Hello from Philly (kind of)

[RonBurgundy]

Ive loved beer for years and have decided to take my relationship with beer to the next level. Home Brewing. Just seems like the right thing to do since we've been together for so long.

I'm a complete newby to brewing. I like to study up before makin any purchases so I have begun my beer education. So far the curriculum of my own personal Beer U has been: Ive read "The Joy Home Brewing", "How to brew", currently reading "Brewing better BEER"... Lots of lurking on HBT, and a stepped increase in my beer consumption for strictly scientific research data gathering purposes .

I'm interested in the all grain electric brew setups (KAL) I've seen here but not committed to any specific setup yet. I also find some of the semi automated setups interesting. I am a computer programmer so I might have some fun with that stuff.

I got a barely used garage / shed in the backyard that I think might make for a good brew shack but will need to do some improvements and not sure about what I can do with it permit wise.

Looking forward to learning as much as I can, makin some new friends, and to get to brewing my first beer.

(I'm actually in a suburb of Philly but close enough)

 

[passedpawn]

Howdy almost-but-not-quite-Philly!

Jumping into a Kal setup would be a mistake without first getting your hands dirty. However, I think jumping immediately into all-grain brewing is great. Find a local homebrew shop (LHBS) and see if they do all-grain demos - most do. Look also on youtube for the great tutorials there (Don Osborn comes to mind, as well as some of our HBT guys - Bobby M for instance).

You might also jump into a local homebrew club. You'll be able to sample a lot of homebrew and get pointers from them, and maybe find other homebrewers in your area.

Good luck!

(btw, I lived in Chadds Ford for 4 yrs while going to college there )

 

[cravej]

<-- springfield high class of '97

Run over to BYOB in havertown and get yourself a starter kit!

There's a group (BUZZ) that meets every month at the Iron Hill in West Chester to talk and share homebrew. Welcome to the BUZZ - Brewers United for Zany Zymurgy

 

[RonBurgundy]

Thanks for the advice passedpawn. I am looking to find a home brew club or just other brewers in the area that might show me how things work. Getting some first hand brew day experience with some other brewers would definitely help me make some equipment decisions. I live in Springfield and am familiar with the Chads Ford area.

I'll also check out the videos you suggested. Its officially added to the curriculum of Beer U.

Thanks

 

[RonBurgundy]

Hi cravej. I have been to the BYOB in Havertown and talked a bit with the owner who is real helpful. I did buy a starter kit but have not brewed yet. I am not so sure how me brewing in the kitchen is going to work out. The wife is supportive and says she is fine with it, but I dont know if she understands what a brew day will look like in her kitchen. I'll give it a try once I get a pot big enough to boil in. But I am thinking my Brew future is out in the shed in the backyard

I am looking to join a brew club, maybe I'll check out that BUZZ group

Oh yeah, I live close to Springfield High. Small world.

Thanks

 

[cravej]

Hi cravej. I have been to the BYOB in Havertown and talked a bit with the owner who is real helpful. I did buy a starter kit but have not brewed yet. I am not so sure how me brewing in the kitchen is going to work out. The wife is supportive and says she is fine with it, but I dont know if she understands what a brew day will look like in her kitchen. I'll give it a try once I get a pot big enough to boil in. But I am thinking my Brew future is out in the shed in the backyard

I am looking to join a brew club, maybe I'll check out that BUZZ group

Oh yeah, I live close to Springfield High. Small world.

Thanks

I grew up on Orchard road, but have since moved to Swarthmore. I could give you a demo on my all grain, 10 gallon, batch sparge, propane fired system. I'm actually brewing right now.

I started in the kitchen, but once you have a boil over, you'll be itching to move outside. I got a 5 gallon stainless steel pot from Boscovs for <$20.

 

[RonBurgundy]

I walk my dogs down Orchard quite a bit. I would definitely like to take you up on your offer of seeing a demo on your setup.

Yeah, I was forgetting all the posts mentioning boil overs. That would not go over well.
Definitly looking like backyard brewing.