Newest Threads

**opus345** · 01-05-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m_stodd

I started with kits, then looking up extract recipes and gathering ingredients. A couple times I went on the northern brewer website, then spec'ed out what a kit would cost if I bought the ingredients separately, there was little difference.

The nice thing about a kit is that you're usually going to have little waste. When you do your own recipe, you might have to buy much more than the recipe calls for

Agreed. Have been using kits (mostly from AHS and NB), but have also started to make non-kit recipes. The extra/waste quantities are starting to accumulate in the frig.

rodwha · 01-05-2013, 06:49 PM

Do you not have a local place that sells grains in exact amounts?
Is that uncommon?
I'd probably do kits if I couldn't as I don't like stuff sitting around long.

**opus345** · 01-05-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodwha

Do you not have a local place that sells grains in exact amounts?
Is that uncommon?
I'd probably do kits if I couldn't as I don't like stuff sitting around long.

LHBS does sell grains in 1lb bags, but not complete confidence that the label always matches the malt/grain.

BrewingPrepper · 01-05-2013, 09:05 PM

Im only only on my first brew...I started with a kit. I look forward to customizing my recipes and eventually going all grain!

rodwha · 01-06-2013, 01:43 PM

Being sold in 1 lb bags doesn't give you much flexibility. You'd no doubt end up with various opened bags of different grains in the fridge. That's what keeps me from buying my grains online with the bulk of my other ingredients.

Instead I buy locally where I can buy it by the oz and have it all mixed up in the one bag meant for the pale, and another meant for the amber, etc.

Otherwise you'd need to try to create your recipes or tailor them to use up those grains so they don't get wasted.

Have you looked to see if there are any other LHBS anywhere else convenient?

**FlyDoctor** · 01-06-2013, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodwha

.

Otherwise you'd need to try to create your recipes or tailor them to use up those grains so they don't get wasted.

That can be interesting as well. Making a brew soon called "inventory ale" to us up the leftovers from 1lb packs as well as leftover hops.

Hogarthe · 01-06-2013, 04:22 PM

I always liked buying kits. even now that I do all grain, I still usually buy kits. that way I know I'm getting a solid recipe that makes a good beer. when you make up your own recipe, you don't know if it's going to be that good or not, and you're wracked with worry until you can finally taste it. But mainly I do kits because it's easier. just pick a style of beer you want and then order a kit in that style. no hassle of figuring out what ingredients fit ion the style, etc. I would definitely recommend starting with kits for anyone's first several beers, before trying to make their own recipe. If you have never brewed before and you throw together a recipe, 1, you don't know what ingredient adds what flavor yet, and 2, if it comes out bad, you don't know if you have a bad recipe or a bad process. with a kit, if it comes out bad, you know you screwed something up while making it.

Beerbelcher44 · 01-06-2013, 06:30 PM

Austin homebrew has some nice budget kits. Might want to check them out.

**opus345** · 01-07-2013, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodwha

Being sold in 1 lb bags doesn't give you much flexibility. You'd no doubt end up with various opened bags of different grains in the fridge. That's what keeps me from buying my grains online with the bulk of my other ingredients.

Have you looked to see if there are any other LHBS anywhere else convenient?

AHS has started selling 1/2 lbs which might help in the future.

rodwha · 01-07-2013, 01:02 PM

I'm OK with keeping milled grains for a little while, but not so much for hops. If I'm going to split up a pack of hops I will schedule the next brew day within a week as I'm uncertain as to how quickly they will fade.