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josephjdaniel · 08-19-2011, 11:30 PM

I am brewing my first batch of beer next weekend. I am pretty excited to get started but had a question before I brew. I received the Brewers Best Double IPA ingredient kit as a gift along with my brew kit. Is there any added difficulty to brewing something like a double IPA with no experience? Should I go out and buy something easier to start and come back to this kit after a few batches? It is on the expensive side and don't want it to go to waste.

RobWalker · 08-19-2011, 11:37 PM

Those kits come with instructions right? Follow them without deviating and youll be fine - at this stage, the most important thing is learning about the process and sanitation really - and get ready for at least 3 replies telling you to brew whatever you like the taste of - its what home brewing is all about!

josephjdaniel · 08-20-2011, 12:40 AM

Thanks for the reply. It comes with instructions and I picked up the Complete Joy of Homebrewing. I've read the beginners chapter a few time which seems to has some great info on the process.

BradleyBrew · 08-20-2011, 01:13 AM

Heck yeah brew it!! As mentioned prior just follow the instructions! I made my first AG IIPA today

. Cheers!

Do yourself a favor and just let it do its thing... those yeast are some bada$$ critters and they will do there magic. My first brew I think I slept by my fermenter lol I was so worried about it... good luck

HighCountryBrewer · 08-20-2011, 01:17 AM

And above all else...............Learn to BE PATIENT

**BrewKnurd** · 08-20-2011, 01:23 AM

go for it. my first all grain batch was an IIPA (pliny) that i opened the first bottle of yesterday, and its stellar. As others have said, follow the instructions, be diligent in sanitation... you'll be fine.

Oh, one thing to ignore in the instructions, they're gonna tell you to transfer to a secondary. I wouldn't bother. Leave it in primary for a week after its done fermenting (some will tell you longer) and bottle. No need to transfer to secondary.

Does the kit have you dry hop? If not, I would read up on dry hopping and consider doing that. I have a hard time even fathoming making an IIPA without dry hopping.

**motleybrews** · 08-20-2011, 01:23 AM

A few things to remember:
1. Patience, patience, patience
2. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize
3. Your instructions that came with the kit probably say that it will be ready to bottle in a week. Don't. Let it sit for 2-3 weeks, then transfer to a bottling bucket and bottle it up
4. Patience, patience, patience
5. It's really hard to mess up your beer. It might: be cloudy, smell different then you imagine, taste different than you expect, you might forget to do a step, might drop something in the wort, any number of things. Don't freak out, you'll end up with a beer you're proud of
6. Relax Don't Worry Have A HomeBrew (RDWHAHB), or your favorite commercial brew

And most importantly:
PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE

TrueNorth · 08-20-2011, 01:29 AM

Brew it! No question.

My $.02 = take notes - not just what you did but what you wish you had done and what would have made you brew day easier (equipment, preparation, etc.).

And, of course, as hard as it is, once it in the fermenter, forget about it for at least a week.

BTW - every time I pick up that book, I'm glad I did.

TrueNorth · 08-20-2011, 01:32 AM

...and refer to Motleybrew's ^^^ #5 - that's what it's all about!

josephjdaniel · 08-20-2011, 01:34 AM

Thanks for all the advice! It does include dry hopping. Everything I have read says to transfer to the secondary then dry hop. Is that correct?