Hello from Pittsburgh, PA

[Inkdoggy]

HI!!!!!

I can't WAIT to brew. It is time to combine my love of cooking and my love of beer. I don't care for bars and resent the $5.5-$7 I have to pay for a half-decent brew in a place I don't want to be. The last time I bought a case I really loved -- Founder's Double Trouble -- it whacked me $55 bucks. I have found that the majority of beers lack in some area (for my specific tastes). I cook my perfect steak, and I bet I can learn to brew my perfect beer -- a super hoppy, crisp, double IPA.

We have a decent, well stocked home brew store locally. I would be interested in hearing the absolute beginner necessities that may make life easier and beer better.

 

[brewslut]

PBW,Star San,The biggest boil kettle you can swing,glass carboy,How to Brew by John Palmer,Money,an understanding wife,money,time,patience,a place to brew outside of the kitchen........etc etc.....

 

[Inkdoggy]

Thanks Brewslut. I think I am off to a good start then! Maybe... I have a 16 qt stainless kettle to start with, am a couple chapters into reading How to Brew, my gf gardens... alot, I work from home, but... the place to brew outside of the kitchen is a weakness. Fortunately, the kitchen is completely my domain and I do all of the cooking, so I SHOULD be ok. I BET the waiting a month to sip my first brew will be a trial in patience.

 

[haplo]

I BET the waiting a month to sip my first brew will be a trial in patience.

For sure.

-Having a friend helps on brew day, but I find an extra hand on bottling day a necessity.
-Take detailed notes. If there is something good or bad about your final product, it helps to have your complete process detailed out to look back at to see where you went wrong or right.
-Autosiphon. It makes thing so much easier for me to be able to just pump a few times to start the siphon.
-StarSan & Saniclean. I use Saniclean for bottles because it foams less and easier to get out the majority of the excess.

I love Belgian beers which are usually expensive, so making something that allows me to drink more and save money is a big reason for me, too.

 

[GIusedtoBe]

Thanks Brewslut. I think I am off to a good start then! Maybe... I have a 16 qt stainless kettle to start with, am a couple chapters into reading How to Brew, my gf gardens... alot, I work from home, but... the place to brew outside of the kitchen is a weakness. Fortunately, the kitchen is completely my domain and I do all of the cooking, so I SHOULD be ok. I BET the waiting a month to sip my first brew will be a trial in patience.

You want to have a good first batch?

Heres a few tips:

- Sanitize, sanitize and sanatize again
- Start w/ a good recipe and not a kit and particularly not a LME can that is pre-hopped. I would use strictly DME as well. I do not like LME at all.
- For extract do a late addition with most of the extract is added late in the boil. Do a search of this site for info as there is tons of it.
- Use a good liquid yeast like wlp001 or wyeast 1056. These are both supposed to be Sierra Nevada stains that are clean and allow the hops to do the work.
- make a yeast starter
- Ferment in the proper temp range preferably on the low end of the range (IMO the most important thing of all) There are many ways to keep them cool w/out refrigeration.
- Do a Pale ale first or if you must an IPA. Save the DIPA for later. The bigger they are the longer they take to mature. You will find it difficult to handle enough malt extract to do a big beer on your first one and you will probably drink your beer before it gets good.

Most important of all: If your first beer falls short, invite your friends over to drain it and try again. It will get better.

Regards,
Alan

 

[Inkdoggy]

Thanks guys. Believe me when I say I am paying attention.

GIusedtoBe: I was going to buy a beginners kit w/ an IPA kit. Do you believe brewing with a recipe can be successfully accomplished by a beginner?

 

[GIusedtoBe]

Thanks guys. Believe me when I say I am paying attention.

GIusedtoBe: I was going to buy a beginners kit w/ an IPA kit. Do you believe brewing with a recipe can be successfully accomplished by a beginner?

Should'nt be a problem provided you've gone over the steps before actually doing it. There is not a lot of difference between a kit or a simple recipe when it comes to the actual brewing part of it. Since you know your way around the kitchen it should be no problem. To me the Sierra Nevada clone from "Clone Brews" is very easy and a real good beer I did a lot of times when I still did extract. Hop it up a bit for an IPA.

