Easy answer is buy a home brew kit from Austin Homebrew Supply
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/produc...ducts_id=12735
I like them because of their free shipping when spending $100 and flat rate shipping when under $100..

In general home brewers make 5 gallons of beer at a time, and for more "normal" beers that means 5+% alcohol by volume beer at the price of drinking bud light/coors light whatever.. (after buying the equipment)

If you are talking about making wine, your equipment costs are a little less, but in general its the same stuff. Wine kits cost more, but you can make wine from any kind of fruit so if you aren't looking for kits its cheaper to get started.

Thats the quick and dirty, if you have more questions let me know, I've been doing it for about 3 years now, so I'm far from pro, but for sure have more than the basics down.