I never brew beer before so I need advice on how to start.

[RMS]

Hey all!

I need advice on the most economical way to start a brew. I do not own a 5 gallon stainless steel brew pot so should I just buy a kit like you see on amazon for $119.00

http://www.amazon.com/Maestro-Making-Equipment-Ingredient-Stainless/dp/B0063UC1PI/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1350261266&sr=8-16&keywords=beer+brewing+kits

Is this the best way to start? Also I am interested in bottling larger than 16oz. bottles so do you think these are OK?

http://www.amazon.com/CASE-OF-12-Bottles-AMBER/dp/B0064ODUJ4/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2TCTELFH6BMS8

But I hear that 2 liter plastic pop bottles seem to work OK also and If so then that is fine by me!

Any advice on how to get a new guy started for the most economical way is what I am looking for.

Thanks.
Rob

 

[ThePonchoKid]

I'd go straight to all-gain. Maybe 1-2.5 gallon batches

Hope someone can set you off. Good luck.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

I wouldn't get that kit. If you are going to have to buy a pot, you might as well get one you can do full boils in. If I had done that to start out, things would have went a lot smoother. You can get a buyou classic 36 quart off ebay for $67 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bayou-Class...ecues_Grills_Smokers&var=&hash=item2323c94a08. Then go to a good homebrew shop or website and get a starter kit. Here's one I looked up real quick from Midwest Supplies http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-basics-equipment-kit.html I don't know what shipping will run you for the starer kit, but the price isn't that far off from what you were looking at before and you end up with a 9 gallon kettle. With this set up you can brew extract super easy and even transition to all grain on the cheap by brewing BIAB.

 

[Bradinator]

A lot of people get into this hobby and give up right away so I would do a bit of bargain hunting on Kijiji or something similar. All of my starting gear were bought used for very little. I would not be using old pop bottles myself, but a buddy of mine does it and says its fine.

Though I kind of agree with starting with all grain, its kind of overwhelming for a new brewer. I would start with extract w/specialty grains to get an idea of the brewing process. Brew a few batches, make a few mistakes and figure out your brewing 'system'.

If you got friends that brew I would be hooking up with them on a brew day and watching. You will learn a ton. If your like me when I started and know nobody that brews watch some videos on youtube. Helped me out a ton and gave me an idea of what I needed for brewing.

 

[pdxbg]

Go to your local home brew shop. Talk to them about it. Generally, at least in my area, they are very helpful and can supply you with just what you need to do your first brew without upselling you on things you don't need.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I wouldn't get that kit. If you are going to have to buy a pot, you might as well get one you can do full boils in. If I had done that to start out, things would have went a lot smoother. You can get a buyou classic 36 quart off ebay for $67 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bayou-Class...ecues_Grills_Smokers&var=&hash=item2323c94a08. Then go to a good homebrew shop or website and get a starter kit. Here's one I looked up real quick from Midwest Supplies http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-basics-equipment-kit.html I don't know what shipping will run you for the starer kit, but the price isn't that far off from what you were looking at before and you end up with a 9 gallon kettle. With this set up you can brew extract super easy and even transition to all grain on the cheap by brewing BIAB.

+1

Where do you plan on brewing? If you can brew outside, I would, from the beginning, get a larger pot, and a propane burner, and do full boils from the start. Otherwise, if (or rather when) you get hooked on the hobby, you'll end up having to upgrade in the future anyway.

If, like me, you're confined to indoor brewing on an electric stove, full boils probably won't be possible, and the 5 gallon pot would suit you in the meantime. But if you can get a bigger one for the same price you might as well do it.

As far as bottles, what many folks (myself included) do is reuse commercial bottles. Either beer you drink, picking bottles up from the recycling center, getting empty bottles from bars or bottle shops. I've never bottled in plastic so I can't give you any advice there, but I know there are folks who do. I don't know if a regular soda bottle would be suitable or not (I know some plastic bottles aren't good to reuse, chemical leakage and such).

 

[freisste]

If you reuse bottles, make sure that the bottle was a carbonated beverage to start with. (Pop, beer, sparkling water, etc. are good, but not still water, juice, or other non-carbonated drinks.)

