I don't know if the large department stores like KMART, Target or Wal-mart stock starter kits like they do here in Australia. If so they have the basics to get you going including a fermenter, hydrometer, stirring spoon, (bottles if you get a coopers brand starter kit) + a tin of concentrate to make your 1st kit & kilo batch. Have a look in those type shops cause the basic parts can be easily added to as you progress.
You should also check out the following US sites for equipment & info:
MoreBeer have starter kits & lso great into info in their downloadable catalogue
here
Northernbrewer also have starter kits & a catalogue
Both sites have discussion forums as well.
One thing to note is that in Australia most brewers use plastic drums or buckets for fermenters while in the US glass "carboys" are common. Without getting into an off topic "discussion"
h34r: on the pros/cons of each, be aware that carboys will cost you more & be less forgiving. I raise this cause if you are on a budget, you might be better to start with plastic & use the saved $$ for ingredients or other components such as a decent size kettle & a "turkey burner" (commonly called aa NASA here)
I agree with the comment re getting Palmers how to brew. Excellent info - even if you use the online version.
Here are my thoughts on your list:
* a 20 qt. brew pot (large canning pot) - A big pot is essential for extract & allgrain brewing. I'd suggest you go for something which is 7-10 gallons to start cause a regular batch is 5 gallons.
* large stirring spoon (non-wood) - I use a long handled plastic spoon & a beech mash paddle (bought cheaply from a catering supplies). The plastic 1 isn't really up to coping with a thick mash.
* ordinary table spoon - not necessary - you can grab one from the kitchen if you do need 1 urgently
* measuring cup (preferably Pyrex glass) - I use a plastic 2litre jug all the time & have just bought a 5litre job.
* glass jar (at least 12 oz) - not sure what this is for - maybe culturing yeast? However I'd say it isn't necessary to get started
* fermentor (food-grade plastic bucket or glass carboy) - essential - refer to comments above
* airlock (get from homebrew shop) - you can also make up a "blow off' tube somply by putting a length of hose into the grommet on the top of the fermenter into a jar of boiled water/sanitiser solution
* sanitizer (chlorine bleach or other) - do a search here for sanitiser, bleach is cheap, but you have to rinse it. Many brewers use "no rinse sanitisers" such as iodorphor or peracetic acid. Sanitation is I believe THE most important thing in brewing.
* thermometer (optional) - I reckon its essential. If you are mashing, you will use it to test your strike water temp as well as your mash temp. Don't forget to calibrate it so you know how accurate it is. You will also want to know what temp your fermetner is at (the stick on strips are cheap & reasonably accurate to start with.
You might like to also consider a burner cause if you're married (or have a live in girlfriend), she will most likely not appreciate the kitchen smelling of malt & hops after you brew on the stove (speaking from experience here) B).
Many things can be cheaply made yourself eg a mash tun. There is a lot of info here, on other forums & web sites about how to make your brewery equipment. If you are going to do a full boil (& why wouldn't you
) you will need to determine how tol chill the wort. Most of the world use immersion or counter flow chillers (an extra cost when starting out), but many here in Australia, myself included, are using the "no chill" method. This simply involves rumming the wort into a "cube" post boil while it is still really hot & leaving it for a day or longer to cool naturally prior to fermetning. Do a search for it on this site - but be prepared for a long read!
Also do a search here for "brew in a bag" or BIAB as it is known. It is a cheap & easy way to start all grain brewing without all the equipmnet. Pistolpatch & a few other guys have done great work on working it out.
See if there is a brew club in your area, hook up with them & you might even be given equipment which members don't use anymore. Find a local club by checking out
Beertown which has a list of clubs & home brew shops in the US. Checkout the big brewday sites while you're there & you may find some people close to you.
happy brewing
Crozdog
