New Brewer here: confused about - all of the above

[mrtastee]

I don't even know where to start. I'm complete new to the brewing world. I have yet to buy my equipment but I'm currently educating myself with the help of my new best friend Charlie Papazian. Relax! Have a Home Brew!

My FIRST question is: With my first batch should I keep it simple like he advises? with just simple malt extracts and then adding yeast? (keep in mind I'm a complete newbie here - so any suggestions will be appreciated)

I want a stronger ale so I was thinking about nearly doubling my malt extracts to avoid a light beer. Is this wise?

Also anyone have any suggestions to spice up my first simple brew?

MAINLY - I want to make Pale Ale's and IPA's - these are my weakness and I'd love to experiment with them. Could I achieve a decent Pale Ale in a simple recipe?

I'm not going to turn my eye to sanitization. This is something I'm going to really pay attention too. So anyone have any suggestions of what to use? I can use Starsan and not have to clean it out right? (bottling wise) Do most of you use 12 oz bottles?

Could I get bigger jugs at my local home brew shop? (I haven't visited it yet - but I have talked to the friendly people that work there. He advised me to start of simple and go from there.

He was talking to me about fermenting my ales in a fermenter and then getting a pump and just bottling it straight from there to make things simple and easy. This seemed different then Charlie's way and great since I can avoid moving it into another bucket.. (I told him I was interested in doing 2nd stage fermentation so I could add extra ingredients - honey) He told me honey was hard to get flavor out of unless I use A LOT - and brewing light beers. Is this true? I want to go to a local bee farm and use local honey. This idea just seems kind of interesting to me to use raw honey..

Either way. I want to avoid buying a kit and I want to continue to do this all my life. This isn't a hobby that I plan to stop doing. I want to continue to be self sufficient and take my love for good brews a step further by crafting my own.

 

[Walker]

Pale Ale's are generally really simple recipes to begin with. Some extract and some crushed and steeped crystal grains are pretty much the normal recipe. You can, of course, get fancier than this, but for a middle-of-the-road pale ale, add 0.5lb to 1lb of some crystal malt to an extract batch and you will greatly improve it.

The first beer I ever made was a kit that included extract and some some crystal gain. It was awesome and was not difficult. I've brewed extract-only batches before, too, and they weren't as good as the same extract with a little grain added.

Lots of people want to jump into this and end up formulating some crazy recipe with weird things added. I really suggest getting the techinical side of things down before you start experimenting too much, and just brew a good kit (meaning, don't use a kit that tells you to add a bunch of sugar to the beer... it should be only malt extract and probably some specialty grains for flavor boosting.)

 

[dpittard]

Being a beginner also, here's my camp of thought:

Learn the rules first, so that you can break them later! Start simple, follow the rules, gain a base line. This way, when you do start tweaking, you know the difference between a base line recipe (like a recipe kit from AHBS or Northern Brewer or Midwest Brew Supply, etc.) and a recipe that you add stuff to. Otherwise, if you beer turns out tasting bad, how do you know what broke down if you've never mastered the method before you tweaked it. Remove as many variables first, nail down the process of brewing, then start playing.

Other forms of art function the same way (yes, brewing is science AND ART!) I've been a photographer for many years and I started by learning the rules. Now, when I break the rules, I know why I'm breaking them and why it works!

Just my thought, and happy brewing!

 

[JoeMama]

Keep it simple for your first few batches. Take a risk and follow a recipe pieced together from here (as opposed to just buying a kit) and go from there. It will come in time that you start to understand the flavors that contribute to your beer(s). You can then begin to experiment from there.

I learned something today too! If you want to appreciate the maltiness of a beer - then blow your self out on some IPAs and IIPAs. I thought an Arrogant Bastard was the hoppiest beer I had tasted when I first drank one. I had one last night was was really able to appreciate the smooth maltiness of it. It was nice.
It will happen for you too
Enjoy!
-Me

 

[DRoyLenz]

All of the advise given thus far seems pretty good and straightforward to me. I would definitely recommend adding specialty grains to your first brew. It just adds a little bit of that complexity in the taste you are looking for, but without much added complexity in the brewing process.