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

I've used soda bottles in the past without any problems. If you are going to recycle commercial bottles make sure you get pop off cap bottles not the twist off kind as you won't be able to ensure a good seal on the threads if the twist off bottles.

I also agree with what others said about getting a bigger pot if you can will save you in the long run. But you can certainly do extract or partial mash recipes in your 4gallon pot and then top off with water in the fermenter.

 

[RMS]

Wow, ..... Thanks to all posts! ..OK I hear two camps, one for full boils out side and the other that says indoors is fine "IF" outdoor full boil is not an option. So if this is the case then yes I do have a small back yard so why is a full boil outside the better option?

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

It's less messy outside. Aside from that using full boils will give you better utilization of the hops. Due to the fact you're using the total amount of water as opposed to using less water and diluting your wort by adding water to the fermenter.

 

[RMS]

well, I do not have a propane burner, or a 6-9 gallon pot........I think I am looking for a more economical approach.

 

[Hackwood]

I've gotten 2 people into HB recently and I told them to just start with the kits to get a basic rhythm and then later see about upgrading. Yes, it can be more expensive, but if they decide that it's not something that they want to stick with then they aren't out too much.

Get your burner and bigger pot after checking out a few all-grain vids etc etc. Then you also have the option to help a friend get into HB by offering him/her your beginner setup.

 

[RMS]

......Can I brew this Ingredient Kit on my electric stove? If so what will I need......bare minimum.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Lager-Home-Brewing-Ingredient/dp/B0006OMPOO

Thanks !!

 

[Qhrumphf]

......Can I brew this Ingredient Kit on my electric stove? If so what will I need......bare minimum.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Lager-Home-Brewing-Ingredient/dp/B0006OMPOO

Thanks !!

Doing lagers will require extra equipment and generally not advised for new brewers. You can brew drinkable ales without a major investment in temperature control (drinkable with no control, good with some cheap and easy techniques). Brew a lager without buying or building a temp control chamber and you probably won't like the results. Even with the right equipment they're a lot more challenging. If that's the style you want there are pseudo-lager style/recipes/kits that would get you close.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Shouldn't have a problem with that kit in your stove top. You will need at the least a 6 gallon food grade bucket with lid as that kit makes a 5 gallon batch. You will want a larger than 5 gallon bucket as when it ferments it will krausen ( foam up ). And an airlock or tubing that will fit the drilled hole in the lid so you can make your own airlock/blow off tube. I think those would be the minimal equipment needed.
Oh yeah hydrometer. Some don't use them. I do. Only way to guarantee fermentation is complete is by using a hydrometer. I'd rather spend the couple bucks on one than have my beer bottles exploding.

 

[lgilmore]

Boy I think you should continue to read everything you can before you buy anything. Right now it seems like you're all over the place with bits and pieces. I spent about three months looking into the process. There's a ton of questions out there. this is a great place to learn. I found Midwest's FAQ section had about 150 questions that by the time I read through them had me more knowledgable than when I started. I brew outside/garage in a 7 gallon turkey fryer set up. I use extract because I cannot commit the extra time to brewing for all grain, at least not yet. Brewing in a bag interests me as a compromise, but more time to put in. Before you buy anything make sure you know why you're buying it.

 

[RMS]

OK guys thanks a ton for all the feed back! I have not bought anything yet; I enjoy lager beer and now it seems I do need to slow down a bit and read up on this. I will do a search here for how to brew lagers. I guess this is tougher to do than I thought.

Thanks.

 

[lgilmore]

"I guess this is tougher to do than I thought."

Look at it this way, the more you read up on the subject, the easier it will be.

I've been brewing about two years. The first year just a couple times at a U brew it shop (where you go and brew there with their equipment) and found I liked it.
Then before I spent any money on my home set up, I started reading, started looking at catelogs, online too. Started going throgh the FAQ sections. I got it down enough before I started that I avoided a ton of mistakes that have been made by others.

