I'm happy to talk homebrewing with you. I've been at it a few years, off and on (since the kids came, mostly off
) It's a hobby (I almost wrote "hoppy" ha!) that you can do expensive or cheap, it's full of fun gadgets, rewards experience and diligence, but is fun if you're not too serious about it. My first brew was drinkable, and my third was actually quite good. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of time, not just the fermentation, but the actual brewing. It's about a day to do a batch, including clean up, and you can't really stop the process once you've started. The stuff takes up some space, too.
If you don't have it already, Charles Papazian's "
Joy of Homebrewing" is the bible, and it's a fun read.
Basic Brewing Radio is a good podcast, and the guy sells basic how to DVDs. I also like
Craft Beer Radio. It's about beer tasting, rather than brewing.
I found a local club of homebrewers that has been an invaluable resource (lots of good parties, too!). There's also a Yahoo group that is friendly and will field questions.
I'm happy to help if you have any questions.
I've never tried a Mr. Beer kit. I don't think the homebrewers think too highly of them, but it's probably a good and easy way to get your feet wet.