If its a kit like a Brewers best kit, I've never done one but have had some decent beer someone else made with one. Just don't start w/ something like a "John Bull pre-hopped IPA" which was my first beer when I started this hoby again a few years back. You will not be satisfied with it.

Lots on here use dry yeast w/ good results as well but this generally does not include the yeast in a can kit.

Again the most important thing in my opinion is cooling it properly, aerating it, pitching the yeast at the correct temp and controlling the temp during primary fermentation. I put my carboy in a plastic tub and fill the tub half full of water. i can put frozen water bottles in as needed to regulate temps to keep it in range. I also keep this in the closet in the half bath which gets cooler than other parts of the house because of the AC vent and the small place.

In 50-60 batches the only one I've ever had to throw out was a pale ale i had a brain fart on and pitched at around 75 F. Tasted like a cross between a belgian and vomit. Way too much work to not take care of the fermentation.

PM me if I can help and you can have that recipe if you'd like.

BTW I noticed from another thread that you haven't bought your gear yet. I would strongly advise picking up a 6.5 gallon and a 5 gallon glass carboy. If you really think you are going to take this up then you will get them eventually anyway and you can save buying that crappy plastic bin. Also pick up a 1/2 gallon clear jug for yeast starters and of course the miscellaneous stoppers and airlocks.

Good luck
Alan

 

[Inkdoggy]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I think I am going to finish reading Learn to Brew before heading to the store. I prefer to be best prepared for success. And I'll poke around here.

 

[BeerJorge]

Welcome to the board Inkdoggy...

I too wanted to get into brewing to brew IPAs... as far as any tips? sanitize, sanitize...

 

[Inkdoggy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F3HO92/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

maybe someone experienced would be kind enough to let me know if this is worth the $ and looks to be a good starter kit.

 

[GIusedtoBe]

Ink this looks like a fairly complete kit but it seems pricey. Another nice toy and IMO required is an auto syphon.

I would compare it to some of the kits at Northern Brewer or Austin homebrew supply.

Good Luck
Alan

 

[Inkdoggy]

http://www.southhillsbrewing.com/product_detail.asp?category=143&product={68D46C8D-EA8F-4B19-826F-FAB6B3FEFC9F}

This is at a local store.

 

[haplo]

That seems like a really good price, especially if you can go pick it up to avoid S/H. Looks like you'll need to pickup some bottle caps too.

 

[Inkdoggy]

sooooooo I am 1/2 done with how to brew. Think the Troegs nugget nectar clone would be a good choice for a first? Something like this?

Size: 5.0 gal
Original Gravity: 1.086 (1.075 - 1.090)
Terminal Gravity: 1.017 (1.012 - 1.020)
Color: 11.9 (8.00 - 15.00)
Alcohol: 9.12% (7.50% - 10.00%)
Bitterness: 94.0 (60.00 - 100.00)

Ingredients:
1 lb Vienna Malt
1 lb German Light Munich
4 lb Liquid Amber Extract
7 lb Pilsen Light Liquid Extract)
1 oz Nugget (13.0%) - 60.0 min
1 oz Warrior (16.0%) - 25.0 min
1 oz Centennial (9.3%) - 5 min
1 tsp Irish Moss - 5 min
1 ea White Labs WLP051 California Ale V
1 oz Centennial (9.3%) - dryhop

 

[haplo]

I would definitely use some Simcoe. When I made mine(not a strict clone), I used Nugget, Warrior, Simcoe & Palisades. I tried to use as many late hop additions as possible. There's a thread or two here on Nugget Nectar clones. I would read through those to get some ideas on the hops.

 

[Inkdoggy]

Thanks Haplo.

New thought. I have some money comin in next month that will allow me to purchase an all grain set up from the get go with multiple kegs. I love beer and cooking so I'm sure I'll stick with it. Should I start slow and add on or do it right from the beginning?

 

[GIusedtoBe]

Two things you need to think about.

If you insist on doing that huge beer for your first one, you better be patient and let it age awhile. Also I would strongly recommend using dry malt extract instead of the liquid. You'll need to adjust the recipe a bit but the DME always taste better and is easier to work with.

