Hi From A newby!

[DrDoid]

Hi all,

I'm new to home brewing and have been checking out this great web site for two weeks. Have leaned a lot from you all already. I've got my first, an Irish Stout, in secondary. Will bottle it this Friday eve, while drinking a few beers (commercial and hopefully my last). I'll let you know how it goes.

On another note, I'd like to do a Hefeweizen. Does anyone have a recommendation. Remember, I'm a beginner.

 

[BeanPot Brewery]

Good luck with the stout. good first choice.

There are a lot of good Hefe extract recipes out there. My only recommendation is to use liquid yeast. It seems to work best with hefes.

 

[timdsmith72]

Just opened the first couple of bottles of this one and it's great!!!:rockin:

Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse (from Beer Captured)

4 oz Belgian Aromatic Malt
2 oz Acid Malt

6 lb. 5 oz. Muntons Wheat Dry Malt Extract
2¼ oz. Malto Dextrin

1 oz. American Hallertauer @ 3.5% (bittering hop)

¼ oz. Spalt (flavor hop)
¼ oz. Perle (flavor hop)

White Labs #WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale Yeast

 

[homebrewer_99]

Hefe Weizen? Never heard of such a thing....

Actually, it's what I brew 1/3 of the time. It's my favorite.

The recipe above is good, but since you're a beginner...do you use liquid or dry malt?

If you do liquid, IMMEDIATELY switch over to dry. The end color is lighter and it tastes better.

Send me an email and I'll send you some easy recipes: [email protected].

Welcome 1st poster!

 

[Radarbrew]

Welcome to the board. I have a hefe in the primary right now, ferment's finally slowing a bit, and it looks really tasty. Brewed from extract, it was 6 lbs LME, and 2oz hallertauer hops, 1 oz at 10 minutes 1 oz at 40 minutes, and a liquid yeast. It's a light yellow, and the krausen is dwindling. I may add fruit to the secondary. Good luck with your brewing!

 

[RichBrewer]

Welcome to the board. A stout is a good first beer. Enjoy!

 

[Brewing Clamper]

In general, would you guys say that DME is better than LME? I've been purchasing my ingredients per batch for my first two batches, and I'm starting to think about bulk buying now... I imagine DME would last longer in storage...

 

[Robbw]

As a recent member here, welcome. This place and the members are full of ....INFORMATION!!! hehe

 

[homebrewer_99]

In general, would you guys say that DME is better than LME? I've been purchasing my ingredients per batch for my first two batches, and I'm starting to think about bulk buying now... I imagine DME would last longer in storage...

IMO, DME is far superior (in flavor) and easier to use than LME on many levels. Stores forever as long as it's kept dry. I order my DME by the 55# boxes. They have expiration dates on them also, but they are usually gone before then.

LME has water in it and tends to darken over time. IMO, unless you are making a dark beer such as a bock you'll never be able to attain a light colored beer with LME that is near the style.

When I was a noob I used several can kits, but I went to DME quickly when I realized the differences. It's the best of both worlds in my book. All the "grain work" has been done, there's no extensive equipment to purchase or make, and it's as easy as making soup, or hot chocolate.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of guys out there who know how to make the equipment and enjoy a weekend project and such. I'm not really talking about those guys. For them, they are just getting "into" the hobby a bit more extensively than most. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[DrDoid]

Hi All!

Thanks for your response. Yeah, sounds like I should switch to DME. I'll need to do some research and figure out what to do.

Again, thanks for all the advidce and encouragement!

 

[Brewpastor]

Hefe what? Not more wheat beer! I hate... or who cares.

DME is a good option, although it can be messy and chunk up in the kettle. Good luck, welcome and make yourself at home, just keep your feet off the table.

 

[Walker]

we don't waste any time around here, do we? DrDroid has only just introduced himself, and he's already been convinced to switch his brewing from LME to DME.

Let's keep this thread around and see how long it takes people to convince him to go all grain.

-walker

 

[Brewpastor]

Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but now that the idea has been mentioned, all grain is really cool.

Luke, come to the dark side...

 

[Ize]

Ok, I want to go AG. (THERE I said it...) However, not practical right now due to SWMBO being unsure as to what this whole "homebrewing thing" is all about... (Yeah, barely a beer drinker) But yes, you guys have convinced me to trod the dark path... I hope you're all happy.... But Baby steps are required right now... so...

However, until then...

I'm going to go for the Bavarian Hefe from NB and now Bill has me questioning the ingredients... 6lbs of Wheat Malt Extract and 1 Lbs of Wheat Dry Malt Extract... Do you guys see an issue with this?


Oh, sorry to hijack the thread Doc...


Ize

 

[DrDoid]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. Yeah, I can see the merrits in switching to DME, but if I took the big leap to AG too soon, SWMBO would have my Bal@#@!s!!

I think I'll get some more experience with LME/DME first.

This is darn fun!