I have the best recipe on the planet. For sure. Ask anybody here. If they say, "who's monk?", just tell them, "Y'know, that guy who sometimes asks super newbie questions for his friend...because his friend doesn't have a computer...but not cuz he doesn't know the answer already...no, not the guy who just pushed his rubber stopper through the top of the carboy on saturday, and it's still floating in the ESB...a different one."
Okay. Truth be told, this isn't the best recipe ever, but it's easy, cheap, and tastes pretty darn good.
6 lbs. Pale Liquid Malt Extract
1.4 lbs. Amber Liquid Malt Extract
1.5 oz. of Cascade hops (boil for 58 min)
1 oz. of Cascade hops (boil for last 2 min)
Dry Ale Yeast
Directions: Boil 1.5 gallons of water in a 3 gallons--12 quart-- (or bigger) pot. When the water comes to a boil, remove the pot from the burner and add all of the Malt extract to the hot water. Stir till it dissolves. Bring the contents of the pot to a boil again, add 1.5 oz of hops, and let it boil for 58 minutes. Then add the 1 oz. of hops and let it continue to boil for 2 more minutes. Turn off the flame and cover the pot with aluminum foil. Put the covered pot in the sink and let it sit in some cold water. Now put 3 gallons of cold, cold water in your bucket/carboy. When you can hold your hand against the side of the pot for 30 seconds without it being too hot, add the contents of the pot to the cold water in your fermenting bucket/carboy. Top up the carboy/bucket to the 5 gallon mark. Cover it and wait till it's about 70 degrees F. Then pitch the contents of your yeast packet onto the surface of your wort. Let it sit for a few minutes and then seal the fermenter. Wait 2 weeks, then bottle according to whatever directions you like to use. I'm sure you went and read howtobrew.com
Like I said. I'm a newbie too. I don't know much, but I know that what I just told you will yield you better beer than you can buy at a cheapy AM/PM store. Good luck.
Monk