It really helps to have some knowledge on the fermentation process and have a high quality fermenter that can maintain a constant temperature at all times.
Fermentation is basically the creation of alcohol which is done by mixing sugar, yeast and water. Yeast is a living organism and if the water is kept at the proper temperature the yeast cells will go to work on the sugar and react in a way that creates a combination of 50% alcohol and 50% carbon dioxide (which normally gets shaken out of the solution during the fermentation process). Alcohol strength can be varied by the different types of yeast so you really do have full control over the finished product. Anyone brand new to the hobby would probably be better off starting with a kit as you just follow the instructions
Cleanliness is very important for the equipment used, and sterilization has to be carried out on all containers before each fermentation process. If any bacteria are present in the liquid, it can make the fermenting process an ugly one. It is also important to note that cleaning and sanitizing are two different steps. Cleaning is the initial phase, sanitizing is another step
When brewing your own beer, the brew pot needs to be large, and it needs to be made out of stainless steel - aluminum will not work. The fermenter needs to be a high quality, one made out of plastic that will not allow any bacteria or germs to enter in. The fermenter also needs to be air tight and have a fairly large capacity. The primary fermenter is where all the action starts; and needs to hold at least 26 liters and must have an air tight seal.
Yeasts come in a variety of styles, each developed for a certain style of alcoholic beverage. There are lager yeasts, yeasts used for pilsners, and several varieties of yeast for ale, and barley wine styles. Each yeast variety has unique qualities that impact on the final flavor and aroma of the beer. The main difference between yeasts used for lagers and ales is that ale yeast is a top-fermenting yeast which means the yeast floats to the top and hangs there during most of the fermentation process. Lager yeast is bottom-fermenting yeast which means it sits around the bottom of the fermented. During both types of fermentation the active yeast does permeate the brew and eventually settles out on the bottom of the fermented when it is done.