New n00b here.

[dfc]

Hey guys and gals. I'm looking forward to getting started on my first batch after a bit of research. I just bought my first home brewing kit yesterday (7-13-10) and expect to make a few mistakes. I'm a huge fan of stouts and porters so my first brew is going to be an oatmeal stout.

I like the forums here. I also do not have thin skin so I can handle a bit of ribbing. Not sure if that's the type of message board you guys have here or not.

Chandler, AZ here.

 

[BeerJorge]

Welcome to the forum, oatmeal stouts are good beers to brew...

Anyways, I'm in Gilbert....

 

[blackwaterbrewer]

welcome. i would suggest a porter instead of an oatmeal stout for your first brew. don't ask why, it's just my opinion. research reinheitsgebot. you'll get a better idea of process with a porter. both beers tend to hide mistakes.

its a wonderful thing, brewing, i hope it means as much to you as it does to me. the beauty of this 'hobby' is the social interaction and community spirit that beer-making will bring to your life. blessings, prost, cheers, nostrovia!!!!!

 

[homebrewer_99]

Welcome...

The other posters really have me confused...

 

[Dunerunner]

Welcome to the addiction!!

 

[brewnickbrew]

Welcome

 

[dfc]

Thanks a lot Everyone! Nick, I grew up in your neck of the woods (kind of). I hung out in Columbus all the time and used to play shows at Bernie's distillery.

 

[Stuntman]

Welcome to the Madness.

Warning:

I myself will never recap my investment. Started brewing to save money, now I am just addicted, and broke.

 

[KevinW]

+1 on what 'Dunerunner' and 'Stuntmantoo'

Spent 7 of my early years in Tucson but now live in the Northwest. I miss the desert but love the water!!

This is a great place to find help for brewing so ask all the questions you want and I am pretty sure someone will chime in with one or more options.

Welcome to HBT!

 

[dfc]

Well, it's been a year. In that time I bought a freezer, thermostat w/ probe, 8 more buckets (6 for fermenting), several hundred (maybe even thousand) dollars of ingredients, brewing software and I'm now looking at a kegging setup. I own roughly 20 cases of bottles and have a spot in the garage set aside just for brewing. I've also brewed 109.5 gallons.

"Addiction" is a proper description for this hobby.

 

[dfc]

Almost 2 years now (I'll be on Maui when 2 years hits so I won't be posting much) and I've now moved into kegging and AG. I just did my second AG batch a couple of days ago and have bought 2 kegging setups even though I currently only have room for one. I've got plans for the garage for a chest freezer with a collar for serving from kegs and storing bottles. I've obviously bought a cooler and a larger kettle for AG brewing in addition to a wort chiller and sump pump for recirculating ice water. My next purchase will be a grain crusher so I can control yet another variable in my brews.

For those of you who are still learning or new to brewing, please please please get through your mistakes. I have made plenty of mistakes while brewing (still do), but learn from them and use that knowledge to become a better brewer.

This really is a fun and relaxing hobby and I thank everyone who has given me advice and feedback throughout my 2 years as a home brewer. Here's to several more decades of brewing.