Looking to get started in Bama

[BamaProud]

Welcome....I'm also from Bama, specifically Mobile, but also lived in Clanton for a while. Now in West TN

If you aren't in any rush watch Craigslist and you can pick up equipment cheep. I saw you posted about the 2nd Shift Amber Larger. If you want to do Lagers(especially) or even Ales you will need some sort of fermentation chamber. Again watch Craigslist and buy a used fridge or chest freezer.

However, there are plenty of very good beers that can be brewed at normal room temperatures.

Turkey frier is a must IMO, I couldn't imagine brewing indoors. Bayou Classic has a good selection of pots/kettles. Get one at least 6 gal. Stay away from Glass(dangerous) Carboys, you don't even need Carboys for beer, but go with Better Bottles for the Mead/wine.

A Basic kit like this is a good place to start:
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-starter-kit-w-plastic-carboy.html

That one included a plastic Carboy(Better bottle-type)

I recommend a no rises sanitizer like Star San. Search Midwest Supplies website in the link above.

 

[BamaUmp]

Yes, I want to stay away from chilled fermentation.

I've been looking at craigslist keeping an eye on turkey fryers and pots.

My question about better bottles is are they going to last long term?

A newbie question here. I do not care for bitter beer. Even a simple brown from Good People Brewing is more bitter than I prefer. Any suggestion?

 

[BarefootFriar]

Bottles will last as long as you take care of them. The two most dangerous times for a bottle (in my humble opinion) is at capping time if you use a wing capper and just after you drain it -- or am I the only one who slams down the bottle or glass and yells, "HARRAGH!" after swallowing the last bit?

 

[BamaUmp]

I have two 5 gallon screw top coolers would one be large enough to make a mash tun?

 

[brewman551]

BamaUmp I too am in Alabama, north of Birmingham near the walker jeffco line, but I work in Pelham so I stop by alabrew when I need something. Their prices are competitive with midwest, sometimes a bit higher, but without shipping it ends up being cheaper. It's a mom and pop place but they are helpful if you confess you are a newbie. I've yet to brew beer; just got finished with my first batch of hard cider for my wife. If you don't want to use glass carboys use 6.5 gal true brew buckets. In a few weeks I'm going to try my first beer, Otto brothers moose.

Also I you use a no rinse bleach solution of 2 tablespoons per 5gal and had no problems, but I may start using star san soon.

Good luck.

 

[brewman551]

That should have said Otto brothers moose juice. Also, last time I was at Alabrew he had 3cases of Sierra Nevada bottles on the sidewalk that were free for the taking. Not sure you would get that at a big homebrew store, but I may be wrong. Cheers.

 

[BarefootFriar]

I got two cases of SN empties from them last fall. I don't know who's taking them over there, but I sure do thank them! I like the SN (and Woodchuck cider) bottles best. Something about the shape.

 

[BamaUmp]

I really liked the guy at Hop City he was very helpful and their prices seemed ok. They also stay open til 10.

 

[jhoneycutt]

I really liked the guy at Hop City he was very helpful and their prices seemed ok. They also stay open til 10.

Just as an fyi in hop city they are having their 1 year anniversary on the 27th. They put it out on Facebook earlier today and will be having representatives from all the breweries here in Alabama and obviously samples. Just something to think about. You've mentioned liking the amber lager, have you ever tried a shiner bock?

 

[BamaUmp]

My wife and I love shiner. I lived in Texas for a few months.

 

[BamaProud]

Yes, I want to stay away from chilled fermentation.

I've been looking at craigslist keeping an eye on turkey fryers and pots.

My question about better bottles is are they going to last long term?

A newbie question here. I do not care for bitter beer. Even a simple brown from Good People Brewing is more bitter than I prefer. Any suggestion?

The better bottles will last longer than glass, because they won't break and sever your hand...or leg. It nearly happened ot me one. I got lucky. Broken Glass Carboy Horror Stories

One of my favorites is a Hefeweizen:
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/hank-s-hefeweizen.html

Midwest has a scale indicating the characteristics(including bitterness) of each of their beer kits:

 

[BamaProud]

I have two 5 gallon screw top coolers would one be large enough to make a mash tun?

You won't need a mash tun until you go all grain. I suggest you start with an extract kit.

 

[BamaUmp]

Just looking down the road about the mash tun.

 

[jhoneycutt]

Just looking down the road about the mash tun.

To answer your question about the cooler, yes it will work very well for a mash tun for average gravity beers. It just needs to be in good working condition and you'll want to get a ball valve and either a kettle screen or false bottom for it. But yea start out with extract kits and move forward from there. One of the main things with home brewing you'll learn quickly is patience. Oh and I was stationed at ft bliss in el Paso for 2 year 11 months. Shiner has several pretty good beers.

 

[BamaUmp]

Know of any home brew beers that do not require cold fermentation that might get close to a shiner bock?

 

[jhoneycutt]

Austin homebrew supply has a shiner bock clone actually. I don't remember the temp range for fermentation off the top of my head but I don't think its too cool. The actual beer however is a lager so it'd be colder. Right now for you as you've already seen this site and google are your friends

 

[BamaUmp]

Google, eBay and Craigslist yes lol

 

[jhoneycutt]

Just looking down the road about the mash tun.

Google, eBay and Craigslist yes lol

Homebrewtalk also has a for sale section in case you haven't seen it yet. Its just like Craigslist though, sometimes you can sometimes you can't find what you need near by.

 

[brewman551]

I'd be willing to bet Alabrew has a shiner clone. Instead of prepackaged kits they have a huge book of 2-300 recipes, and they put the kit together for you on the spot, and they're reasonably priced. I may check out hop city on their anniversary.

 

[BamaUmp]

Bought a 26qt turkey fryer with burner (bayou classic) brand new off Craigslist for 50 bucks yesterday. Today I'm trying to decide between the hop city and alabrew better bottle starter kit.

 

[BamaUmp]

Went with the alabrew $60 two bucket set and how to brew book anything other than recipe kit and bottle that I need before I give this a go?

 

[BamaUmp]

Going to spend some time reading this week. My dad is in the CICU at UAB so it will give me something to do. Anything online worth reading? I have the john Palmer how to brew book now.

 

[BarefootFriar]

Just keep crawling this site. I've learned so much here, more than any of the books I've read.

 

[uatuba]

Palmer's work is a lot like music theory textbook I had--incredibly informative and mostly accurate, but dry as a powder house and not very well organized.

I'm a hands on learner. Give me the basics, let me try it and screw it up, then let me research where I went wrong. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[BamaUmp]

Excellent points. I learn from both. I like to research then learn hands on.

 

[BamaUmp]

Would a 5 gallon pin lock keg be a good primary, secondary fermenter or both? I've read they are better than glass or PET.

 

[BamaUmp]

I have a fairly local source for the kegs at what appears to be a good price. Just need to make sure using these to ferment is a good idea. Seems like one but I don't have enough knowledge to know yet.

 

[Travestian]

The question about temps is about fermentation temps. You should as best you can get your carboy/bucket into an area that will keep your wort below 70 degrees. This will minimize the off flavors from various esters and such that yeast put off when they ferment at higher temps. It is the best and cheapest change any home brewer can make to make their beers better.

 

[uatuba]

I have a fairly local source for the kegs at what appears to be a good price. Just need to make sure using these to ferment is a good idea. Seems like one but I don't have enough knowledge to know yet.

If you're talking about the guy in Tuscaloosa, they are pin locks.

 

[BamaUmp]

Pin locks not good?