Brewing beer and beyond?

Due to time and fiscal constraints, I haven't brewed in four months. My roommate, however, just completed a Winter Ale, packed full of various spices that came out just in time for the bitter winter cold. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I haven't wanted to brew, I just haven't had the resources or the time.

I'm starting to think it's about time to get another batch going again. Like raising a child, I found that brewing, nine times out of ten, will give you something to be proud of. Although, there is that ten percent chance of you getting something you'll want to beat and push down the stairs.

I'm looking for somewhere to get affordable brewing supplies, i.e. hops, grains, malt, and yeast. I have all the supplies to make the beer, I just need the ingredients now. It would be nice to have ingredients as cheap as $20, but I'm guessing that isn't feasible. I've been throwing some ideas around from my Northern Brewer catalogs. It seems that you can create a decent batch of beer for around $30 or so. Has anyone had any experience with that? If it's as promising as it looks, I must give it a shot. However, sometimes it seems too good to be true.

I have also been looking for a means to make some cheap hooch. Not necessarily 'Shine, but something along those lines. Drinkable, drunkable, pure cheap booze. Any suggestions?

I'll try to be better about posting in the future.

Until then.