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[Cajuntinman]

I have enjoyed reading this forum for some time. My wife finally got tired of my lurking and bought me a brew kit. She hates beer but we both love to make our own things ranging from cheese to teardrop trailers so she is happy to support my efforts. I know I'm gonna catch some rub from people for what I am about to ask but so be it. I love drinking beers like dos equis, michelob ultra, and even a coors light at times. I am looking for a first time extract brew that will give me a similar tasting beer. Crisp and easy to drink. Something I can enjoy in the heat of the day while cooking crawfish. I'm not looking to try a Lager at first. I know better. I would also like a quicker turn around if possible. I'm not thinking like 3 days or something crazy, but a couple of weeks if possible. Before anyone says anything, I do know what good beer taste like. I have had the opportunity in the military to travel and taste beers from around the world. I also have a discerning taste at time and want to drink a very full bodied beer with a lot of flavors. I am a fan of stouts. But I'm not a purist. I enjoy making things. That's why I want to brew my own. I also like to drink what I like, even though I could simple go to the corner store and buy it with no effort. Thanks ahead for the advise.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Welcome to the hobby and the forums!

If you are just starting out, I presume that you are doing Extract with Steeping Grains. I did this kit from More Beer early on and it was a big hit with everyone. Milk Stout

 

[Cajuntinman]

Thanks. And your right I plan to do a Extract with steeping grains. I have also read that a Milk stout has a good taste. I have drank turbodog a few times and I saw on your link that i taste a lot like turbodog.

 

[RM-MN]

I saw where you wanted a light, crisp ale for starters and I thought that this kit might give you what you want.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/aussie-light-ale-kit.html

If you have a way to keep the ferment temperature in the upper 50's to low 60's, I'd probably suggest you use Nottingham dry yeast as it should ferment really clean at that temperature range. Temperature control during the ferment is the single best thing I learned about brewing beer that I want to have a clean taste.

If you can't keep the fermenter that cool, then using something like the suggested US-05 would be fine but you still need to keep it from getting too warm. Low to mid 60's would be my suggestion. Using a tub of water into which you set the fermenter and then you add ice to control the temperature is the cheapest way I know of to control the fermentation temperature. It really needs that for the first 3 to 5 days, then you can just let it warm to room temp.

 

[unionrdr]

Or maybe a light-colored pale ale with Czech saaz or German noble hops to make a lighter beer.

 

[dwhite60]

I've become a saison convert. This is something easy to do, doesn't take significant temperature control, and can come out with a pretty light body. Your wife might even like it as you can make it lightly hopped and the yeast make it spicy and fruity. The yeast is the key. Spend the money on a Wyeast "activator pack" of belgian saison yeast.

There are plenty of recipes out on the net.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[Ogilthorpe2]

What kind of Teardrop did you build? Your own design, or bought plans? I'm designing mine (in my head) and hope to build this fall.

 

[mdindy]

I would recommend a cream ale, brewers best kits have an extract/grain cream ale recipe that is simple and easy got your first brew

 

[shortyz]

or just do what alot of newbies on here do, try to brew an oak aged tripel sour with walnut husks. then they put a bird on it.

lol just kidding, welcome, all i can say is start simple and dont worry to much about it. Let it be, dont pop the lid to look at it, beer likes to be ignored.

 

[Cajuntinman]

Thanks everyone! That's some great choices.

 

[Cajuntinman]

Ogilthorpe2 I hope no one minds me going off topic for a minute but I've built three so far. I did two in the classic Teardrop shape. And one I did as a modified Benroy design. I liked the modified Bentoy the best because it gave me more cabinet space. I did all as 5x8s. I looked at a lot of teardrop designs but in the end I put together my own. I'm 6'5" so I had to get creative. Lol. The first one we put in a hot water heater and sink, microwave, TV, stereo, and an air conditioner. We were able to do that and have room by doing a half lid in the back instead of a full lid. We just lost drawer space. But made up for it with a box in the front. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1429992676.569295.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1429992734.998158.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1429992767.585037.jpg

 

[Cajuntinman]

I'm looking at that Aussie Light Ale Extract Beer Kit. That looks like a great start!