I'm hooked - and I haven't even started!!!

[CBHScott]

Hello, all!

Here's the deal: My wife and I went out for drinks last Saturday night (we are both around 50, and haven't gone out just "for drinks" in a long time). I hadn't had any "craft"-style brews other than the usual regional stuff in awhile. On a stout whim, I ordered a glass of New Holland Dragon's Milk, and immediately loved it. So, in doing research on NHDM, I clicked on a link that had a clone recipe that lead me here.

Uh, oh!

I have never really considered home brewing until reading this site (other than casually mentioning the frequent "Mr. Beer" kit sales on woot! to my wife over the years - which she would always shoot down ), but I now after spending a few hours here, I have the itch to get started, and she seems to be accepting of the possibility

I'm intrigued by the one-gallon kits mostly, as it seems a bit more "grown-up" than the Mr. Beer kits, yet small and inexpensive enough to get my feet wet.

I'll jump back in when I do!

 

[kh54s10]

Give it a go. Read up, especially the stickies on this site. That way maybe you can avoid an "is my beer ruined?" post.

I suggest going to 5 gallon extract kits. You will be really surprised how fast 50+ bottles of beer will disappear. Also get another fermenter and start your second batch asap after the first one. You don't want to run out of the first batch before the second batch is ready.

Welcome to the obsessio.. Er - hobby!

 

[unionrdr]

He's right. I started with a Cooper's Microbrew kit,then got 6.5 & 7.9 gallon buckets,then traded the Cooper's PET bottles for a 6G better bottle,got all kinds of gadgets. % gallons makes 48 to about 53 bottles. Since it takes about 2 months to go from brew kettle to glass,that's about right. Welcome to my nightmare...I think your gonna like it...

 

[MindenMan]

You are gonna love your new addiction/obsession. I agree with kh54.., because it generally takes around two weeks before bottling, and two weeks in the bottles to carbonate and condition, there is a month waiting to drink your first beer. The wait can be hell it seems. A "pipeline" is what you have brewed, and what is brewing now, so you don't run out of beer between batches. The weather has been so windy and dusty, I had to wait to bottle a batch of beer that was was cold crashing, as I didn't have a fourth fermenter. You see what we mean?
Obsession with a capital "O".
Brewing at home is significantly cheaper per batch than buying beer at the store. Usually around half.

 

[Kampenken]

I sort of agree with KH, 5g extract for a starter. No need to go with a kit, find a great recipe here, one that includes steeping grains. Read about the simple things to improve your beer- rehydrating yeast if you don't go liquid, hop addition times (dry hopping in primary is easy) use DME and late additions, etc. Oh, and of all things to consider- cleanliness and sanitize needs to be top of the list. All of these things do not add time and are easy, just read!! Enjoy and welcome to the passion!

Cheers

 

[Cyclman]

Read John Palmer's How to Brew, watch the Basic Brewing podcasts, if you're still interested, go for it! I do 5G, 10G, and 3G batches. Bigger batches on my full system make me feel "professional" (though my skills are far from pro), but I enjoy 3G batches on the stove while watching football or the like.

It isn't terribly difficult to make good homebrew with a little study.

 

[SeeAliceBrewery]

Welcome to one of the most addictive hobbies on the planet!! I completely know how you feel...it gets you quick! I am still amazed that we can brew our own beers at home....and not only make great beer...but much better than what you can buy in any store!

 

[farmskis]

I just recently jumped right in. Nothing to doing 3 gal all grain brews. Little research on here and a handy hand and I brewed, legged, and currently drinking my first batch. Turned out excellent! Now I am fermenting my second and thinking of my third!
I found most all of my brew equipment from consignment shops. Your local homebrew shop will have some of the specialized brew things. Or there are some good online brew shops.
Most of all have fun with it all!