How many brews before your first really good one?

[jddevinn]

After hearing all the posts of people asking why they just can't make good beer, can't do it consistently or it took years to get good, it is heartening to hear of others who were successful relatively quickly. One of my best was my 12th batch. I had left overs and came up with a brown ale that I named "Brown Eyed Girl"

6lb American 2 Row Pale
2lb C-60L
1lb Brown Sugar
8oz Belgian Caramunich
6oz. Belgian Special B

1oz Cascade 30 min.
1oz Centennial 10 min.
.5oz Willamette 10 min.
1oz Centennial dry hop 7 days.

WLP051 California Ale V

I did it again with similar but different ingredients and it was not as good. Did it a third time with closer to the same ingredients and it was close. Need to try it again.

I think most of it is learning curve and process related. I've learnt more over time, my beers have gotten better more, more consistent and more stable and importantly I've learned to modify recipes how I desire them.

My first batch was on a Kal clone I built (and have later modified) with an established recipe. Step by step directions for using this system are published that I stated following and later modified. If I had designed my own equipment before I really knew what I was doing or started with a simple "brew kit" I'm sure the learning curve would have been much steeper!!!

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I prefer trial and error to to get the best results, I spent 2 years brewing various all grain batches before getting that perfect beer, and I would say it was so good it lasted a week before gone and Ive never been able to brew that good again but try and try again, thats what we do to keep people honest and report whet we did to accomplish greatness, its all about shearing and teaching our failures and accomplishments to help

 

[Pantherjon]

Took me like 4 to get a 'good' one..Was my 5th batch and was only a 1 gallon batch-dangit! And was my 1st all grain batch..After that I tried a couple more extract kits which bombed, then started to be serious All Grain...Last few batches have been kind of hit or miss..My Irish Stout(partial mash w/specialty grains was spectacular), Mystery Brew and Shot in the Dark- so so all grain..Gooder Then Guinness all grain turned out awesome..Judgement still out on last 2 batches as they are aging in keg or bottles..And hopefully my first brew on my Grainfather(Piney the Welder) turns out well, we shall find out in about 4 weeks when I either bottle or keg it...

 

[jonny24]

I'd say my third batch, which was my first all grain- a simple Cascade Pale Ale. It was delicious and disappeared way too fast. The next three (Hallertau SMASH, Irish Red, and Cream Ale) all had off flavours but the cream ale is improving. My dad liked the the Smash and Cream Ale better than I did so maybe I was too critical.

The batch after that, another Pale Ale, is quite good with no off flavours. Luckily PA's are my favourite, so I should always have something good to drink while tinkering with other styles.