+1 on StarSan...

As for bottle size, keep in mind that the smaller your bottles, the more of them you'll have to clean, sanitize, fill and cap. I usually split my batches, half of them go in 12 oz bottles, and half go in to 22 oz bottles. I use the 12 oz bottles to pass out to friends/family/coworkers, and to drink on a day to day basis. I use the 22 oz bottles for when I know I'm going to be drinking multiple bottles in one sitting, or if I have friends come over and I know they'll be drinking as well. I also save one or two of the 22 ouncers to try in a few months.

Many of the advanced brewers on this site also recommend leaving your beer in the primary for a couple more weeks as opposed to using a secondary. By leaving it on the yeast cake for a little while longer, you're allowing the yeast time to clean up after you and get rid of some of the off-flavors. A secondary is only really useful to them (those who don't recommend using a secondary) when they want to add flavors or dry hop. And as far as honey goes, your shop owner was right, honey is a very difficult additive to work with. There is probably a post on the forums once or twice a week with people asking how to use honey. If you do a quick search on it, I'm sure you can find the information you're looking for. But I would recommend you stay away from it for a few weeks while you're still learning the fundamentals. I used molasses (another difficult additive) in one of my first brews, and it turned out poorly. I know what I did wrong NOW, but had I waited a few more weeks, I could've avoided the problem to begin with.

Welcome to the forums & Welcome to the obsession!

 

[CDbrews]

welcome to this site and to brewing! definately keep it simple your first batch, exrtact with a specialty grain steep is very simple and will make very good beer. i would suggest buy a kit, it comes with evrything you need, your extract, hops, grains etc. A pale ale would be a good kit to start with because a basic pale ale is quite easy to make and will help you learn the process

+100 on learning the process before you try to get to fancy. dont get over your head right away there will be plenty of time for that later.

Star san is excellent, you do not have to rinse it and it works great to have a spray bottle of it on hand for sanitizing small things and remember to not fear the foam it will actually add a little yeast nutrient as i have read. A lot of people use 12 oz bottles but 22 oz bottles are popular also, as are swing tops.

A secondary fermenteris not neccesary, especially if you are just starting out, but the choice is yours, you can read many an argument on this site about using them or not, about the honey, i would recomend keeping it simple for the first brew. you can always get to that stuff later.

Learn the process first then get into the more difficult stuff you will appreciate it later. good luck i hope this is helpful and welcome to this very enjoyable and rewarding hobby!

 

[Hilbert]

The first kit I made was Brewers Best Pale Ale. It was so good I brewed it again after about 6 beers or so.

It's a simple kit with speciality grains. Highly recommend this kit.

 

[azscoob]

It seems to me and my tastebuds that some of the best beers are the simple ones. I began brewing by jumping into all-grain right off the bat and after getting a few different batches under my belt, I still go back to a variant of EdWarts Haus Pale Ale as a brew I really enjoy, and it is quick and simple to brew! look it up, there is an extract version in the post as well if it looks like something you would like to try

 

[torque2k]

Welcome! HBT is beyond all doubt one of the most eye-opening experiences you'll stumble across during your brewing studies. Everyone has great info, and you can pick and choose that which fits your setup/style/mood best.

I'm going to agree with the majority and suggest an extract kit with steeping grains as your first foray into brewing. Letting someone else make the call on ingredients and recipe steps allows you to get used to your equipment and sanitation steps (and you've acknowledged the importance of this, a big step). It may seem like it's just a pot, some water and a bucket, but you'll have enough to worry about on your first brews withjust those items, don't worry!

Most importantly, just do it. I spent two months studying everything in sight to prepare myself for brewing; I should have just got down to it. No amount of reading prepares you for slow yeast takeoff, not fearing the foam, or any of a million other little bits of info you'll slowly find on these forums. Soon enough, you'll read these and nod to yourself, saying "Been there."

