A new Art for me

[JDube]

Hello everyone, my name is Jeremy. I am a recently EAS (end of active military service) from the Marine Corps (4 years Enlisted, four years Officer) and now am living in my home state again, Arizona. For years I have been wanting to make my own beer, and never had the ability. I am well read on the basics (if their is such a thing) and am excited to get into the process.

Any advice or tips would be awesome as I plan on buying a home brew kit soon. The kit I am looking at is called a Brewer's Best Deluxe Equipment Kit. If anyone has experience with this one please let me know. It goes for about $150 so it is affordable for me. If you know of a better kit (maybe not better, but one that worked for you) please advise me on that as well.

I am interested in dark, stout style (Choc-bocks, coffee flavors) like Guinness, and IPA (Sam Adams has a good seasonal one) style beers, but mostly just love good tasting beers.
I have no idea what I would like to make as my first batch, but am very excited. I just found this site 10 minutes ago and am excited about reading on and on about your experiences.

Thank you!
Semper Fi

JDube

 

[GodsStepBrother]

Congratulations JDude! You will love this hobby like no other.

Some real quick things, make sure you get some sanitizer. If it is the kit I get when I google it, then it is the one I got. It was a great kit, it came with a cleanser, but did not come with sanitizer. Cleanser's are good for cleaning, but do not do to much when trying to kill microbes. I was stuck my first brew day without sanitizer! I figured it out and got some from a restaurant supply store, it would be easier for you to have on hand than struggling last minute.

Keep in mind, once you make your first beer. It will be about 6 weeks before you will be drinking it. You got two fermenters (I believe) so try and order two kits, and you can have to going at once.

Best of luck!

 

[Quadrupled]

First, thank you for your service.

As for your beer questions, the link below references a 10% discount code to Northern Brewer (I've had very good luck with them); this is where I bought my starter kit (the deluxe kit). In regards to kit recommendations, I would say wherever you purchase equipment from, make sure that you will be comfortable lifting a full/slippery glass carboy - otherwise choose a "better bottle". There are plenty of horror stories on here about severe injuries from a dropped glass carboy. Also, make sure that you order sanitizer (Starsan is amongst the most popular on the HBT site). As for your first beer kit, Northern Brewer has a great tasting IPA (Dead Ringer) and a very highly rated Porter (Bourbon Barrel Porter).

Good luck.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/northern-brewer-10-off-discount-code-258373/

 

[arturo7]

Hey JD, welcome to HBT!

 

[thataintchicken]

Welcome.
There is a huge Arizona contingent here on HBT. You'll soon find yourself in good company.