And as you figure this out, you have to think of your own situation... I brew outside.. biggest reason why has nothing to do with the quality of the beer I make. It has to do with how pissed do I want my wife to be if I have a boil over on the stove? I get to brew because I do it where it won't make her mad if something doesn't work the way it's supposed to. A happy wife is one plus when brewing. Trust me on that one.

So take the time to read up and think about how you would run your set up before you buy. You'll thank youself later for doing it that way.

Cheers man.

 

[chefesito]

When you say it's tougher than you thought, I think you'll be surprised at how easy it is. I have not been brewing long, but if you get the kit and follow the recipe, I'm sure it will work out fine. I've only brewed my fourth beer recently, and have stuck with the Ales because of the temperature issues for the Lagers, but each Ale was different, and they all came out great. I have been a Chef for over 30 years, so following a recipe is kind of second nature to me, but it is really just following simple instructions. Good luck, and welcome to a great hobby. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have so far.

 

[Halbrust]

If you've never brewed before, and don't have anyone around to guide you along (in person). I'd suggest starting with mead, cider, or "wine".

 

[Qhrumphf]

OK guys thanks a ton for all the feed back! I have not bought anything yet; I enjoy lager beer and now it seems I do need to slow down a bit and read up on this. I will do a search here for how to brew lagers. I guess this is tougher to do than I thought.

Thanks.

If you can hold fermentation steady around 50 degrees, and then age it at or around 32 degrees, lagers are doable. Lager yeasts are just much more picky and harder to work with. Your initial batches will likely have off-flavors until you get the hang of brewing them. To give you an idea, I've been brewing a few years, and I still haven't done a proper lager because I can't keep temperatures steady enough and low enough to do it right. You could do styles like Kolsch, Blonde Ale, Cream Ale, and they'll get you close.

If you have a refrigerator you can spare, you can make it happen. The only thing you'd need is to install an aftermarket temperature controller (if you can buy a two-stage controller, and then purchase a Fermwrap or equivalent, you can brew with the best of them). Other folks have built their own temp chambers using various forms of insulation and some cooling method (I've seen a few with AC units).

The brewing process is actually really easy once you get the hang of it, and honestly making beer is very forgiving, especially when using extract (and all-grain isn't as tough as it seems either, but I'd definitely recommend starting with extract unless you're really adamant diving in head first). As long as you keep it simple, stick to proven recipes and/or kits (at least until you're familiar enough with ingredients to create your own recipes), and follow a couple critical factors- sanitation, pitching rate, and temperature control, you'll make drinkable beer. And ales can be made simply surrounding your fermenter in a bin filled with water during fermentation (and adding ice if desired to keep the temperature you want) . Search for "swamp cooler" on here. Lots of folks (myself included) use this method, and it costs no more than buying a big tote bin if you don't already have one on hand.

Making drinkable beer is really simple. Making a good beer isn't much harder. Making great competition-winning beer, well that's a bit more of a challenge

 

[Yooper]

......Can I brew this Ingredient Kit on my electric stove? If so what will I need......bare minimum.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Lager-Home-Brewing-Ingredient/dp/B0006OMPOO

Thanks !!

Skip that kit! It's not a quality kit, and the ingredients are cheap anyway.

You need the biggest pot you have, on your stove. Can you look and see what you have available, and then try boiling water on your stove, in the biggest amount you can, and then report back with that information? Then we can give you specifics on something that would work for you with a minimum of cost.

What you DO need is a "kit" with the equipment- a fermenter, hydrometer, siphoning equipment, etc- here: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...arter-kits/essential-brewing-starter-kit.html

 

[ronsky]

Skip that kit! It's not a quality kit, and the ingredients are cheap anyway.

You need the biggest pot you have, on your stove. Can you look and see what you have available, and then try boiling water on your stove, in the biggest amount you can, and then report back with that information? Then we can give you specifics on something that would work for you with a minimum of cost.

What you DO need is a "kit" with the equipment- a fermenter, hydrometer, siphoning equipment, etc- here: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/beer-equipment-starter-kits/essential-brewing-starter-kit.html

The NB base kit is the one I recently purchased. I was pleased w the quality, AND it includes an extract kit to start you off. The only things I added to the base was a better bottle 6gal carboy, a hydrometer, sample jar, cheapo thief, and a spoon. I already had a biga$$ pot to boil in.

