First beer in the planning stages

[jimmyjusa]

Are there any styles in particular that are better to start out with or that I should stay away from? I plan on doing extract for my first beer or two, maybe with specialty grains. The styles I like tend to be darker and maltier and less hoppy/bitter. I also enjoy fruit added to the lighter beers. Once I have a style I'll at least check out one or two of the homebrew stores in the city and see what their prices are for a recipe.

 

[bucketnative]

I would recommend trying one of the pre-packaged kits as a first-timer. They come boxed, with everything you need from steeping grains, malt extract, to yeast. They have them for stouts, porters, pale ales, whatever you desire... I think the darker beer is actually a good starting point, because you get to see the contributions of the darker specialty grains during the steeping portion.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Thank you, I'm looking at those and found a couple where I could download the instructions and the ingredients were listed in there so I was thinking about taking that in to brew shop to see how the prices could compare from them because I'd rather stay local if possible. One shop also functions as a nano brewery and are always trying new things

 

[Andrew Hodgson]

Thank you, I'm looking at those and found a couple where I could download the instructions and the ingredients were listed in there so I was thinking about taking that in to brew shop to see how the prices could compare from them because I'd rather stay local if possible. One shop also functions as a nano brewery and are always trying new things

You are already on the right track. Most of the kits allow you to download the PDF of the ingredients/instructions. Most will tell you the instructions they give are completely outdated and awful, but you can certainly look at the ingredient list and source it yourself. Next thing you know you'll be buying hops by the pound!

 

[catdaddy66]

Are there any styles in particular that are better to start out with or that I should stay away from? I plan on doing extract for my first beer or two, maybe with specialty grains. The styles I like tend to be darker and maltier and less hoppy/bitter. I also enjoy fruit added to the lighter beers. Once I have a style I'll at least check out one or two of the homebrew stores in the city and see what their prices are for a recipe.

Two of the easier brews to get started with are just up your alley (darker and maltier). I am talking about stouts and amber ales. They tend to be less fussy and easy on the beginner. My 3rd beer ever was a dry Irish stout and I got so much positive feedback from friends and family with it that it made me want to brew all the styles.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Perhaps an amber would be best, I like the dark stuff but most people around me prefer hefe and wheat beers. Ambers are likely more well received overall. Thank you for the input.

 

[JimRausch]

My 1st brew was a 'Mocktoberfest' done with an ale yeast. (Truebrew kit) It turned out surprisingly good, and hooked me well and good into this obsession, I mean hobby. Basically a good Amber.

 

[jimmyjusa]

My 1st brew was a 'Mocktoberfest' done with an ale yeast. (Truebrew kit) It turned out surprisingly good, and hooked me well and good into this obsession, I mean hobby. Basically a good Amber.

Thanks for the feedback. I got the fermenting buckets and bottling stuff already. Still needing to figure out my cooking pot and if I need more than my standard kitchen stuff for a first brew. then I can decide on my recipe.

 

[JimRausch]

I used a 3G enamel pot from Walmart on the stove for my 1st 6 months or so, then got a sweet deal on a 7G turkey fryer pot and burner from Bass Proshop. Still using the burner, but upgraded to a 10G stockpot from a local restaurant supply store.

 

[S-Met]

What is your largest stock-pot?

 

[jimmyjusa]

Only a couple gallons right now, honestly probably only big enough for a no boil pre hopped kit. I just saw a Lowe's has a turkey fryer set for $30, so burner and 30 qt pot for that price seems like a steal, same price as I was seeing on craigslist for used

 

[Redtab78]

Only a couple gallons right now, honestly probably only big enough for a no boil pre hopped kit. I just saw a Lowe's has a turkey fryer set for $30, so burner and 30 qt pot for that price seems like a steal, same price as I was seeing on craigslist for used

And it starts......welcome to the club

 

[JimRausch]

That is a great price. The 'sweet deal' I got back in 2014 was $75 for the burner and pot, if I remember right.

 

[S-Met]

Its probably an aluminum pot. I'd get it, but upgrade to a larger stainless down the road.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Its probably an aluminum pot. I'd get it, but upgrade to a larger stainless down the road.

Yes it's aluminum, and I know stainless is better but I'd rather start at this price first and make sure i want to do this, plus then when I upgrade I'll have a boil pot for food

 

[Redtab78]

Next thing you know, your ordering the blichmann burner for your new keggle you built because the turkey fryer stand just doesnt work well with the keg bottoms......SOOOO you make the turkey fryer stand your hot liquor heater, because....hell a small cooler, tube style screen and a ball valve is cheap.....and then you start all grain, and then u decide u want a bigger hot liquor pot cause that 30qt just doesnt hve enough room for a 10 gallon batch, so u finally break down and buy a 20 gallon pot.....cause its only slightly more $ than a 15 gallon...THEN...you can make 10 gallons....so why bottle when u can build a keezer and keg it all.....


Then your wife sees the cc bill...

 

[Redtab78]

Not that i would know tho

 

[jimmyjusa]

Haha, well my free time is limited now and will be less in a few months when the second baby comes. But the big goal overall is creating a couple beers special for our wedding in a year and a half.

