New to home brewing...very green. Have just a few questions...

[talleymonster]

Hello everyone. I am very new to the idea of homebrewing. I recently turned 21 and I am interested in Home Brewing. I have a few questions that I'd like to throw out. I'd greatly appreciate any and all input that you may have.
-Where/what is a good starter kit? I've heard that it is better to use glass than plastic. Is this true? and why?
-what, if any legal issues are there with home brewing? Do different states have different laws? I live in Las Vegas, Nv.
-How long does it take for a batch? is it different for certain beers?

If you have anything to add, or just any useful information I would really appreciate it. Are there any of you that live in the Las Vegas area?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Cheesefood]

While you can probably find this cheaper, the Brewer's Best has everything you need to get started, except for the kettle you'll need. Depending on whether you decide to go All Grain or start out with extracts and grains, your pot size will vary. If you go Extract+, go with the 22qt stainless steel from Walmart.

It takes about 6 weeks to make a batch of beer, and that includes about 6 hours worth of work buying, brewing and bottling your beer.

The beer is the best you've ever had. It'll taste so much than anything you've ever bought. Have fun, have a home-brew, and enjoy! Slainte!

 

[david_42]

This may not be the current status, but would point you at the section of the law that would apply: http://www.beertown.org/statutes/nevada.htm

Basically says the laws apply to production to sell.

Here's a local club: http://snafu.alfter.us/

 

[talleymonster]

What about a turkey fryer? I read somewhere than that was a good option...but then I read that they're **** because they're made out of single ply aluminum and they can burn your batch. I read somewhere else that its good to get a pan thats rolled aluminum. It makes sense to me, it's thicker metal. What do you think?

 

[Lounge Lizard]

Academy Sports has decently priced turkey fryer setups with stainless steel pots. Click here. I would go with stainless. Amazon.com also has quite a number to choose from.

 

[woodstone]

Buy Papazian's Joy of Home Brewing, have a six pack an read the first few sections. Buy a "boil and dump" kit with some hops to add. Boil up in 1 to 2 gallons of spring water in your wife's largest pot. Dump in a 5G bucket that is loosely covered, and top with spring water to ~5G and pitch yeast. Transfer to a secondary container after a week (glass is cheap). Get some bottles from your local redemption center and clean the crap out of them. Dump back into your 5G with priming solution, bottle, cap, and enjoy in a week or so. Sounds simple and really, although I'm missing some details like "keep it clean" and use an air lock...it is!

If you like it (and you will...I swear my first batch was the best I've ever made), read Papazian's other chapters and buy some sophisticated equipment and have at it.

I can't think of one person I know who has had major issues or who now does not brew like a "mad man". Good luck! Cheers!

 

[rewster451]

Yeah man, start simple. It's amazingly easy to make good beer. The only way to really learn how to brew is to... well, study a lot about it first, then start simple, and after you start, you'll realize that everything you thought you knew about brewing was wrong. Then you'll be ready to brew crazy good beer.

I just have to say that I absolutely would not go AG on your first batch. It could be discouraging. You'd be surprised at the amount of redundant stupid things that can go wrong even with extract. But if you do something simple you'll do it right, and it will boost your confidence.

 

[talleymonster]

yeah I am definitely going to do extract first.