Greeting from Sacramento, CA!

[DragonFire]

Hello everyone!!

I'm new to brewing. I have brewed root beer and ginger beer. But no real beer. Took a class from the head brewer at Jack Russell yesterday and am finishing up collecting my equipment...I'm wrangling for a wort chiller right now, and have a lead on a keg to be converted into a brewpot. Found the Bayou Classic 'burner' at a place online for $40 plus an estimated $20.49 shipping-which makes it $20 cheaper than the homebrew store!

Then the tough part is figuring out what I want 5 gallons of. Not Lager...too hot here during summer. Don't care for it anyway.

Tips on making equipment, etc. are welcome! Got a lot of tips yesterday, and kinda like the idea of thinking outside the box.

Main concern in brewing: fermentation. Can I keep the carboy cool enough so it doesn't shoot the stopper and airlock??? Scary stories were told in class yesterday!!

Anyway, that's me. I'm also into scootering (ride a Vespa 250), gardening, growing veggies, tiki culture, vintage stuff.


Cheers!!

 

[DragonFire]

Just saw a few related threads from other Sacramento residents...Good to hear there are some locals on the board!!

I've been here just under 5 years. I'm from the East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)...can't wait to get all my equipment and get out there and brew!!!

Any suggestions on a first style? I'll buy a kit. I'm trying not to overwhelm myself so I keep at it...and get my friends involved, even if it's just helping to kill off a batch so I can try a new kit.

I don't care for IPAs. Not into hops much. Like wheat beers. Like red ales. Even drink porters and stouts. Like fruit ales, too. But don't want to scare my friends away with a Pyramid apricot clone. Or maybe I just wouldn't share!!!!

A lot of my friends are into the Kona lineup..Wailua Wheat, etc. Forget the Longboard Lager...to hot here. And I'm not a lager fan. Maui's cocoanut porter is a big favorite of a BFF. I do want to brew that sometime...but maybe as a Christmas present!

Any suggestions for a beginning brewer??

 

[Bishop916]

Greetings from Rio Linda! It's good to have more 916 represent on these forums!

Don't use a stopper, especially if you are using a 5g carboy. I always run a blowoff tube. No matter what I tried, I would have a gusher. I use a tub with water, and 2L bottles of ice to control temps.

Good summer ales are House Pale Ales. I just made one in June, came out great and is a fast fermentation, so not as affected by long yeast time in the heat.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/bee-cave-brewery-haus-pale-ale-31793/

Enjoy, and welcome to the best beer spot on the net.

B916

 

[Dunerunner]

Welcome to HBT! I hope you enjoyed Eric's class. Was it at Jack Russel or the Brewmeister in Folsom? Good luck brewing, welcome to the addiction!!

 

[DragonFire]

Bishop916: I have a 6 gal carboy for fermentation and a 5 gal for 2ndary. I'll pick up a one piece lock this weekend and run a blow off tube. I've heard that several places..and Erik said with the CO2 blowing off nothing will go back onto the brew to infect it. I've heard several people say they use the blowoff tube...including the guy I just bought my brewstand and wort chiller from. I guess it' just the way it has to be done in 916! What it I don't like pale ales much? Any other suggestions? I guess I could do a flavored pale ale or such...

Dunerunner: The class was at Brewmeister. I see you have some really tasty stuff brewing! And Chocolate porter??? Yummm!!!!

 

[Dunerunner]

It was supposed to be a smoked porter but the 2# of Rauch Malt got lost in the 36# grain bill.