Here goes nothing...

[JDube]

Ok peeps, I will not lie, I am super excited and nervous. My wife got me the Brewer's Best Delux Equip Kit for my b-day. It should be here on Wed. She also allowed me to get necessary items (stainless steel 6 gallon pot, sanitiser) and some not so necessary items (cool bottle opener).
I bought two extract kits from a local store in Temecula CA, called Murrieta Homebrew Emporium. I was like a kid in a candy store.
I got two recipes because they were labled "easy."

I start my first batch ever on Friday. Wish me luck! If I jack it all up, I have a 12 pack of some local craft in the fridge.

 

[Jayman931]

there is so much information on this site...I would make a date your going to brew...then research what you need to do and have a game plan.... I just brewed my first Satureday! Goold Luck bro!

 

[birvine]

Yes, read a lot here and you'll see that the regular kit instructions can be thrown out. Follow the procedures described on HBT and chances are your brew will be excellent.

B

 

[Homercidal]

Toss out the instructions and read up on here!

You'll have a good time and be making great beer very soon!

Word of warning, though. Double check your water supply, and ferment at less than 70F if you can.

And most of all, welcome to the addiction!

 

[billf2112]

The Kits usually have decent instructions on the boil and time lines. The ferment times are so short, cross out that part. Google your yeast strain. That will get you the temp range for your yeast. Check out the recipe boards here for similar recipes and see how long these recipes ferment for. I have learned in my short time as a brewer that longer ferments and forgoing the secondary (unless your adding to the brew during ferment). I also found that my original brews that I put aside and aged about 6 months are so much better now than they were when the carbing was done.

Welcome to the addiction...ummmm...hobby!!!

 

[jakecpunut]

She also allowed me to get

This is the part that caught my eye hahaha Sorry, just couldn't resist!

 

[thood6]

Like everyone else said, throw out those instuctions. It is likely outdated or misguided information.

And welcome to the brotherhood. I started a couple weeks ago and I'm already thinking about it almost all the time. Most likely if you start you will never stop brewing your own. That's a good thing.

 

[edie]

going to disagree with getting rid of the kit instructions. for your first couple of batches follow what they tell you. brewers best kits tell you to secondary, which i still do because i want to. they also just allow a week in primary and a week in secondary. i think the beer tastes better the longer i leave it in the secondary. so my schedule is now 1 week primary, 2-3 weeks secondary.

the only problem with "throwing out the instructions and follow the advice on this board" is that you're going to get 800 different ideas here and that can get very confusing. my opinion once again is to follow the instructions and continue to read this forum. once you understand things a little better you can then start changing things up. just my opinion.

 

[billf2112]

+1 on using instructions on first few brews. I would at least double the ferment times though.

I did 2 kits, got the process down and took off running on doing recipes. Many I found here in either tweaked them or based a recipe off of them.

Just remember 4 things, Sanitize, Temp Control, Timings and Sanitize.

 

[TopherM]

Definitely FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTONS when it comes to brewday. Brewers Best has very good, detailed, yet simple instructions, and they will make good beer.

The one instruction you need not follow is whatever the ferementation schedule is. Once your beer is in the primary fermenter, and you've pitched your yeast, then just let it sit for at least 3 weeks. I think the BB kits tell you to wait until airlock activity is complete, then wait 2-3 days after that. LEAVE IT FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS and don't worry about the airlock activity. The yeast are plenty active long after they stop eating sugar and producing CO2 and alcohol. For about a week AFTER fermentation, they start eating their own byproducts, including many of the inpurities that cause off flavors in beer. So let them do their thing. THREE WEEK PRIMARY!

Patience makes the best beer!! Honestly, if you have the patience, your beer is going to peak about 8-12 weeks after brew day. The hard part is that it is going to be good and drinkable about 3-5 weeks after brewday, so the temptation is to just start dirnking them anyway, but if you can wait, you'll get the full fruits of your labors.

Best of luck!!

 

[cmoon]

I don't really know the brewers best kits, but looking at them online they look worlds better than the crappy Mr. Beer kit I started with.

As others have said here, ignore any instructions that involve you drinking the beer before three to four weeks have past.

The only thing I would add to this thread would be to consider the yeast. Because there's no way to know how old the kit is, you might consider replacing it.

Good luck!

 

[edie]

let us know how the first brew day goes. it's hard to screw-up and even if you do you've still got a good chance at ending up with a decent beer!

 

[JDube]

Thanks for all the pointers everyone. Unfortunately I will not be able to start the process for anther week. I have to travel and do not have the time before I leave. Oh well, it'll give me more time to get all of your advice before my first brew!
Thanks everyone, I love this forum and site...

 

[beersteiner2345]

Thanks for all the pointers everyone. Unfortunately I will not be able to start the process for anther week. I have to travel and do not have the time before I leave. Oh well, it'll give me more time to get all of your advice before my first brew!
Thanks everyone, I love this forum and site...

Lake Havasu... man you guys have been hotter than we have here in Phoenix.

Knowing this, my advice is do NOT brew until you have some way to control fermentation temperatures (swamp cooler, Son of Fermentation Chiller, Tempt regulated fridge/freezer). I am a beginner (have 7 batches under my belt) and I have already learned the importance of this. First two batches with swamp cooler with mixed results, rest in keezer at 60 degrees. MUCH better with good temp control. Especially when the average high is 114 degrees!

 

[Jayman931]

It was 108 here today (southern MS)...118 with heat index...my primary is at a cool 68 degrees...I have a comercial A/C unit that really blows. I have heard some good things about Lake Havasu

 

[JDube]

@PointerDixie214; Yeah the heat here is an issue for sure. I am waiting until I get the temp control. I am researching on here on which to get since I have recently been given a chest freezer. I did recieve the kit, and I guess it does have everything. It was so fun unwrapping it and reminded me of Christmas as a kid.

@Jayman931, I know what you mean. I grew up in Pass Christian (next too Long Beach/Gulfport) until I left for the military in 1999. I know the heat of Mississippi well. I also almost went to USM, but ended up with my Masters from Miss State. Don't hate.
I am working on the temp thing and I will let you all know when I am going to be able to do it.
I am going to be in Weed climbing Mt Shasta for my B-day. I hear they have good beer there.

 

[GeoGirl]

JDube - I am limited in my brewing knowledge but I do completely agree with everyone here about ignoring the fermentation time in the kit instructions. At least 3 weeks in the primary and you won't need the secondary (unless doing some specialties). I followed the directions in my first kit (against the advise of my LHBS) and while it was good, it would have been a lot better had I let it stay in the primary longer.

Something else I would add is - Taste as you go. Have a taste of your wort when you take your OG. Have a taste when you take your FG. Taste 1 bottle early on in the conditioning (when you just can't wait any longer). Keep notes about the process, the taste, etc. It's a great learning experience.

Most of all, HAVE FUN!

 

[funkapottomous]

This is the part that caught my eye hahaha Sorry, just couldn't resist!

Hey that's what it's all about, man.

If there's anything I learned from Jeff Foxworthy (aside from the tell tale signs of being a redneck) it was "If mama aint happy aint nobody happy."

 

[Jayman931]

JDube I ended up with my Masters from Miss State. Don't hate.
QUOTE]

Its okay...i'm a "damn yankee"..lol...I do attend alot of USM baseball games though....I graduated from Purdue

 

[Jayman931]

tried to delete this blank post...

 

[Jayman931]

@Jayman931, I ended up with my Masters from Miss State. Don't hate.

WHy would I hate? I'm a "damn yankee"...lol...grew up in Indiana...graduated from Purdue...Don't Hate...