I just got done brewing my second batch, a Rogue Dead Guy Ale. my first batch, a scotish ale, is still in the secondary fermantor. It needs another week or so to go.
You can go with MR Beer or with a 'real' starter kit (bucket fermentor, glass carboy, hydrometer, syphon, capper, etc) for arround $75-100. Either will get you hooked and you will want more gear.
A batch of clone beer runs between $40-50, makes about 60 12 ounce bottles. (price of hops has trippled in past year)
Anyway it is a lot of fun, and something to do when I can't be riding. "the waiting is the hardest part" to solve that you need more gear so there is always beer brewing and bottling.
Hope that helps, check out homebrewtalk.com they have a bunch of info and links to other sites.
Cheers