 

[Redtab78]

I get it lol....but this hobby is super addicting. The other guys hit the nail on the head, there is a few beginner kits out there, that have everything including a stainless 5 gallon pot for extract brewing minus the heating device, but with only boiling 2.5 gallons to start you can do that on the stove.

Also.....look around in the recipie section, many of the originators use a software and can convert the beer to an extract for you. All of the instructions are damn near the same, but there is a book called "the complete joy of home brewing" by Charlie Papizon, and he not only breaks down the instructions, but he also gives you the why for each step so you have a better understanding.....he also list a bunch of recipies in his book as well.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

My 1st brew was a 'Mocktoberfest' done with an ale yeast. (Truebrew kit) It turned out surprisingly good, and hooked me well and good into this obsession, I mean hobby. Basically a good Amber.

My first beer was a Oktobeerfest which used US-05. That beer turned out pretty good, though the beers that followed were fun to epic.

 

[Manufacturedevolution]

I started off with a turkey fryer kit. I still use that 30qt pot as a hlt. Never felt the need to go stainless. I use a 40qt aluminum kettle. Make sure to boil some water in it before brew day.

 

[S-Met]

Good call on the pre-boil in the pot. Aluminum needs that protective oxidation layer, it sometimes looks grey or dark. Dont fear it, it's very normal. Aluminum i soft, but aluminum oxide is a stronger protective layer than the base aluminum.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Well I looked at the reviews of the fryer I was looking at and most said stay away, some said the pot cracked and leaked oil, most complaints were that the burner has a 15 minute shutoff timer. So based on those things I'll be passing on that. There are a few used on craigslist for the same price, different brand though. I may have to just check out restaurant supply store and see what they have

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

With extract as you boil it can darken, and for myself that was a little disappointing, so brewing an amber or darker beer will be more satisfying. Brew the styles you enjoy, unless you are brewing for an event, then take into consideration what is popular other than pisswasser light, that is.

 

[catdaddy66]

Well I looked at the reviews of the fryer I was looking at and most said stay away, some said the pot cracked and leaked oil, most complaints were that the burner has a 15 minute shutoff timer. So based on those things I'll be passing on that. There are a few used on craigslist for the same price, different brand though. I may have to just check out restaurant supply store and see what they have

That is exactly what I got when buying my turkey fryer! It's a genuine pi$$er to have to hit that button so your gas doesn't shut off. I am looking for another burner as we speak!

 

[jimmyjusa]

With extract as you boil it can darken, and for myself that was a little disappointing, so brewing an amber or darker beer will be more satisfying. Brew the styles you enjoy, unless you are brewing for an event, then take into consideration what is popular other than pisswasser light, that is.

Haha, for sure. My dad and I were pricing things a couple years ago and he was basically looking to make that pi$$ water light... and even at the time I was thinking the cost is basically the same to do that or do a beer with flavor so why not put some effort into it... a light beer could still be made but it would actually have flavor

 

[jimmyjusa]

That is exactly what I got when buying my turkey fryer! It's a genuine pi$$er to have to hit that button so your gas doesn't shut off. I am looking for another burner as we speak!

Luckily I have a gas stove so until I get a burner and progress to those bigger pots I can work inside

 

[VirginiaHops1]

You have 26 posts and are still in planning phase? Just brew one. Your comfort level will rise dramatically once you get into it. I've done 2 and it really was big difference from the 1st, and having no clue what I was doing where I felt too overwhelmed to even take gravity readings, to the 2nd. Good luck!

Also I would avoid those cheap turkey fryers. I fried a turkey last Thanksgiving and didn't even want to buy a cheap one for that. The auto shut-off seemed like a major PITA. I ended up buying an 8 gallon stainless steel turkey fryer set for like $100 off amazon, and a high BTU propane burner for about $50. I've been homebrewing in my kitchen so far but probably will use the propane burner at some point. So if you're going that route I would just spend a bit more and buy some quality components to begin with. Buy once cry once

 

[kh54s10]

I got a turkey fryer that had a switch that is depressed when the pot is on it. I forget if it was timed for 15 minutes, but I found online somewhere that you can disable it by pulling the wires off the switch and then joining them together.

For extract you can get a 5 gallon stainless steel pot at grocery stores, Wally world, etc for about $20. It is plenty big for extracts and can do small batch BIAB.

 

[jimmyjusa]

You have 26 posts and are still in planning phase? Just brew one. Your comfort level will rise dramatically once you get into it. I've done 2 and it really was big difference from the 1st, and having no clue what I was doing where I felt too overwhelmed to even take gravity readings, to the 2nd. Good luck!

Also I would avoid those cheap turkey fryers. I fried a turkey last Thanksgiving and didn't even want to buy a cheap one for that. The auto shut-off seemed like a major PITA. I ended up buying an 8 gallon stainless steel turkey fryer set for like $100 off amazon, and a high BTU propane burner for about $50. I've been homebrewing in my kitchen so far but probably will use the propane burner at some point. So if you're going that route I would just spend a bit more and buy some quality components to begin with. Buy once cry once

Is 26 my number in this thread or total for this forum? A majority of my posts are over in the kombucha section which got me started on this site.