It's all shiny and fancy, but do consider the "basics" approach: a big pot on the stove, some howngrown contraption for extracting sugars from grain (mash and sparge process), and a big repurposed glass carboy. Feed it with locally grown hops (your location may vary), some yeast from the homebrew store and a recipe that you've developed (or at least customized, say with different sugars - honey? molasses?) yourself. Buy a thermometer and stick it in your basement/closet (ale) or an old refrigerator (lager). Make it yours!