First Brew

[F3ARandL0ATH]

So I am a total noob to home brewing. My buddy got me hooked last weekend by bringing a Edmund Fitzgerald clone to my house in a corny keg. It was great. So I went out last night and got a Brewers Best basic start-up kit. My question to you guys is: any words of wisdom for my first brew? I would just like to avoid any major blunders so my first brew is at least fit for human consumption.

Thanks!
F3AR

 

[jcarson83]

1. Sanitation
2. Ferment at the right temperature for the yeast your using. For ales 65-70.
3. Patience. 2-3 weeks in primary.

 

[Smoodude]

I think the temperature issue is really not that big a deal at first. I'm in Texas and unless I build a fermentation chamber or keep the carboy in water, I can't keep it in those lower temps. Lower temperatures leads to better beer, but I ferment at around 75-76 degrees and my beer still tastes good.

Most important is sanitation and patience. You are going to make mistakes your first time, but beer is pretty forgiving if you choose simple ale recipes and don't attempt anything fancy.

Just try to relax and have fun. Also, don't buy any bottles - just collect them over time. The more you do this, you will quickly realize how bad bottling sucks. So much easier to keg.

 

[Smoodude]

BTW - a great beginner kit that is really forgiving and tastes great is Northern Brewer's Nut Brown. Tastes great to everyone and is a real winner!

Also, use a hop bag! Go to a hardware store and get a paint strainer bag. Makes your wort much cleaner.

 

[F3ARandL0ATH]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have been stock piling bottles now for a week. It's such hard work..........

If I find I have a knack for this home brew thing I plan on getting set up for kegging as I have limited space at home and storing hundreds of bottles is not gong to be an option.

For now I just have to try and get through work so I can get home and get started!

 

[dantose]

best advice that you will hear over and over:
Relax, don't worry, have a home brew

Often shortened to RDWHAHB

Beer is actually relatively hard to ruin. be careful with sanitation and measurement, but if you mess something up, RDWHAHB

Oh, and if you have a place to put one, a bottle washer is awesome.