New to home brewing.
Welcome aboard!
I recommend reading Palmer’s
How To Brew.
http://www.howtobrew.com/To brew my first batch, I'd like to begin with a 5-gallon kettle and companion fermenter.
I agree with comments above about goals. Entry cost should also be a factor. If you have disposable income you could go all in. But if on a budget, just trying to dip your toe in, smaller batches will do, you are the only beer drinker, etc… your 5 gal kettle works great. You can even brew stove top with it.
I am open to flame or electric
I can’t recommend electric strong enough. It’s cheaper to operate, you won’t run out of propane mid boil, the precision is unmatched… I just can’t recommend electric strong enough.
A lot of electric cooktops are induction. Like some all-in-one units, some are 110v but some take 220v. Think about where you’ll get 220 if you get one. I use my dryer plug. I have a switch so I can select the dryer or cooktop.
This could be an add-on later.
May I have some best brand recommendations, please?
I recommend purpose built brewing equipment. Whether that’s an all-in-one system like Grainfather, Mash n Boil, Brewzilla, BrewEasy, Braumeister, etc…, or a kettle like Blichmann, BrewBuilt, BrewMaster, Spike, SS Brewtech, and fermenter like SS Brewtech, Spike, Spiedel, FermZilla, Fermonster, Big Mouth Bubbler, a plastic bucket, etc…
think about cleaning. If you like to clean, you might be a brewer. You will have to clean anything you get. If you get something hard to disassemble and clean you will regret it IMO. Most purpose built equipment has disassembly in mind.
I want something I can keep and continue to use should I get hooked and seek to expand.
If you are wanting to expand later, the kettle for brew in a bag (BIAB) and fermenter will get you started. …but I recommend a 10 gal kettle and 7 gal fermenter which will probably take you off the stove. Then add a mash tun to the kettle and fermenter later. Then add options like a pump, PID controller, RIMS or HERMS down the road.
….want all grain versions…
Are you open to extract to start?
Thoughts?
What’s your water source like? Will it be a water hose, a sink, will you buy water?
Where are you going to clean? A utility sink, in the back yard with a hose? Where will you dispose of spent grain and hops?
Where are you going to mash and boil? Are the neighbors close and do they get upset about odors easily? Can you vent steam?
Where are you going to ferment? Fermentation produces heat. You will have to control fermentation temp at some point. Think about how you are going to do that.
Are you going to bottle or keg the finished product? Do you have a space for empty and full bottles? I started with Party Pigs. Not sure they’re still around but it was a great entry point.
Regardless of your decision(s), I hope you enjoy the hobby as much as I have over the years. Cheers!