My First Home Brew - Question

[Jemac]

Goor afternoon Brewers!

So my roommate and I are major craft beer lovers, and have been wanting to start home brewing for a long time. We finally decided to pony up and go for it, hence my presence on this forum.

I know there are "starter kits" like "Mr. Beer" and the like, but I am curious to know if you think this is really the best way to get started?

Scott and I know nothing about home brewing at this point, and in general I learn better by doing, which is why I am inclined to start with a hands on activity, like a kit, over a book describing the process. Thoughts?

John

 

[Rivenin]

quite a few of us started out doing mr beer kits...
i did one batch and tossed it. went out immedaitely to the home brew shop and got a setup and have never looked back :thumbup:
while it's a little more expensive to start with a 5 gallon home brewing setup, it'll be tons better later on

 

[RobWalker]

Yeah, you'll only need to upgrade anyway and Mr Beer kits are expensive in relation to extract/partial mash ingredients. 2 gallons goes way too fast too.

Your LHBS should be able to sort you out with a basic kit with everything you need to put together a basic beer, you're probably looking at around $60-£80. I'd suggest extract brewing to start - extract kits come bundled with directions and anything else can be found online, they're very easy and rewarding. Bottles are cheaper than kegging if you collect them, but kegging is very very handy!

Don't be afraid to try something interesting your first time around, all kits have the same process more or less. Read up lots before you do anything, it's quite complicated if you don't know it!

 

[Pascal]

If your just starting out I'd check the local buy and sells for equipment. There is often used homebrew equipment available for next to nothing.

I'm not sure about others experience but I had a lot of trouble making the can of malt kits taste good. Not sure why but the beer often turned out with a metallic sort of taste. I'd recommend trying one of the better kits like the Brew House that is mostly liquid wort.

Welcome to brewing and have fun with your first batch!

 

[Pascal]

I'd highly recommend visiting your local homebrew supply store and chatting with the people there. You would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn't want to talk brewing and help you get started!

 

[CaptKiRkLeS]

After all the research that I did, I felt this was the most cost-effective way to get started: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/everything-a-carboy-complete-brewing-package-equipment-kit-2.html

I'm not throwing out a plug for midwest but I felt this was the best value and it has EVERYTHING you need to start.

I get a lot of my big equipment online bc of the prices but everything else is from my LHBS.

 

[Oldbrew75]

I am just starting out as well, and have decided to brew the American Pale Ale that is in John Palmer's Book How to Brew. He gives step by step instruction and your pretty much just following his recipe instead of using a kit, and it's a Extract recipe to boot!

 

[cullen]

You can also get very good advice for a first batch of beer from The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, which also lists some options for equipment. You should also check out the Local Homebrew Store topic in the homebrewtalk.com wiki for stores in your area.

 

[catarinoforlife]

So i found this homebrew store, and they're within a couple hours drive of home so that maybe i can save a bit on shipping. I was looking at their personal homebrew kits and was curious to know if they are a good value, or if i should look elsewhere and just pay for the shipping?

Any recommendations on a good starter kit?

 

[dinakarj]

Mr beer is a good starting point for less than $40 and you can keep adding to your kit as you gain expr. I brewed my first batch using extract from my LHBS and fermented in a used coke bottle. Turned out well and allowed me to learn and see the process . I now use a mr beer kit.

Dj

 

[tesilential]

So i found this homebrew store, and they're within a couple hours drive of home so that maybe i can save a bit on shipping.

Unless you drive a prius, a couple hours drive plus drive back is gonna cost more than shipping lol!

 

[Shawnylocks]

i just brewed my first 2 batches using a true brew gold kit with bucket and carboy and just about everything i needed. i bought EVERYTHIONG i needed for $200 and that was with my first extract kit and a stainless brew pot

 

[petey_c]

Jemac, If you're in Austin your local LHBS might be AHS http://www.austinhomebrew.com/index.php?osCsid=4678a8dfa1217f5f3326258c41bf540b I've only heard good things about their in store help. I've been purchasing from them online for over a year now.

 

[GreenDragon]

All you "need" to brew is a 5 gallon pot, a 6.5 gallon plastic bucket, a hydrometer, a thermometer, an airlock, and an auto-siphon. There's lots of other highly-suggested equipment but those 6 pieces will brew a beer.

If you have Groupon I keep getting specials on it for a kit similar to the one I posted above for $75.

 

[Pascal]

Please, do not go with Mr.Beer, it is to brewing what Nickelback is to music.

 

[Shawnylocks]

Please, do not go with Mr.Beer, it is to brewing what Nickelback is to music.

:rockin::rockin:

 

[cullen]

For your first setup you need:
- 16 quart or larger pot
- fermenter (6 or 7 gallon plastic bucket with lid and a hole for an airlock)
- airlock
- racking cane
- siphon tube for the racking cane
- clamp for the siphon tube (cheap and very useful)
- bottle capper (assuming you're going to bottle instead of keg)
- bottle filler

If you're feeling adventurous, get a hydrometer and test jar.
If you want to use a secondary fermenter, get a 5-7 gallon glass carboy

 

[MikeinCT]

Go to youtube!

Not all of it is professional quality but it is very interesting to see what others are doing. In fact it may be some of the very folksy youtubes that I liked the best and learned quite a bit before trying it myself.