[legion]

I would suggest sampling as many different kinds of beer as possible--preferably in one evening and in the company of friends. Then I would suggest touring some local (or not-so-local) breweries to view their equipment.

Seriously, I have several friends who have brewed beer. The kits are a good place to start because they tend to have good instructions and come with all you need--so it's hard to screw up. I had a friend move from a kit to a full out brewing operation in his garage (large enough to fill a keg or two) in less than a year. The beer from the kit was not spectacular but drinkable. When he moved to trying some more complex brews, his stuff was either very good or completely undrinkable (very hit or miss). I'd recommend starting with a kit to see if you have the knack and interest first.