I started with a kettle on the stove. By the 2nd batch I moved up to a propane burner. The first winter I went electric and the basement brewery has been in a state of constant improvement ever since. Currently running 2 65l DigiBoil kettles and a 15 gallon ThermoBarrel, with a plate chiller. Better temp control is on my short list for the next improvement, maybe glycol system.
Been at this a few years now and although I still consider Shady Bohemian(Czech Dark) and Shore Leave(California Common) to be my best beers, I have drifted back to bottle conditioned ales last couple years. My main go to these days is an Americanized Ordinary Bitter that I refer to as a “Tavern Ale” if anybody asks. Still brewing fairly regularly but work and kids come first and sometimes I get behind…