[notmytarga]

I have slowed down my brewing. My 911 restoration became the project of last year - I actually ran out of homebrew. Now my Steam and Porter are On Tap.

I started in '93 and soon became addicted (buying the Porsche was the cure). My beer costs 25 cents per bottle based on ingredients but probably still costs $5/bottle because of equipment. I sprung for a Brew Magic System (I just found they have upgrade kits - $345 ) in 1995 and I can brew 10 gallon batches from malted grain in four hours start to finish. That's the system behind the Targa (and restoration equipment) its made using beer kegs as the hot water, mash and boiling vessels.


Kegging in Pepsi type kegs saves lots of time and hassle - and its always cold and fresh. I have two old fridges with a total of 7 taps - only time they were all serving was in 1997.






Many advanced brewers would like to use the equipment that I have stored and do not or rarely use - carboys, conical fermenters, 13 gal boiler, counter pressure bottlers, micron filters, magnetic stirrers etc.

All-grain brewing requires high capacity equipment because you have to boil all the wort rather than diluting it after boilng with hops. Starting with concentrated wort boils from kits is a simple, and satisfying way to begin. In some cities - Seattle and St Loius (some are vanishing) there are places where they help you brew (Brew on Premesis) - a great way to begin.
The homebrewing industry has suffered because many beginners get turned off by the level of effort the advanced brewers are putting in to get the last 5% of improvement. Also good beer is readily available. YOU can get to 90% without doing all grain with specialty grains, good kits, liquid yeast and full wort boils with wort chilling.

A Chico state student started homebrewing in the early 80's - he now is the sole owner of Sierra Nevada (Chico). Now that's growth.

Good Luck!