Have fun, drink up, and relax!

 

[justflow1983]

My first beer was one of those 3kg canned-extract kits that you just dilute and then add the yeast. It was boring, but made decent beer and allowed me and my brew buddy to test out all the equipment without worrying about the beer. Every brew since has been extract-with grains recipes and have turned out much better, but I think it was really smart to start with not having to worry about how to use the gear AND how to make a god brew. I would recommend doing it that way if you're worried about starting, you only have to make the kit once.

 

[BrewRI]

Welcome to the wonderful world of home brewing!

For your first batch I don't think there's any very specific guidelines to follow besides keeping it simple. I did an extract that came with the kit I bought and I loved it because it was like playing in a scrimmage game before you step out under the lights on a Friday. Simple, you go through the motions, and if you make a mistake...whatever.

I use Iodophor, I love it its non rinse and easy. I use all 12 oz bottles because those are the most conveniently found around me but if I had a choice I would say get 22 oz. Cleaning bottles is a pain.

There's also some good reading material you can get. Check out Brew Your Own, its a magazine that gives on free issue out on their website. I order the free one but it hasn't come in yet so I can't judge.

Use and abuse the forums here they are a great source of information and a lot of helpful and knowledgeable people.

 

[TexLaw]

Yes, keep your first recipe (and first few) fairly simple. Learn the basics, get your fundamentals down, and then build from there.

That said, there's nothing wrong with adding a little specialty grain to that first extract recipe. Again, nothing too fancy, and it's just a matter of taste. If you want, go with a simple extract kit. Specialty grains do not add much complexity to a process, but you certainly can skip them if you want to.

On bottles, don't mess with the jogs just yet. Stick with bottles that you cap. As for the size, that is up to you, and you've received plenty of good advice on that.

On the secondary fermenter, I still use a secondary. I still like secondaries, and I still recommend them. However, the trend is moving away from them. Do what you like, there, but be aware that there are pros and cons to either choice.


TL

 

[EricCSU]

Welcome to the obsession.

Everyone has already given good advice, so I don't really have much to add there.

Whatever recipe you choose, I would recommend a low ABV version. You will get impatient and want to try your beer quick, usually before it is ready. Happens to everyone. If the recipe is low ABV, it will be ready quicker and the chance of you trying it "green" decreases.

If you are using Austin Homebrew Supply, consider one of their "session" kits. If you have another LHBS you want to use, disregard.

Happy Brewing!

Eric

 

[Richabt]

I think most of what was mentioned above was very sound advise.

+1 on the Star San, but there is also Iodophor which is a little cheaper to use, I like either one.

One thing to remember is that a basic homebrew kit will still be more robust than a typical store bought beer. Doubling your extract will beef it up, but I would suggest using a basic kit that also has the steeping grains. It will be plenty good for a first batch. You can toy with stronger mixtures after getting the basics down. Thats when your addiction will really reach new heights.

 

[Homercidal]

I recommend keeping it simple, and if you want a stronger beer, then find a good simple recipe for that style from one of the recommended suppliers on this site. Austin Homebrew Supply and Brewmaster's Warehouse are two. Most of the major online suppliers like Northern Brewer, Midwest, etc. have good kits and good service.

Starsan is the sanitizer of choice for me. Simple to use. Just mix as per instructions with Distilled water (if you have hard water at home) and use it on whatever you need sanitiziing (making sure to clean it first). Don't rinse! Contact time is critical. You only need as little as 30 seconds, but I like to let it sit for about 3 minutes usually. Don't fear the foam. The foam is also a good sanitizer, and when the starsan comes into contact with the beer it will become yeast food, so no worries.

I would recommend practicing transferring liquid between vessels by using water first. After you get the hang of it, make beer. Nothing worse than being frustrated by a sudden unknown hiccup.

You may want to read up on:

Late Extract Additions
Full Boils
Aeration
Pitching Rate
and especially Fermentation Temp!

Most of all... RDWHAHB!!!