Hello AND What should I brew?

[Typhicane]

Just registered, wanted to say hello to everyone and thank you for all the posts and expert advice you have provided to everyone else.

I am getting started in homebrew, been collecting pieces from Craigslist and tomorrow I should finally have everything I need to brew. I have been reading this forum, watching video's and reading books to learn more about the process for the past ~2 months. I am setting my first brew-day as this coming Friday, it is supposed to be an awesome day for winter in NC!

So, I am looking for an all grain recipe that is a fairly easy process, readily available ingredients and well liked. My favorites are IPA's and Medium hopped beers. Looking for something with a ABV above 4.5%. I am open to pretty much any recipe suggestions! What's your favorite?

Also, I am going to keep a brew log(suggestions from this forum!) but if anyone has any advice for a novice brewer please let me know!

 

[BradleyBrew]

I would do a English Bitter and dry hop with some EKG!

 

[Captain Damage]

I am open to pretty much any recipe suggestions! What's your favorite?

The real question is "What is your favorite?" For your first beer you should get a kit in a style you know you like. Many places, like Austin Homebrew, sell "clone" kits for popular beers (bear in mind that "clone" often just means "similar to"). Everybody's tastes are different. If you go with a recommendation to brew something you aren't familiar with, how will you know how it turned out? I recommend kits for your first few beers because they do most of the recipe work for you, leaving you free to concentrate on sanitation, workflow, process and sanitation - and don't forget, sanitation is important too!

 

[Bithead]

Edwort's Haus Pale might be a good place to start.

 

[BrewMU]

Sounds like you like pale ales, so brew one. You can find hundreds of recipes here, all over the internet, from books, etc. - pick one that looks good and do it to it.
A simple pale ale or IPA is an ideal first batch: just a couple of grains, a liberal dose of hops and you're set. Resist the urge to try anything overcomplicated - unless you're just dying for a peppermint dry-hopped liver and onion raspberry milk stout framboise. Hmmmm hmmmmm!

 

[Seven]

So, I am looking for an all grain recipe that is a fairly easy process, readily available ingredients and well liked. My favorites are IPA's and Medium hopped beers. Looking for something with a ABV above 4.5%. I am open to pretty much any recipe suggestions! What's your favorite?

I'd recommend this Two Hearted Ale clone. It's easy to make and it's a fantastic mid-range IPA.

 

[BrewMU]

Better idea: I saw an awesome recipe for Mesumbeer in BYO a couple of months back. You should brew that.

 

[shelly_belly]

These are all great beers:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/bee-cave-brewery-haus-pale-ale-31793/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f67/nut-brown-ag-30187/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f68/o-flannagain-standard-41072/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f69/bee-cave-brewery-ipa-59907/

And I'm currently drinking this one...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/lake-walk-pale-ale-32939/

 

[HawkATP]

Great picture shelly_belly, i just held my lake walk pale ale up to yours and it looks identical! Cheers!

 

[shelly_belly]

Great picture shelly_belly, i just held my lake walk pale ale up to yours and it looks identical! Cheers!

Cheers, Bro. We are the lucky ones!

 

[Sardoman]

I suggest using a dry yeast your first time out. That way you know you made a decent pitch.

 

[Typhicane]

I took the advice in this thread and brewed EdWort's Haus Ale.

Got the ingredients, got my Mash/Lauter Tun ready and sealed up and brewed it yesterday, I was too excited to wait until Friday.

Everything went relatively well, of course there are questions so I was going to search the forum for some answers. Had an issue with boil-over and I don't think I vorlauf'ed long enough, but otherwise it was an overwhelming success. We will have to see about the finished product though.

Guess I will start looking for a 2nd recipe so I can get some beer queued up to drink.

:rockin:

 

[Bithead]

Congratulations you made beer Now for the hardest part, waiting till it's ready. Fortunately Edwort's Haus Pale can be ready a little sooner than some and I like it a bit young myself.