 

[ronsky]

Oh, and NB also has 1 gallon small batch kits that also include an extract kit, if you don't want to go with 5gallon batches. (I am thinking of getting that one for small batch wine, meads, and experimenting).

 

[mikecshultz]

I got a starter kit from northern brewers. It came with everything I needed. I brew exclusively indoors. I would suggest starting with a non-lager kit, just to get the hang of the process. Depending on whether you have a good home brew shop near you, you may be able to get the equipment you need to start from there for cheaper than a starter kit online. I also advise just diving in and getting started. Get the equipment, buy an extract beer recipe kit from somewhere like northern brewers, and follow the instructions. It is way easier than you think and you can really only learn by doing. Welcome.

 

[RMS]

...You need the biggest pot you have, on your stove. Can you look and see what you have available, and then try boiling water on your stove, in the biggest amount you can, and then report back with that information? Then we can give you specifics on something that would work for you with a minimum of cost....[/url]

All I had was a 2 gallon pot on hand and it was oval in shape (made for roasting a small chicken), I was able to span it over my two electric coils one small one large; It boiled up in 30 minutes.

I can spend about $200 on additional supplies if needed. Such as a larger pot or even a "used" refrigerator for temp control. Basically I am thinking about committing the bare minimum needed to brew a basic lager. If I can brew something equal in taste to a BMC then I am willing to spend a few bucks to do so. can I break even brewing my own after a year you think? LOL just thought I would ask.

 

[Yooper]

All I had was a 2 gallon pot on hand and it was oval in shape (made for roasting a small chicken), I was able to span it over my two electric coils one small one large; It boiled up in 30 minutes.

I can spend about $200 on additional supplies if needed. Such as a larger pot or even a "used" refrigerator for temp control. Basically I am thinking about committing the bare minimum needed to brew a basic lager. If I can brew something equal in taste to a BMC then I am willing to spend a few bucks to do so. can I break even brewing my own after a year you think? LOL just thought I would ask.

A larger pot is good.

I'd be hesitant to encourage you to make something "equal in taste to BMC" as that is very hard to do. It's light and "clean" and there is no place for flaws to hide. People might denigrate it, but it's very very difficult to make something like that. If that is your goal, I think you'll end up disappointed. Lagers are tough- not just temperature control, but water chemistry, yeast starters, perfect siphoning techique, etc.

If your goal is to make a great tasting ale, then I think that could be easily doable for a newer brewer with a $200 budget.

 

[RMS]

I hear you, not sure what I was thinking, I kinda thought a BMC was kind of a run of the mill so to speak. How about something like this? http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/john-q-adams-marblehead-lager-extract-kit.html

 

[Yooper]

I hear you, not sure what I was thinking, I kinda thought a BMC was kind of a run of the mill so to speak. How about something like this? http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/john-q-adams-marblehead-lager-extract-kit.html

Lagers are pretty tough. They need strict fermentation temperature control, at 50 degrees for about 2 weeks, than a rise to the 60s for 24 hours, then racking to a carboy and holding at 34-38 degrees for 6-8 weeks. They also need more yeast, and are a bit more finicky. They are very "clean" tasting, so flaws are extremely noticeable. I wouldn't recommend a lager for your first brew, and maybe not your fifth.

 

[chriswilkes33]

I also think that if your goal is to break even cash wise then you may as well move on to another hobby.

I have spent more money on brewing stuff, between equipment, ingredients, trips to NHC's and other comps etc. than I care to remember.

This hobby has a way of taking over you like the bird flu or something, once you catch the bug and learn what good beer can taste like you are in for a wild ride.

Good luck with your first beer, take these peoples advice, if you really like light lagers etc. then try a simple kolsch or blonde ale, the yeast is much more forgiving and the flavor profiles can be really similar.

Last bit of advice, dont brew to save money, brew because you want to make awesome beer.