re: Brewing Beer as a Hobby - Beginners

Do you HAVE to put these brews in bottles like Mr Beer brews?

That is a 2 gallon kit. People will tell you they are crap, but its all you need to start. If you think you will like it, the five gallon kit is better in the long run. I started with a 1 gallon kit from Brooklyn Brewery, made a few batches with it, enjoyed it, but moved up to 5 gallon kit to make serious beer. The biggest problem with the small kits is you make beer, it comes out good, but you don't have much to enjoy and share. I'm hoping to upgrade in the next year to keg my beer. It cuts 2 weeks off of the brewing process.

What kind of bottles can be reused?

Some friends and I chipped in to buy equipment to brew 5 gallons at a time. It's addictive. Great excuse to get the guys together but don't drink too much until after you're done. Let your friends know to save their empty bottles (pop open only) and to rinse them immediately. Pay attention to sanitation. We've just brewed our 23rd batch in 15 months. I prefer Austin Home Brew's selection of recipes. I also suggest using the White Labs yeast. Happy Brewing

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Hit up Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies, MoreBeer, or Austin Homebrew. All four are the major retailers and will have beginner kits with everything you need.

Also read this: LINK

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+1000 especially the John Palmer link.
Midwest Supplies sent me a free $85 stainless steel boil kettle, free, with my first order several years back. Good decent homegrown yankees up there in Minnesota.

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Where can I find a cheap brew kit?

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Are you talking about an extract recipe to brew?

I was always partial to Austin Homebrew. Don't order from them much anymore as the local homebrew store is right near my house. But anyways, back on subject, AHB has good kits. LINK

What kind of beer do you like? The easiest is going to be a basic ale.

I live in a small 1bed apartment, maybe 600 sq ft. Would homebrews make my apartment smell horrible?