Help for a complete Newb

[happyjosiah]

Lately I've been thinking about homebrewing. That's about as far as I have gotten. I like beer (especially ales) and I like the concept of doing-it-myself, as it were, but I don't even know where to start.

I poked around the beginner forums and didn't see much in the way of "getting started," just questions from beginners. I decided maybe I would read up on the equipment needed, and I ran across someone posting the following sentence in a discussion of what type of container to use:

Generally they have a lot of headspace. This isn't a problem for primary fermentation, as CO2 will displace the air in your bucket. It can, however, pose a problem if you're using it for a secondary. You can boil a few thousand marbles to sanitize them, then rack your beer on top of that. Seems like more hassle than it's worth to me, but I don't usually secondary.

I have boldfaced the words that I didn't understand. As you can see, I don't even have enough basic knowledge about this to know... well... anything.

Is there any type of primer on the forums, book I can read, or anything to get me started from square one? Or have I bitten off more than I can chew?

Thanks in advance!

 

[lazer1985]

Let me start off by say welcome . I am also new to home brewing and like you had no idea where to start a few weeks ago. I now have an imperial blonde ale fermenting in it primary as we speak

The way I started was I stumbled upon this website and did alot of reading......Alot!!! I did searches browsed they pages and pages of the beginners forums. I then went to my local Barnes and noble and read some books. Hey it's free!!! I ended up purchasing home brewing for dummies ( lol ) and a brew magazine. The came back and did more reading on here. After a week of doing research on equipment I went to my local home brew store and talked to the guy there and set me up with what I was originally looking for online . The brewers best deluxe kit and an extract kit. Followed the Instructions the next day and boom!!! I got my first home brew waiting to go in the secondary Carboy in a few days

Ask friends or coworkers and see if they know anything about it too!! I found out one of my coworkers brews too and he have me alot of good advice!!!

 

[Inverted_Giraffe]

I'd simply start at:

http://www.breworganic.com/tips/virtual_class.htm

That's a virtual brew class that will explain everything well and take you through all the steps with pictures.

Other than that, the books to read are:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Right-First/dp/0937381888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319123177&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Homebrewing-Third-Harperresource-Book/dp/0060531053/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

 

[akimbo78]

Here

 

[unionrdr]

There are many videos on youtube about this. Craigtube is probably the most well known for beginner brewing.

 

[rjsnau]

Also check out http://www.howtobrew.com/

It is the entire How to Brew book by John Palmer and has tons of information, way more than you need to get started but if you read the beginning chapters it is a good place to start. Honestly the way I got started was going and picking up the cheapest beginner kit, a pot to boil at least 3-4 gallons of wort in, two cases of bottles and a kit and just followed the kit directions. I didn't read anything so you are already ahead of me. Just don't get paralyzed by research and fear of not knowing everything. Your Local Homebrew shop (LHBS) will be willing to answer any questions.

 

[Homercidal]

Here is a nutshell beginners step-through. You will likely want to start by using a concetrated malt syrup or powder we call 'Extract'. Dry powder is called DME (Dry Malt Extract) and Syrup is called LME (Liquid Malt Extract). essentially they are the same thing.

You will need a pot made of aluminum, stainless steel, or porcelain enamel (no chips!) to boil your wort (unfermented beer). You heat up some water in the kettle and when it's hot, remove from heat and add your extract. Return to heat and boil.

Once boil starts, add your hops as indicated by the directions for your kit. Watch for boil-overs. They will happen and they make a mess!

Once the boil is complete, turn off the heat and let it sit while you prepare an ice bath in the sink or bathtub.

Place the kettle carefully in the water/ice mixture and let it cool to about 65F.

While it's cooling, boil a cup or so of water on the stove for 10 minutes to sanitize it. Chill the pan in the ice bath. Once it's cool, pour into a small sanitized glass.

Sanitize scissors and the yeast pack, and then cut open and pour into cooled glass of water and cover with sanitized foil. After 15 minutes, gently stir in the yeast.

Once the wort has chilled, pour into a bucket or carboy and agititate really well to mix oxygen into the wort.

Then throw the yeast in (called pitching the yeast).

Place lid and airlock on top and ferment around 65 until the fermentation is complete. I usually wait 3 weeks, but it can take longer, always use a hydrometer to check the gravity.

Then bottle.

The secondary is a second fermenter into which you rack (transfer) your beer after the primary. Some people one every time, and some people never do. I prefer to use one for most of my beers, unless it's going to need to bulk age for several months, like for a barleywine or some other very strong beer.

Please be aware that there are many methods to brewing and this is a quick overview.

I highly recommend buying a book and reading it, and reading the stickies at the top of the beginners forums. Books I recommend to begin with are:

How to Brew - John Palmer
Complete Joy of Homebrewing - Charlie Papazian
Hoembrewing for Dummies (actually a fairly complete guide and very well written)

Palmer's book is going to be more technical, Papa C's book is enjoyable and his enjoyment of brewing is evident and contagious. The newest theories and methods will be found on this site, and other brewing sites.

Also look at www.basicbrewing.com and thebrewingnetwork.com for podcasts about brewing and beer (and sometimes other things).

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. I'll try to sneak an answer back as time allows at work.

 

[mathemagician]

I'll cast another vote for http://www.howtobrew.com/

I've only brewed a couple batches so far, but I read through the first chapter of John Palmer's book before doing anything. Its well written and structured for the beginner. He starts off by going through an abridged version of the entire process, and then goes back and fills in the details with more advanced techniques.

 

[solbes]

I would simply start with buying and reading John Palmer's How to Brew book, 3rd ed. Or for a semi-outdated but free version, check out the 1st edition that is online. You'll come away with the working knowledge needed to decide if you want to jump in or not.

I can't image you will not be interested. You can get the initial equipment and an extract kit for $120-200.

 

[happyjosiah]

Thanks all, that was really helpful!