Farmhouse brewing supply has great prices! Less selection than Northern Brewer, but I have not found cheaper hops or grains. http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com

I made a simple measuring stick with a thin pvc pipe that is made for hot water. I put caps on the ends and then marked the measures I needed (gallons and half gallons) with a permanent marker, cut into those markings with a saw and remarked them. The cuts help the marker to stay on and not...