Brew Progression

[CaptainSwiller]

I know this is a matter of personal preference, but I would still like some input from the combined wisdom of HBT. As you guys initially began brewing, did just kind of make one of every different type of beer to try new things, or did you try and perfect a few simple recipes? I'm just getting into home brewing, and I don't know whether to tweak the recipes of the beers I have made or to try totally new recipes for totally different styles of beer. I guess the answer hinges on what I'm seeking in my home brewing experience, but I want to hear what you guys did and what you would have done differently.

Thanks!

 

[slomo]

I started with the kits from my LHBS, but then I started making brews from HBT. MY LHBS didnt have the exact ingredints so I started substituting items, and basically went from there.

 

[jeansberg]

I started out making two batches of a kind of generic recipe that I got from ordering random ingredients. They were both drinkable, but I have been much happier with my German wheat, which was my third batch.

I have now started trying to recreate a couple of styles I know I like and doing some experimentation. I have an English Brown Ale fermenting and am about to brew an experimental Strawberry Chocolate Stout.

I suggest you try cloning (or approximating) some of your favorite beers. You can buy premade kits, although I have never done so, or you can order the ingredients individually. I like ordering my own ingredients, because it gives more flexibility in picking my yeast strain, and trying out new malts/hops, etc.

 

[cvstrat]

I just started brewing about a month ago. I have done two AG batches so far. I haven't actually tasted any finished beers (2 and 3 weeks away for the two batches), but I can tell you what I did.

I asked myself the same question. Ultimately I want to master the two or three beer types I prefer. (American pale ale, IPA, amber ale, etc). The problem is that just starting out we are in NO way qualified to do that. You can brew beer, and it can be good, but if you have to look up a wiki page to remember how much dextrose to prime with.. well you aren't going to be tweaking the finer parts of an IPA recipe.

So I started with an american stye pale ale. My second beer was an oatmeal stout (something I wouldn't normally order) and I have to tell you it is SO sexy.. it looks good, smells good, and I know it's going to be the first brew that really proves to me that hoembrewing is where it's at. I have the ingredients for an amber ale and an american hefe on the way. For the hefe I'm considering making a few raspberry (at the request of a lady friend), so I'm sort of staring my customizing process there.

I know I want to make the best pale ale and IPA known to man, but in the mean time I'm going to just brew some all around good beers. I put together a batch of apfelwein this morning too.. I have the gear, why not? If I were you I'd make first what you like, then make some **** people are gonna wanna drink to drum up interest. That way you get friends excited, and it spurs you to be better. Just a thought!

 

[sethful]

I started with a few Extracts first,
then a buddy at work explained the awesomeness of all grain... and I've been doing that since.
my thought has always been try something new... keep notes, and then try again at a later date.

 

[Corkster]

I know that I myself don't have a lot of experience with different styles of beer, so for myself, I've been experimenting with a different style on every batch. It may be more cost effective to just go buy different styles until I find out what they all taste like, but that's not nearly as much fun..... I will however be spending a lot of time messing with an amber ale until I find absolute perfection in it!

 

[antheus]

Some people may like to experiment fairly early on but for me it's all about getting the process down before adding variables that can possibly leave me with 5 gallons of beer I don't particularly like. My opinion is that if you want to try something you can probably find a recipe someone has already made that is fairly similar, and it's best to recreate a recipe and then tweak it for what you're looking for rather than reinvent the wheel. Ultimately the most important thing to me is the beer I produce, and though doing this may take away from some of the adventure of things it's a good way to ensure a finish product that you at least like.

 

[CABeerMaker]

I've been brewing using extract for 2 years now. I started with a pale ale and did that same recipe 3 times until I knew it. Then even if my LHBS didn't have the kit ready made I could still reproduce it from shelf stock. I have since gone on and tweaked that recipe so it is far different from the original. I have also done a number of batches for friends who wanted a certain style. I usually start with a recipe from one of the millions online and adjust to what I can get locally, or what I think might taste good. Now after some 25 batches I can honestly say I have never made anything undrinkable an d have even managed to make a couple that people keep asking me to make again.

 

[Grinder12000]

Always a problem. I've never made two of the same styles in a row but I have yet to make my perfect Brown.

My plan was to take recipes that I KNEW were good so I would know that my process was solid. Then take Commercial clones and start to tweak to MY taste.

Now I have a few that are very different but have their basement in a clone

My ultimate goal was to have 8 different drinkable brews on hand. I have 4 "house" brews now (after 32 batches) that I repeat. So every other batch I make a repeatable beer (with a tweak normally) and a new beer as I'm always looking for the perfect beer.

The new ones are very good and very drinkable but not perfect.

Amber
Porter
Pale Ale
IPA so far

STILL have not made the perfect BROWN which is my fav.

 

[Yooper]

I rarely brew the same beer twice, except for a couple of house favorites. I like having a big variety around, and I enjoy making different styles. Since my favorite styles are APAs and IPAs, I brew those most often. I have a house IPA, APA, and steam beer. The other beers are changed up all of the time.

I started with extract kits, many of them "clone" kits or recipe styles, to learn about ingredients and I read up on the BJCP styles to know what I was tasting. Then, I starting making my own recipes as I was comfortable with the process. My feeling is that until you have a good working knowledge of the ingredients and proper temperature control during fermentation, it's difficult to have predictable results so I spent the first year or two just working on that before moving on.