Best way to start off?

[funkie_junkie]

I am just starting to brew, and i wanted to start out brewing from scratch. What would be the best (and easiest) way to start off? My plans are to create different recipes later down the road, so i don't want to use kit recipes. Am I starting off the wrong way? Thank in advance for the thought.

 

[NWMOBrewer]

I started using a kit the first two times to get basic sanitation stuff down, and get used to it, then plan on brewing from recipies for a couple of times. There is no right or wrong way, just what I did.

 

[funkie_junkie]

One thing I forgot to mention is that my father-in-law has done home brew before. So I will have some extra help when needed. What would be the easiest start from scratch recipe if I did decide to do it that way?

 

[shamrockdoc]

What do you have to brew with ...equipment wise do you have a starter kit?

 

[funkie_junkie]

Yes, got a basic starter kit. pretty much exactly what you would find on the internet as a starter kit.

 

[shamrockdoc]

A from scratch recipe will be an all grain recipe which will require more equipment than you currently have. My suggestion would be start extract brewing with steeping grains then work your way to partial mashing with more grain. Then AG all the way after that and lurk on HBT more and ask questions and above all use the wiki and search feature there is a metric **** ton of info on here...helped me out greatly! Good luck

 

[RM-MN]

One thing I forgot to mention is that my father-in-law has done home brew before. So I will have some extra help when needed. What would be the easiest start from scratch recipe if I did decide to do it that way?

My father had done a lot of different things in life and liked to "help me out" with them. Only problem was, he taught me the wrong way more than once and after he had passed away, I had to learn to do them the right way.

Not saying your father-in-law would do things the wrong way, but you might be better to start from scratch and then get his help later.

 

[Revvy]

Brew a couple extract w/grain kits, that are fool proof and make great beer first so that you can focus on your process and can get a grasp the fundamentals, without worrying about making mistakes and not quite knowing what's going on.

That way you won't start an "is my beer ruined" thread for every step of the way.

FYI make sure you read the stickies on here, they contain most everything you need to look for.

Onve you get a couple batches under your belt, and actually understand what's going on you can step up your game.

 

[dcarter]

I started with a couple of extract batches which were almost too easy. Within a couple of weeks, I had built my own mash tun, bought a 20 gallon brew kettle and started making 10 gallon batches of all grain. It sounds like you have a similar personality. My advice is to do whatever you are comfortable with and remember, even if you screw up your beer really badly, you still have beer.

 

[funkie_junkie]

A from scratch recipe will be an all grain recipe which will require more equipment than you currently have. My suggestion would be start extract brewing with steeping grains then work your way to partial mashing with more grain. Then AG all the way after that and lurk on HBT more and ask questions and above all use the wiki and search feature there is a metric **** ton of info on here...helped me out greatly! Good luck

What all will I need to get to do an AG? I want to make a list of everything that I will need later on so that I can pick up things one by one so that I can get it all at some point.

 

[shamrockdoc]

The biggest thing you will need is a mash tun

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

You can find these items at Home Depot

a propane burner a kettle or pot. I suggest doing a search for a turkey deep fryer to begin with.

Search youtube and this forums for AG/PG( all-grain/partial grain)

Partial Grain=https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-partial-mash-brewing-pics-75231/

All Grain= https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/attention-new-all-grain-brewers-30466/

and if you like pictures= https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/all-grain-pictorial-video-tutorials-78963/


nothing makes better beer than routine. I would really get a couple more extract kits under your belt then a Partial Mash or two then you have a routine down and understand more about the methods. But thats my opinion you may be ready to AG right outta the chute.

 

[jonmohno]

well for me i didnt want to spend all that money on all grain equipment and you may have alot of those things around your house.i only have brewed 3 batches and found a 2 gallon glass jar to ferment.kits are good but too much beer for me and i thought itd be cheaper to experiment with smaller batches only thing is you have to scale down from the normal 5 gallon batch recipies. im glad im doing the extract and mini mash method but am finding out that its probably best to keep a normal ale in primary for at least 2 weeks and bottleing at least 3. i have my first bottled beer still conditioning going on 4 weeks(still not done-after testing) probably because i bottled after 10 days. get a hydro reading before botteling so you dont have to noid out about bottle bombs from bottteling too soon or too much priming sugar. and make shure everything is clean post boil to bottle.
Hope this helps, ive learned alot from reading these guys experiences,thanks guys.

 

[Drunkenfool]

Do a few kit. without really good direction or being really well read and organized you may be setting up to fail. I am not saying that you would; just that starting off making good drinkable beer is the most motivating thing. You are here which is a good start. If u have the stuff to do a full 5 gal boil it is easy to progress to ag wit just a few coolers. If u have a fridge you can have temperature control(very very important) for fermentation as well as a place for some kegs. I would first and foremost focus on proper yeast starters to get good beer off the bat either way

 

[funkie_junkie]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm thinking of starting off with a hefeweizen kit now. What do you guys think?

 

[Drunkenfool]

Nice one! especially if you dont have the temp control. the beer lends itself to a broader range of ferm temps and the yeast is forgiving! Good luck, enjoy your new obsession.

 

[funkie_junkie]

Im a huge fan of hefeweizen, so I think I'm going to enjoy it. Lets hope it comes out as good as I hope it does.

 

[RM-MN]

When you get it bottled you can send me a sample, just for quality control you understand. :^)

 

[funkie_junkie]

When you get it bottled you can send me a sample, just for quality control you understand. :^)

Haha...yeah. I guess I would need a second opinion seeing as I would be bias.