Boostedstang

Recipes 

I finally got my woman to allow me to brew beer! I just ordered a starter kit from mid west.

I am trying to pick out my first beer. Is there any type of beer a rookie should stay away from due to difficulty or time? I don't want to waste my time on something that has a higher probability of operator error so to speak.

I am also trying to decide if I want to do a partial mash or not.

Thanks.

Thehopguy

Recipes 

How about a brown ale

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On Deck: Double IPA, GTBT V3
Primary: GTBT APA
Bottled: GTBT V2, GTBT V1, Black IPA, Centennial IPA, Pumpkin Ale, Badboy IPA, Simarillo APA

amingo

Recipes 

As a first brew, I would recommend an extract kit. It may not sound as exciting as a partial mash or all grain but, trust me, you'll have your hands plenty full with extract your first time around.

My first brew day was stressful as all hell and I'm glad I didn't have to worry about mash temps and sparging and efficiency and all of the juggling of materials and timing that goes along with grain brewing.

As far as a first brew goes, pick your favorite style and go with it. It will give you more satisfaction if it's a style that you appreciate and will give you a baseline to compare your brew to.

Check the boards here for additional tips regarding fermentation time and which kit instructions to obey and which to throw out.

Happy brewing and welcome to your new addiction!

HopLife

Recipes 

I would keep in mind that beer that has a higher alcohol content (higher OG) will generally have a much longer cycle between brew and bottle. I would do an English Bitter, or a American Pale ale to start.

These styles use ingredients that reach a good flavor quickly, the yeast is happy at room temp (65-70), and there are a ton of good recipes available.

Enjoy the Brew!

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Primary: Annonymous Amber
Secondary: Raspberry Blonde
Drinking: Marabuzo RIS Partigyle, Mother Clone, Broken Bat, Sweaty Lunch Snack
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Stauffbier

Recipes 

Myself, and a lot of other people seem to make amber ales with extract the first time around.. Or so I've noticed.

starrfish

Recipes 

a nice simple english brown ale is how many of us started and caught the bug. Now that I have many all grains under my belt, and been through the IPA stage. I keep coming full circle to the brown ale as one of my favorite styles... I recently aquired a few lbs of pecans... and hope to do a pecan mild/brown ale.... mmmm


Lot's of wiggle room here american hoppier. traditional with english hops. xtras like oak and nuts.... (roasted of course)... all leading up to ready quickly!

best choice for a newb

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Yankee Sand Flea on a Southern Beach.

“Son, you are a walking violation of the laws of nature, but you’re lucky, we don't enforce them laws.”

Stauffbier

Recipes 

Pecan mild/brown sounds pretty damn good right about now! Thanks for the idea!

markmc40

Recipes 

I would also suggest something more straightforward like a brown or pale ale. Concentrate on cleanliness and sanitation first, make it habit and you'll be rewarded for it.

starrfish

Recipes 

toast them first in oven crush & steep with specialty grains. I'm putting them in mash to get any extraction I can from them. Your going for flavor /aroma. only 1 addition to steeping method. just make sure you have a large steeping bag.

12 oz of shelled nut should do us both right.

__________________
Yankee Sand Flea on a Southern Beach.

“Son, you are a walking violation of the laws of nature, but you’re lucky, we don't enforce them laws.”

Boostedstang

Recipes 

So a heff or a honey porter is not suggested from what I gather. Funny because those tend to be my favorites.