Getting Started - The Plan

Brewing is expensive, well actually it can be expensive. I'm going about this with the attitude that drinking beer is expensive (the drinkable stuff in Canada runs 15$ a six-pack), so hopefully making it saves me money in the long run. Unfortunately I can't drop a ton of money on brewing, and why would I? I build things for a living...

I have a large pot (2.7G), a cooler (or mash tun), some Pyrex... but not much else. I will be building my system from the bare essentials, using what I have to get by with, until I can get the items I really want (only the best unfortunately). The strategy is going to be brewing as soon as possible on as little $$ as possible. The first months are going to be the hardest though, because I think I've convinced myself I would rather keg than bottle, so buying bottles now would just be a huge waste of money (about 80$ for glass n cap(er/s)). Kegs require a large initial investment, in particular for the gas delivery system, fortunately the same gas system can be used for multiple kegs (someday).

Meanwhile I've sources some places in Ontario to purchase from:
The best prices on kegs and keg equipment (why don't they have brewing buckets?)
http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/default.asp

This place has everything but keg stuff:
http://homebrewsupplies.ca/category/bottling/

And this place seems to have a bit of everything but not as much selection:
http://www.torontobrewing.ca/servlet/StoreFront

There are others, if I come across anything great I guess I'll post it then.

This month I will buy miscellaneous things to get started building the Lautering system. This will almost certainly come from McMasterCarr, and it will be mostly plumbing, piping, etc.