If your going to go all grain. Just get the basic kit and then pop for a big stainless pot. These are not cheap. You can get the rest of the stuff later when you start all grain. I have a 15 gallon pot and a home made ten gallon cooler mash tun. Thats really all you'll need to brew beers up to about 9-10% ABV.

Check out some of the how-to vids on youtube for all grain. AG does ramp up the time commitment as my brew sessions last about 5-6 hrs minimum start to finish.

Good Luck
Alan

 

[ecushey]

For what its worth, I just started in Feb. My first was a kit present from in laws that was a Hefeweizen that was so so. Next was a Czech knock off that is still under the house hopefully maturing. I started buying kits from Midwest Brewing and made a great (at least I think so) DIPA.
It gets addicting and the waiting is tough, but its fun to drink as you brew and eventual enjoy your own results

 

[Inkdoggy]

I garden... talk about patience. And work from home, so lots of time. Thinkin to do two brews back to back and follow with two more two weeks later...

 

[haplo]

I built up my equipment slowly. Once I made a few extract brews, I started to research all-grain and decided to make a mash tun out of a 10 gallon cooler I had. Made a few 3 gallon batches, and then bought a 15 gallon aluminum pot. Then drilled a hole to add a spigot, and made a great hopstopper out of stainless steel mesh. Building some of the items myself has saved me money and definitely given me a bit more sense of pride when I use them. I would say it’s more important to research(or ask) and make sure you’re getting or building quality items than it is to get everything all at once. Though if I had the money I would get kegs without a doubt.

I made a Belgian Tripel for my 3rd batch, and that was agonizing waiting for it to age. I’m still impatient, but the first few batches was like falling in love. I didn’t want to do anything but be with the carboy, watch it ferment, and make it mix tapes. It took me a dozen or so batches until I learned a bit of patience. I don’t want to stop you from making a Nugget Nectar, especially because mine turned out so tasty, but it would definitely be a good idea to have another brew going that won’t make crazy waiting for it.

 

[Inkdoggy]

Man, I appreciate all the input.

Haplo, I already sense my impatience. I have decided to purchase some extra stuff to do two at the same time. I am debating on keg vs bottles. I got a commission check today that was double what I anticipated and gives me some bucks to play with. I went to Country Wines and DANG did they have a selection of yeasts and hops. I decided on the kit that includes the glass carboy and figured to add two more. The kit included everything, including an autosiphon, for just over $100 -- ****, I spend $100 a week on cases.

I think I can be satisfied grabbing cases of Lagunitis lil sumpin extra to get me through the wait. Found a case of Victory Hop Wallop in the back of a store today.Yesssssssss...

So, good store bought beer will keep me. I figure to bang out a regular, super hoppy IPA first then follow in a day or three with the Troeggs Nugget Nectar clone. In two weeks, bang out two more when the next commission checks come in. I would love to try a Founder's Double Trouble clone and maybe their Red Rye with more hops. I am an extremist. If I am gonna do it, I am gonnna DO IT!

Thank you so much for everyones' input. It has clarified things for me and set me on the right track. With no question, I will be here regularly to learn, connnect, and share what I am doing.

On a side note, an organization I work with, GTECH, remediates vacant lots here in Pittsburgh. They have grabbed a lot in the Millvale section and they are organically growing hops. Any input on how they could best generate revenue with this. They are a non-profit doing BIG things here in the city. Check em out -- gtechstrategies.org

 

[Brewdouche-RuBrew]

Good for you looks like Homebrewtalk rolled out the beginner welcome mat to you and you sound on your way.

If... you decide to keg. Cheak out http://www.kegglebrewing.com/

The guy lives in Glensaw, PA. Right down the road. Youll save a bundle on sihipping, and you can get a basic kit for $100. Thats without a co2 tank. You dont want a shiny one anyway, its a pain to get them filled. Especially when you can go to any local beer distributor and get a 20# tank for $15 with deposit. I get about 30+ 5gal kegs out of 1 tank.

Brew :rockinn