Amost time for first brew, questions included

[Nexus555]

Well, as I posted a week or two back, I have my beginners brew kit from Mid West. Right now all that I need is my ingridents, one step, and a few more bottles. I have a few questions:

1) Well first, is there anybody brewing in the Baton Rouge region? I live in Livingston Parish (about 10 minutes from BR) and I am having trouble finding brew shops. I think there is one around the LSU campus somewhere. Does anyone know where a good brewing store is around here, so I don't always have to order my ingridents online?

2) What is a good website to order ingridents? Really the only one that I know of is Midwest Supplies. If any of you use other sites and think they do a good job, let me know!

3) I've been collecting bottles as I drink them (for bottling.) I still need about another case, but by the time I get my ingridents and the beer is ready to bottle, I'm sure I'll have more than enough bottles. I've read a few threads that suggested not using clear or green bottles, due to light exposure (sunlight or flourescent.) I have 12 New Castle bottles (clear) and 6 Heinekein bottles (green) . Can I still use these? I plan on letting them carbonate in an ice chest (no light), so would that eliminate that threat?

4) I am most likely going to brew a Brown Ale as my first brew. What is a good Brown Ale to brew (ingrident kit, etc.) ? I think I'd perfer this as my first brew because I've read that it's pretty forgiving in taste, and an easy first. Also, would I still follow the same instructions in How to Brew for this brown ale? I believe the first brew is a Pale Ale in the book, any difference in techinque?

5) Well one thing cool has happened. My girlfriend wants a new refrigerator very soon, and that will leave me with my old one. Would brewing a lager be a possiblity for a second brew? If so, what are some easier lagers to brew? I was thinking the Oktoberfest beers sounded good, how do those taste and are they hard to brew for a beginner?

Well I believe that's about it. Hopefully my first brew can begin soon!! I just need to get those last few things and then boil! Any suggestions or comments are welcome, thanks again.

 

[ayrton]

1) Can't help you, sorry!

2) Try MoreBeer.com, Beer-Wine.com, and NorthernBrewer.com.

3) Yes, you *can* use them, but make sure you keep them dark. Green isn't as much of a problem as clear. It doesn't take a lot of light to skunk a beer.

4) Not sure, sorry!

5) I've never done a lager, but I would think a free fridge would be just fine for doing one. If I could lager, I'd do a Maibock. I love that stuff.

 

[Nexus555]

After the beer has carbonated, can I stick them in the fridge like a normal beer? Would the light in the frig harm the beer, even after it is carbonated?

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

4) Just pick a brown ale kit...brown ale is a pretty "non-offensive" beer so you'll most likely enjoy which ever one you choose.

5) A lager is fine as long as you have a good handle on fermenting in the 50-55F range. I love Oktoberfest, but you really should do some "commercial research" to determine which style you'd like to try. 5g is a lot of beer to brew up on the basis of somebody else's taste buds!

 

[Whelk]

William's Brewing has a great brown ale kit, I made it for my first brew and it turned out perfectly. Most kits will give you specific instructions for your kit.

As for the bottles--I would really avoid green and clear (especially clear), since even a half-hour in the sun will skunk a beer. I skunked a clear glass growler of brown ale by driving with it in the car for about an hour. Obviously, if it's what you have, you can use it, but I'd go to a redemption center and ask them for bottles (and pay them the 5c deposit), you can usually pick up a bunch that way.