Hello

[NOSNOWBrewing]

Hi everyone. I am a greenhorn to home brewing. Got the kit for Christmas and go the book How To Brew by John Plamer it's a great book for people that are new to brewing like me. I am located in just north of Seattle, Washington. Looking forward to starting a new hobby. Best of luck to all.
Cheers!!
NOSNOWBREWING

 

[thadass]

Hello from Everett and welcome to homebrewing! How to Brew is a fantastic resource but be sure to read up on some of the now very popular procedures not covered in the book like "Brew in a bag."

Have you been to any local homebrew stores yet?

 

[NOSNOWBrewing]

No I have not. do you have one that you would good to I have heard that there is one off greenwood in seattle

 

[thadass]

Yeah I know of the one you're talking about, The Cellar Homebrew. I haven't been there myself but I have heard good things.

I've been to Homebrew Heaven up in Everett (closest to home) which is a good place. Bob's on 55th north of UW is good as well.

But don't worry. As soon as you get super obsessed with this hobby you'll be in the grocery store or the mall judging everything on how it could be used for brewing somehow. The world is your LHBS!

 

[NOSNOWBrewing]

Haha I hope so. What style would you do for your first brew. I like IPAs and copper ales

 

[thadass]

I would vote for a copper or amber ale, then. The cost of hops associated with an IPA is better suited to a second or third brew rather than the first, in my opinion.

The really common suggestion for a first brew is something darker, like a stout or porter, because the heavy malty and roasted flavors along with the dark color are much better at covering up any potential beginner mistakes.

My first two brews were "extract with steeping grain" recipes: an oatmeal stout and a Redhook ESB clone.

I think if you find a good amber/copper/esb recipe, go for it! Try finding a clone recipe of a commercial beer you enjoy to have a comparison point and some familiarity with the goal.

 

[NOSNOWBrewing]

Thanks man yea I really liked red hooks copper hook but they don't make it anymore. I would like to try and find something like that

 

[thadass]

Here's something someone came up with called 2¢ Copper Ale (post #5 in this thread):
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/red-hook-copper-hook-45607/#post450834

It's an extract with steeping grains recipe, which is the new brewer's bread-and-butter type of brewing. It's just listed as a set of ingredients so if you have any questions about procedure on this kind of recipe, let us know.

Here's a good video on using a basic starter kit to make this kind of recipe. This is pretty much the assumed process for an extract-with-steeping-grains recipe, which is why that post was just a list of ingredients. Your kit might be different, of course, and may have come with its own info on procedure (if it's from northern brewer maybe it came with this video, hah), but here ya go:



With the recipe on paper you should be able to find one of the local brew stores and they can help you get what you need

Edit: oh yeah, you got the book as well, I forgot. I still like this video though

 

[NickTheGreat]

My first beer was an extract with the grains like thadass said. It didn't really take much other equipment than what I had in my kitchen.

A year or two later . . . I don't think I can say the same

 

[Cyclman]

Welcome to the hobby, and the group, from CO.