I want to try brewing my own beer...

[NeverEnough]

Thinking about getting into brewing my own beer. I'm a new n00b so any advice, suggestions, etc is much appreciated.

I'd start with attempting to brew standard beer, but I want to get into flavors that some may consider odd.

 

[jtratcliff]

do eet! ees fun!

Read "How to Brew" by Palmer. Free 1st edition is online... Be aware that some details have changed.

Read the Stickies here... Lot's of good advice.

Pick a simple extract recipe ( or a get a recipe from your LHBS). Follow the recipe.. You'll get beer....


Read more. Try again. More carefully this time. Get better beer.

Keep reading. Keep getting better beer.

Easy!

 

[Roobiedoobiedoo]

Check out some of the podcasts on the brewing network. They have years of back catalogs. They can get into some of the technical aspects, so read up on some basic brewing online and watch some YouTube videos if you find the podcasts daunting. Are you planing to start with extract or all grain? I started with a 1 gallon kit I got as a gift from Brooklyn brew shop (I think). I found it a good start. They're small batches but it's all grain, which I'm glad for. Nothing against extract, I just like the control you get from all grain. One suggestion if you do go with a kit to start, get a liquid yeast to replace the dry yeast they come with. If not, at least rehydrate the yeast before you pitch.

 

[rnm410]

do eet! ees fun!

Read "How to Brew" by Palmer. Free 1st edition is online... Be aware that some details have changed.

Read the Stickies here... Lot's of good advice.

Pick a simple extract recipe ( or a get a recipe from your LHBS). Follow the recipe.. You'll get beer....


Read more. Try again. More carefully this time. Get better beer.

Keep reading. Keep getting better beer.

Easy!

I can't second this quote enough.

John Palmer How to Brew!

 

[insanim8er]

You should do it... Everyone else is doing it...

 

[beergolf]

Do it.

It really is pretty easy. I remember my first brew. I was intimidated, worried and all that at first. Before I did it I spent a ton of time looking at youtube vids (there are some very good ones), reading this forum. After a while it seemed less intimidating. Guess what? I made a pretty good brew. If you follow instructions it is really pretty hard to really mess up a brew.

 

[drainbamage]

You should.

Brewing is a hobby that can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Read up on some of the stickies and pick up some pointers from the veteran brewers around here on HBT, and you'll be well on your way.

 

[jlg4398]

I'm a brand new brewer. I watch Craig Farraway on Youtube. Craigtube, has the info you really need to brew a batch of good beer.

 

[Setesh]

I agree with the advice above, but I will add that if you can find a homebrew club in your area that is one of the best things you can do. They will be more than happy to have you come to brew days and check things out, plus you will get to try home brewed beers while you are there. If you end up liking it you can join the club and get personal (and likely hands on) training! What's not good about that?

 

[harrke]

Come on in, the water's fine!

This whole forum is full of good advice and extremely helpful people. You won't regret it!


Sent using the Home Brew App.

 

[MindenMan]

Witout Googling, which band had a record titled,"Everybody else in doing it, why can't we?"
So, if your all your friends are home brewers as far as your wife knows, the above question is very important.

Edit: I wish I would have known about HBT before I brewed my first partial grain kit. I made lots of mistakes, but still got beer. Honestly, I didn't use my hydrometer for quite a few brews. I figured I would never hit the recommended O.G. numbers anyway, so why be discouraged from the start?

 

[Paradigm]

Easiest thing I've ever done! Best thing to do is to start with the cheapest kit you can find. The cheapest in my area is ~$30, so I say try it and follow the instructions!

Worst case is that you make a basic mistake and the beer isn't that great. Trust me, you'll get better. I've brewed 4-5 times now and I can see a definite improvement.

 

[NeverEnough]

What kits should I be looking at? I don't want to go too small only to waste $ & need to upgrade 2 months in, but I don't need to go extreme overkill either.

 

[NeverEnough]

I'm also hearing a lot about temperature control, but don't know how to go about it the right way. My basement is cold in the winter, but not as cool in the summer of course. I have a mini fridge I can use if need be, though. Just need to know how to modify it properly.

 

[insanim8er]

Look up the stc1000 forums

I have 10gal of saison in a closet temp controlled. It's at 77f now.

Then I have 10 gal of blonde ale in the corner of my living room. The temp fluctuates a little. But it stays within range. 64-68

 

[jtratcliff]

I'm also hearing a lot about temperature control, but don't know how to go about it the right way.

