New to brewing today

[Trax]

hello everyone,

Today I finally splurged and bought a simple 5 gallon brew kit and a glass carboy. I also got one of those kits that has everything in it you need to make beer, along with instructions. I went ahead and did everything and my Russian Imperial Stout is fermenting nicely. however, I am not as happy with the method. I understand why using malt extract is a good idea for beginners, but the stuff ends up costing just as much as normal beer when you are done.

I think my second batch I am going to go for all grain and see if I can do it. I have been reading A LOT on here and it does not seem all that bad. am I getting in over my head to early? does the risk outweigh the cost savings? thank you.

 

[WyomingBrewer]

I don't know what you paid for your recipe kit or what you pay for beer at the store. I do know I pay $7.60 for a six pack of my favorite beer and $25-35 for the recipee kits. I get right at 2 cases from a kit so if I pay $35 for a kit I am only paying $4.38 a six pack. That's a big savings and I'm getting better beer for the most part! And that's the high end...I usually buy kits that are closer to the $25 range....that's $3.12 a six!

I'm not doing Stouts yet though, just getting my back stock up as I'm a new brewer as well. 3 1/2 5 gallon batches done so far. Only tasted batch one but its a great Autumn Amber Ale. May do a stout soon but I don't remember seeing a kit that was $55 from Midwest Supplies, usually around the $30-35 mark plus extra for yeast variety.

 

[Trax]

well then I got ripped off. 55$ for the kit. they had some for 35$ but they didn't seem as appeasing. I like dark full beers so I might just have expensive taste ... and a poor supply of kits.

 

[superjunior]

my cousin started out going strait to all grain and he had no problem with it. he's always yelling at me "I can't believe you still do partials" I like my beer better than his though All grain is cheaper than extract, no doubt but the initial cost of ag equipment will be a bit more steep

 

[Revvy]

Even when I brewed extract, 50 bucks wasn't totally outlandish for a kit, ESPECIALLY for an RIS which has more extract that a more standard gravity beer.

I looked at it pretty simply, The 50 bucks makes 2 cases of beer That is 8 six packs. Most of the microbrews I buy tend to be in the 10-12 dollar range, thouch I've paid 20 bucks for a six pack of some high grav thing or an antoher.

So even at only 10 bucks a 6 pack, that would be 80 bucks plus deposit for 2 cases of the beer I like. SO even at 50 bucks I'm ahead.....

 

[Pilgarlic]

I did only a couple of extract w/specialty batches before going all grain. It's not a matter of whether you're "ready for" it. It's no harder. It's more time consuming and it requires more equipment. If you're ready to buy or make the equipment, don't let a lack of experience hold you back.

 

[step]

I did an Imperial Stout for my first brew and all I will say is... be ready to wait. Mine took months before it was good, unfortunately I had drank it all by the time it really came around.

 

[Revvy]

I did an Imperial Stout for my first brew and all I will say is... be ready to wait. Mine took months before it was good, unfortunately I had drank it all by the time it really came around.

Yes....I was going to mention that I hope you are planning to buy another fermenter and brew a batch of beer with a lesser gravity. You Russian Imperial Stout won't be drinkable for a minimum 6 months...most folks on here brew RIS and age them for a year....

It's a big beer it needs big time to come together. It's really not a good idea to brew a beer that needs a long conditioning time until you have a pipline established, and can let the condition.

 

[scottieo2]

Even if you spent $55, you are still getting about 27 22oz bottles. That breaks down to about $2 per 22oz bottle. I doubt you can find a Russian Imperial Stout for $2.

If you want a simple way to get into all grain without a ton of equipment upgrades check out Deathbrewers All Grain thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/easy-stovetop-all-grain-brewing-pics-90132/

 

[Revvy]

Even if you spent $55, you are still getting about 27 22oz bottles. That breaks down to about $2 per 22oz bottle. I doubt you can find a Russian Imperial Stout for $2.

Psst.....Stone Brewing Co. Russian Imperial Stout $6.99/600ml (That's one 20 ounce bottle.) That is equal to 29- 22 ouncers which breaks down to $202.71 plus another 2.90 if you pay a 10 cent deposite.

 

[Pumbaa]

if your in it to save money your in it for the wrong reasons . . .


HFS Revvy

25k + posts? I should have never quit watching the rest of the forums

 

[zeb]

My first kit was 50 bucks... So I decided to piece together at Hoppy IPA and ended up paying 85 bucks..... (I had to buy a their bucket for extact so that is in the total and a better thermometer).

I have far more better ingredients than if I went with a standard kit for 45 or 50 bucks. I kinda up'ed the amount of hops so I get the good feeling of creating something other than what an ingredient book or kit told me to do. But at the same time I payed way over what I should have. (8 lbs of pale malt extract :x)

Either way its the experience of it all rather than the worry of $$$. It will be a learning experience for sure, I would like to venture into all grain myself.

 

[Trax]

HOLY COW. 6 MONTHS TO BREW? is that 6 months in my secondary or six months in the bottle? the guy at the store said it should be ready to drink in 4 weeks.

 

[step]

In my experience if you drink this in 4 weeks you will be posting on here asking why your beer tastes like ish.

 

[drathbone]

I paid $55 for my for a home brew kit which came with all the gear - 6.5 gallon primary, bottling bucket, caps, capper, hydrometer, floating thermometer, siphon tube, racking cane, bottling wand, airlock, sanitizer, 48 12oz bottles, all the ingredients for an american ale (extract, hops, grain, yeast, priming sugar) instructions and a little "How to Brew" book. I'd say all in all I got a good deal. I'm currently fermenting a porter that cost me $25 in ingredients. $80, a bit of learning, time and water (at $.60 a gallon) for 96 beers and all the gear that'll probably last a long time, I'd say is hardly expensive. Since the gear is reusable, the porter is costing me about $.52 a beer or $12.50 a case. I don't think you could even buy a case of natty light that cheap anymore.

 

[lumpher]

HOLY COW. 6 MONTHS TO BREW? is that 6 months in my secondary or six months in the bottle? the guy at the store said it should be ready to drink in 4 weeks.

4 weeks? i wouldn't touch it in less than 4 months, and that would be 1 bottle to see how it's coming along

 

[Crazybrew04]

if your in it to save money your in it for the wrong reasons . . .

I agree.

 

[BrewHerc]

I've been brewing for just over two years. I haven't taken the time to brew an Imperial Stout. I gotta say, for a first beer, you picked a doozy. Most people start with something simple, such as a pale ale or english brown. Be patient with the RIS or is could cause you to lose interest if it isn't good after two months. Patients my friend.

 

[Trax]

i guess i will be moving this stout to a secondary and just leaving it until my birthday (end of april). I guess I will try an ale for my second batch and use it as my superbowl 2011 beer.