Homebrew

[chefchris]

I'll volunteer my services for the tasting panel.

Oh don't you worry about that.

That is the exact kit that I started out with and I still use most of it to this day.
Have you had the chance to read How To Brew By John Palmer?

Not at all. 95% of the beers you'll brew will follow the same basic steps.
Steap
Sparge
Boil
Add Hops
Add Adjuncts
Chill
Pitch yeast
wait
bottle

Do you have a favorite stout you'd like to clone?

I haven't read How To Brew, yet. I joined a homebrew board and picked up The Complete Joy of Homebrewing.

Do I need a Carboy now? I'd rather just go ahead and buy it if I'll need it down the road. I understand it leaves the sediment in the first container instead of bottling it. Keeps you from having to leave a little in the bottle when you pour.

I love Rogue Chocolate Stout, and I saw a clone kit of Rogue's Shakespeare Stout which is yummy as well. But I don't want it to be like an Easy 'Beer' Oven like Mr. Beer. Plus the packet was like $44, seems steep.