attempting a lager (since the required refrigeration makes it that much more challenging).
-- DaveSlash
You wrote this a month ago, but I will assume you haven't brewed yet...
Start with a kit or a SIMPLE extract. Kits aren't the best, but a great way to start. You really can't do much wrong since the majority of work is done for you.
Extract can also be a good starting point. Boil 1.5 to 2.5 gallons of water, at boil, remove from stove, pour in extract, mix it real well, set back on stove and let it go for an hour. Add your hops at 60 minutes, 30, 5, or whatever the recipe calls for. Very simple.
With extract you have more control, but kits are easier. I look at kits as training wheels.
As for equipment, that is a broad subject. You can usually find starter kits with $50-$75. My local shop had a basic kit for $85, but he was overpriced for what he had. My initial 2 stage kit cost me $95.
Now that I've been brewing for some time, I can just throw pieces together and find some things used to lower my costs. For start up, you probably should invest in a simple kit. I can't imagine spending more than about $75 for it, maybe less.
Pick an easy beer to brew. Definitely not a lager. Those are more advanced. What kind of beer do you like? Amber ale? Wheat beer? IPA? Once you determine that, if you want the easiest method that is almost impossible to screw up, get a pre-made kit. If not, tell your homebrew shop dealer that you are a newbie, but don't want a kit. Ask for a SIMPLE recipe to make whatever it is. I once made a wheat beer using only wheat extract and 1 type of hop.
Good luck!
Go to a Homebrew store and get a starter kit it will have everything you need but a boiling kettle. If you promise your wife wont beatme up I will tell you that a large soup pot works well for an extract brew. I would recomend starting with extract and work your way up to all grain, there is not much that you can do wrong with that and it is a good way to get started. Most important is sanitation sanitation sanitation, did I stress that enough. Good Luck. Let us know how your first batch turns out
I'm unclear on something hopdog...
How important is sanitation? 
it looks like, by now, you have plenty of ideas and advice on how to get started.
i actually would have recommended that you stay away from a starter kit. i think they are a waste of money, usually contain inferior ingredients, and just arent necessary to start. but if you do go that route, it will work and you will be brewing!
if you decide not to get a kit, just go to the store and buy all the equipment that comes with a kit : fermenter (glass is better, plastic is probably cheaper), cleaning supplies - sanitizer, bottle brush, spoon long enough to reach the bottom of your kettle when it is full of hot liquid, airlock for fermenter, funnel, grain bag, etc...
then buy good ingredients. for your 1st brew, the only essential is malt extract. get the liquid malt extract, about 7pounds for 5 gallons.
if you are ready to do more than just lme and water, go for grains and hops next. a basic 2 row or 6 row pale grain will be a great base. pick hops that are not high alpha, maybe around 3%.
when you are at the brew store, tell the clerk that you are brand new, and ask LOTS of questions. that's why they work there, and everybody that brews LOVES to talk about brewing.
good luck! HAVE FUN!!
Take your time doing a lager since you are new to this and don't really have a full understanding of how things go I would do that one later.
I second what Parise said. I am capable of making a lager, but never have. I have no way of keeping the fermenter cold enough for the process.
Just start with an ale. Unless your sanitization completely sucks, they are MUCH easier and more forgiving to making mistakes.
Lagers aren't really newbie brews. Also, I believe there are more ale yeast types available.
A lager is among the most difficult of brews to brew well. Because they are crisp and clean all faults, even minor ones, tend to be showcased.
An Ale has a fruitiness that will tend to coverup the minor flaws making them much more forgiving for the new brewer. Think about a nice hoppy beer, if you like that sort, for your first beer.
Fred
:: Webby ::
Have you brewed it yet? How did it go? How did you like it?
Update! Update!
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