New to brewing!

[brewboar]

Here would I be able to find the general Q&A for newbies like me? Is there such a section?

 

[rhamilton]

Depends what you know already. The wiki is a good place to start.

 

[brewboar]

Thanks. I have yet to purchase my first kit. Would you suggest a fermented with a spigot or a carboy with a syphon?

 

[kh54s10]

If you keep reading the posts here almost all your questions will be answered. But before you get through the learning phase you will have many new questions.

Some of the online stores have instruction pages for new brewers. Northern Brewer does.

YouTube has a lot of videos on brewing and you can see the process instead of just reading about it. Watch a lot of them and decide what procedure will work for you, the best option may be doing part of what one person is doing and part from another. Some of the videos are just weird.

 

[kh54s10]

Thanks. I have yet to purchase my first kit. Would you suggest a fermented with a spigot or a carboy with a syphon?

I use Better Bottle carboys and like them. Buckets are preferred by a many. I would suggest getting a deluxe kit (or looking at the list and buying all the parts separately) so that you get most of what you need initially. The basic kits are ok but you will be adding the extra items very soon anyway.

Make sure you get a hydrometer and read up on how to use it. It is the most useful tool to make sure you know how your beer is progressing.

The next most important thing (maybe more important) is learning about temperature control both in brewing and fermenting.

Welcome and Brew On!


edit OH to answer your question about the spigot. It doesn't really matter unless the trub in the bottom of the fermenter blocks it. I have never had a spigot but like the siphon for getting most of the beer off the yeast cake without sucking up the trub.

 

[brewboar]

Thank you!

 

[Kegcowboy]

A little research on youtube goes a long way explaining the basics since you are just watching someone else.