Best First Beer

[Thirdstringq13]

What kind of beer do you guys think is best to make your first beer.

 

[NOISEpollution]

Depends on your taste and what kind of brewing your doing. If it's all extract than its just a matter of buying an extract kit but if you're doing partial mash/all grain I'd recommend a hefeweizen. The grain bill is just equal parts wheat and 2-row pale malt and only one, maybe two hop additions. Plus, if your fermentation temps get a little high you'll at least get some tasty banana flavors. One of the most simple recipes I can think of.

 

[Golddiggie]

Depends on what you like to drink, and how comfortable you are with the entire process of brewing. I'd go with a solid pale ale for a first brew. Something that's not going to be too high in OG, or ABV, so it will be done quicker (also ignore any instructions to rack before going to the bottling bucket)...

If you're not going with a pre-made kit from a HBS, then you could be in for some additional difficulties. My first two brews were kits from the LHBS (slightly tweaked of course). Those two batches gave me the confidence to move forward with brewing more.

If there's a home brew club in your area, see if anyone is willing to let you watch/assist in a coming brew-day. Seeing how, and what, others brew could help you to decide as well.

 

[NOISEpollution]

This is my hefeweizen recipe. It comes out great everytime and around the holidays I like to add a tbsp of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Mash 2.5 gallons at 152 for an hour, sparse with a gallon at 168.

1 lb 4 oz pilsner 2 row German
1 lb 4 oz wheat malt German
5 lb wheat DME

1 oz Hallertauer (60 min)
1/2 oz Hallertauer hersbrucker (15 min)

WLP300 White Labs Hefeweizen Ale

I don't have the actual recipe in front of me so the times for the hop additions may be off by 5 minutes or so. If anything, the second addition is at 10 instead of 15.

 

[Lunchtime]

I think brewing what you want to drink is important. If you don't like IPA's, don't brew an IPA. I love stouts so my first brew was an Irish Stout. No reason to make something you aren't going to want to finish.

 

[bkorver]

I brewed a cream ale extract for my first for two reasons.

1) I can't buy it anywhere and

2) Hard to screw that one up

 

[CrystallineEntity]

Brown ales are a good choice for your first brew.

 

[BigUgly]

Brew what you like to drink. Why brew anything different?

I started brewing to create EXACTLY what I wanted in each style of beer. Just as people cook at home to make food to their tastes. So make what you want to drink, and tweak it to your tastes. THAT, is why homebrewers brew.

 

[MikeWI]

In gardening it's "Only grow stuff you like to eat." so for beer it would be "Brew stuff you like to drink". My first brew (yesterday) was from a kit, Brewer's Best American Cream Ale. I figured it would be easier to use a kit with a clear set of instructions and an established recipe.

Mike

 

[NOISEpollution]

As long as you're not trying to brew any sours or big Belgian beers you should be fine. A lot of people will recommend you start with a hopped extract kit but I don't see the point. All of the fun comes from adding the ingredients yourself. You can make a great beer with one of those kits but I don't really considering mixing a jar of syrup with boiling water to really be brewing. I mean, technically it is brewing but you know what I mean.

 

[Tyrone]

Brew what you like to drink. Why brew anything different?

I started brewing to create EXACTLY what I wanted in each style of beer. Just as people cook at home to make food to their tastes. So make what you want to drink, and tweak it to your tastes. THAT, is why homebrewers brew.

Couldn't say it better, myself.

 

[Gear101]

Maybe just go to your LHBS (local home brew store) and get a kit, that's what i did.

 

[RM-MN]

Let's change the equation. What shouldn't you try to make for your first brew. Most ales are pretty easy but lagers require better temperature control so let's rule out a lager.

Dark ales tend to have stronger flavors of their own and thus can hide any off flavors that your mistakes create but if you hate the dark beers, don't brew those.

Very light beers are harder to brew as it is so easy to darken the wort in the boil and any mistake will show in color or clarity so let's rule out a blond.

Now what's left? How about a pale ale where the bitterness and hop aroma hide any off flavors? Do you like that style?

Ambers, Irish reds, porters, anything else would be a good start.

 

[Thirdstringq13]

Let's change the equation. What shouldn't you try to make for your first brew. Most ales are pretty easy but lagers require better temperature control so let's rule out a lager.

Dark ales tend to have stronger flavors of their own and thus can hide any off flavors that your mistakes create but if you hate the dark beers, don't brew those.

Very light beers are harder to brew as it is so easy to darken the wort in the boil and any mistake will show in color or clarity so let's rule out a blond.

Now what's left? How about a pale ale where the bitterness and hop aroma hide any off flavors? Do you like that style?

Ambers, Irish reds, porters, anything else would be a good start.

well my favorite type of beers tend to be Helles beers but since those are blonde lagers it seems like it might be a tricky first brew. But I do not mind a pale ale so this seems like a great idea

 

[Skagdog]

Brown ales are a good choice for your first brew.

I did a Brown Ale for my first one, don't know why.

It wasn't as clear as I had hoped but it was sooooo dark you couldn't tell! I also think, from reading on here, that the flavors and whatnot, if present, are more easily hidden in the darker beers.

Just bookmark this website and browse and browse and browse and browse.
These guys and gals here are good people and will provide you a little more confidence and guidance on your way.

Happy brewing!

 

[Golddiggie]

My very first home brew was a honey porter, followed by an amber/red ale. Both came out good (were kits from the LHBS) but I started getting even better brews when I was in control over the recipe. That being said, I would go for an ale (pale ale, IPA, porter, etc.) that won't have any issue with the temperatures you'll be able to maintain it at during fermentation. I would also select a yeast strain that will either ferment clean, or is very noob friendly (Wyeast has plenty of strains with tons of good info on them to help you out).

I would also read over as many threads as possible about getting the best beer you can, before you start. IMO, better to start off following better practices, even if it makes for a longer brew-day. Also, make sure you take an OG reading. IF you can (have a pot/kettle large enough) do a full batch boil. If not, then make sure you mix up the wort/water REALLY well before taking the hydro sample. Otherwise you'll get a false reading (could be high, or low).

 

[RM-MN]

well my favorite type of beers tend to be Helles beers but since those are blonde lagers it seems like it might be a tricky first brew. But I do not mind a pale ale so this seems like a great idea

Assuming that you are making an extract kit or recipe brew, read up on late additions of extract to minimize the darkening due to Maillard reactions. It will help keep your Pale Ale pale.

 

[Golddiggie]

If you're going with a kit, just make sure it's with unhopped malt extract, so that YOU add the hops during the boil. IMO, the more you do to make the batch, the better result you get. Plus, you can tweak the hops to be what you want (or like the sound of early on) and will KNOW they're freshly added.