Swamp cooler. Put your fermenter in a container full of water. (I use the plastic party tubs you can get at walmart for $8) in your basement. Use the $3 stick-on lcd thermometers (google fermometer) on your fermenter (don't submerge!). If it starts to get too warm (above 70F) throw in a couple frozen water bottles. One or 2 frozen bottles switched out a couple times per day can keep your temps in low 60s

I can maintain mid 60s temps in my small storm-cellar basement in Southern California 100F summers With only a couple of changes of frozen water bottles per day.

 

[bredle]

I second the brewing network podcasts, and a must is the Beersmith podcast. Craigtube is also a good resource, as is Beer Geek Nation on youtube. I would also start out with an extract recipe kit and follow the instructions, and you'll have 45-50 bottles of home-brewed beer in a months time!

 

[ProfessorWoland]

Have a crack at the extract kits. I'm still using them and still impressed by the results.

Although ignore the instructions and leave the beer for at least a week after fermentation.

Also ignore the bubbles in the airlock and measure the gravity to see if fermentation is over.

Lastly, clean and sanitise!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Hopinista]

What kits should I be looking at? I don't want to go too small only to waste $ & need to upgrade 2 months in, but I don't need to go extreme overkill either.

I started with the NorthernBrewer.com Deluxe starter kit, came with everything. Even an extract kit for your first batch!

 

[rmowry]

I'm new to home brewing as we'll but read a lot on this forum and watched a few videos on YouTube and I just jumped right into all grain doing one gallon batches for now working out a few minor kinks then moving up a step to 3-5 gallon batches I'm having a blast even brewing one gallons because I can brew more at one time you can find easy to follow step by step instructions for any type of brewing you want to brew such as BIAB (brew in a bag) all grain partial mash extract online


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Flboy]

First brew was 30 years ago. Crap! Got back into it 14 years ago, all way too malty. Restarted 5 months ago, and with this forum and Palmer, ya- craigtube too. Am rockin, immediately moved away from over priced,poor quality beer in a can kits. Just starting full grain now. Look at heartshomebrew.com good selection of recipes, and he lists the ingredients! Family loves r19, r13,r27 in that order. R26 super simple to start with. FYI, his prices are very good too, and for me he is local!

 

[Yesfan]

sorry for the typo.


If I were just starting out, keep it simple would be the best route imo. I would look at some of the one gallon kits from Northern Brewer. This would be what I would buy:

1. One gallon Northern Brewer Starter kit - $49.99 + $7.99 for the shipping. (link). Pick the beer you want included in this kit.

2. A 3 gallon stainless pot from Wal-mart - $8.94 link

3. A 12 pack of your favorite beer. - $?? Drink this while your first home brew is fermenting. Then reuse the bottles to bottle your first batch of home brew. Make sure the bottles you buy are pry off, and not twist off.


When you decide you want to make the jump to all-grain, then.......

4. 5 gallon paint strainer bag - 5pc for $9.95 (link)

5. Binder clips to hold the bag to the kettle - $1.40 (link)

6. A colander - $6.57 (link)

7. Need more fermenters? - Try hitting the local bakeries for some of their 2 gallon icing buckets. I got mine for free from my local BiLo. All you need then is some grommets and extra airlocks for the lids (under $2.00 for each bucket)

Total cost? $84.84. That doesn't include the price of the 12 pack you'd be drinking.


This would be a good route to go imo for several reasons. One, if the hobby isn't for you, you're not out a lot of money. Since this is small batch brewing, you would be brewing more which will give you more experience. That is a good thing if you do get into the hobby. The other thing is not having to worry about spending lots of money on burners, pots, carboys, fittings, etc. since you can use your kitchen stove to brew on. The more expensive stuff like that can come later as your hobby grows.

I also agree about How to Brew, but didn't list it as the first version is free online. While the book is essential, it's not necessary to have since you have the first version online. However, with that said, I like having a hard copy in my hands so I have something to go to when I need it and the books are more updated. I also don't want to screw Mr. Palmer out of his income, so just buy it.


Hope this helps and welcome to the hobby (and this forum).

 

[smccarter]

A few links. Full of information.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewingtv/
https://www.youtube.com/user/donosborn
http://howtobrew.com/sitemap.html
http://www.bjcp.org/index.php
http://chopandbrew.com/
http://www.beerbooks.com/cgi/ps4.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=psdbi/home.html&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!

 

[Flboy]

Remember, keep it simple, kiss. You need fermenter, I still use 5 gal water bottles. Only focus on ale kits for now, brew pot? Walmart and Amazon have a 21.5 quart stoneware pot for 19.99. In walmart, in the canning section, lower price than pots and pans section, same store!
Bottling? Soda bottles are great and cheap, but putzy when handing out. Thermometer and hydrometer? Soon, but not needed for an extract kit! And on kits, really good now days, ya contradicting myself, I followed Palmer's direction for using an extract kit.