Greeting from Fowlerville Michigan

[Lordlindsey]

Brand new to homebrewing, my first batch is carbonating right now.

 

[Warped04]

Welcome to the forums! Congrats on the first batch.

 

[Homercidal]

Greetings! What did you brew?

 

[Lordlindsey]

I used a kit for the first go around.
American Cream Ale.

 

[Homercidal]

I've never made a cream ale. I keep thinking about picking up a kit or two just to brew on the spur of the moment, but I just can't force myself to spend so much on a batch of beer since I went All Grain.

 

[Lordlindsey]

I've never made a cream ale. I keep thinking about picking up a kit or two just to brew on the spur of the moment, but I just can't force myself to spend so much on a batch of beer since I went All Grain.

ok...you have over 10,000 posts...I'm assuming your pretty experienced at homebrew.

First batch was fun to do.
Second batch, should I stick with the 'kits' for a while or jump into buying my own, seperate, ingrediants and experimenting?

 

[Homercidal]

ok...you have over 10,000 posts...I'm assuming your pretty experienced at homebrew.

First batch was fun to do.
Second batch, should I stick with the 'kits' for a while or jump into buying my own, seperate, ingrediants and experimenting?

Unfortunately, you'll come to realize that brewing experience is not necessarily proportional to post count. But thanks!


My personal opinion goes like this:

Nothing wrong with kits. If they are fresh, they are a very easy way to hit a beer style and generally make good beer if the brewing process is tweaked. And don't follow the directions in the kit. Read up on better methods right here on this site.

However, IF you enjoy experimenting, and learning, by all means buy individual ingredients to form your own recipe, or to make a recipe from a book or on here. You could save money, but the fun is in the tinkering.

And, if you really enjoy the hobby, and want to get the most out of it, consider switching to All Grain brewing, which is not really any harder to do, just takes a bit more preparation and can save money. The real advantage is having more control over the fermentability of the wort.

AG is very easy to do and after a couple of extract batches, a very easy next step. Don't be afraid to try new things. As long as you follow good sanitation practices, pitch an appropriate amount of yeast into an aerated wort, and ferment at proper temps consistently, you will make good beer.

 

[solavirtus]

Hey, Welcome! I'm just around the corner in Whitmore Lake. It's good to see more locals around here. Happy brewing

 

[jmf143]

Welcome to the forum and an awesome hobby (some say addicition!).

On May 7 Michigan Brewer Pub & Supplies is sponsoring a Home Brew Day event in the back lot of their store. If you want to make the drive into Southfield you can see a number of home brewers who will be brewing their all grain recipes. Starts at 10am. Their website is www.michiganbrewer.com and you can pick up kits/ingredients for your next brew if you choose to drop by.

 

[EzMak24]

Welcome to the forum from lansing

 

[Lordlindsey]

Hey, Welcome! I'm just around the corner in Whitmore Lake. It's good to see more locals around here. Happy brewing

Well howdy neighbor. Ever been to the Whitmore Lake Tavern?

Welcome to the forum and an awesome hobby (some say addicition!).

On May 7 Michigan Brewer Pub & Supplies is sponsoring a Home Brew Day event in the back lot of their store. If you want to make the drive into Southfield you can see a number of home brewers who will be brewing their all grain recipes. Starts at 10am. Their website is www.michiganbrewer.com and you can pick up kits/ingredients for your next brew if you choose to drop by.

Good to know...I'll have to see if I can swing that. Your a neighbor too!

(damn near)​

Welcome to the forum from lansing

Not far from you either. My GF works in E. Lansing and I have a friend or two out there.

All,
This is looking to be a real-nice forum to hang at.

Any of you guys been to the Michigan Brewery in Webberville?
I'm not far from it.

 

[solavirtus]

Well howdy neighbor. Ever been to the Whitmore Lake Tavern?


Any of you guys been to the Michigan Brewery in Webberville?
I'm not far from it.

My wife and I go to the Whitmore Lake Tavern a few times month, so I take it you've been there? I recently stocked up on the Sam Adams glasses they were giving away with beer purchases there.

And I've been up to MBC in Webberville, but it's not the regular shop I go to. It is for a few buddies though.

 

[EzMak24]

Any of you guys been to the Michigan Brewery in Webberville?
I'm not far from it.

Yeah, I've been to michigan brewing company a few times. Nice place, very friendly bartenders. They also have a brewing supply store connected to the place and they recently opened a pub in downtown lansing but I haven't made it there yet.

My fiance also works in E lansing at bdubs.

 

[Lordlindsey]

My wife and I go to the Whitmore Lake Tavern a few times month, so I take it you've been there? I recently stocked up on the Sam Adams glasses they were giving away with beer purchases there.

And I've been up to MBC in Webberville, but it's not the regular shop I go to. It is for a few buddies though.

Yeah, I've been to Whitmore Lake Tavern a few times.
The MBC is getting better. Wait staff is still hit and miss from my experience. I ride a motorcycle, so I plan to ride up there more often to hang on the outdoor patio.

 

[Lordlindsey]

Yeah, I've been to michigan brewing company a few times. Nice place, very friendly bartenders. They also have a brewing supply store connected to the place and they recently opened a pub in downtown lansing but I haven't made it there yet.

My fiance also works in E lansing at bdubs.

Yeah, I was checking out the brewing supplies last time I was there. I've been purchasing my stuff from Hopman's in Waterford.

My GF is the hair Salon manager at JCPenney's @ Meridian Mall.
She's damned good too at doing har too. FYI.

 

[Lordlindsey]

Well, this week I need to label and refrigerate my beer.
I purchased some 3.25" x 4.25" stick-on labels for it. I need to figure out a design, quickly.

Anyone have any Word templates, or know a good source to download some examples?