Id personally go with 2x 4500w Ripp elements, they are the lowest watt density available and ive had some BAD history with high-watt-density elements. Weird tasting beer & hard as hell to clean.
theres a place in the next town over that sometimes sells dirt-cheap pineapples, when they have them i always make a big batch of wine (very good stuff it is, too, if a little acidic). im thinking next time maybe adding some molasses & coconut to get a faux Caribou Lou :D
not sure if this is relevant or not, but last time i checked ebay had some 100 gallon stainless tanks listed for like $500. they are in NC and pickup only and no they aren't mine.
me drinking a chocolate stout at a band practice
guitarist: you made that???
me: yea, you wanna try one?
guitarist (takes a sniff): wow, that's some stout ****!
me thinking: um, yea...i just told you it was a chocolate stout...
in his defense, he doesnt drink and he still really liked it
i'm making a modified version of this, 5 gallons beer + 3 gallons AJ
9# 2-row
1# special B
.5# black patent
.5# roasted barley
11 cans frozen apple concentrate + water to make 3 gallons
mash 1/2oz each Yarrow & Marsh Rosemary
60min 1/2oz each Yarrow & Marsh Rosemary
30min 1/4oz...
it means it wasn't owned by another brewery at some point. buying branded kegs off of, for instance, craigslist is sortof a legal gray area because they're technically still property of that brewery. a "legitimate" keg wouldn't have any company markings on it.
local library is a good source of info too. my library has some good brewing books in the cooking section. all-grain is easy, the only hard part is equipment investment & the extra time it takes.