New to this Brew

[brewmeone2]

Hey, I've never been to this website before but it looks pretty damn legit.

My friends have been brewing beer in the past, but they really dont have any idea what they're doing. Just that it works. Lol

What would be the best way to get in to the home-brewing business??
Start with beer.... or try to ferment and distill vodka?? I'm pretty smart but im lost when it comes to all of this. haha
Just want too get started off with some hopefully expert advice.





Thanks again,
Brewmeone2

 

[MalFet]

You'll find yourself with a relatively hostile audience if you try to talk about distillation on this board. For better or worse, rightly or wrongly, distillation is illegal in America without a permit.

Also, no talk about making beer as a business.

But otherwise, welcome
Get yourself a kit from one of the online shops like Northern Brewer, etc.

 

[Gfunk]

Got my starter kit from morebeer.com. Came with everything I needed to make and bottle first batch. That and these forums were my only teachers.

 

[brewmeone2]

Ohhh... sorry my mistake. I wasn't sure about the legality of distillation. It's just that the head chef at my old restaurant made moonshine all the time and illegal or not, it was some gooood stuff.


And I only meant business as in a hobby, haha. I'll be more careful about how I word things from now on.

So anyway, would I be able to make a good setup myself using things from the local hardwear store? I would take a lot more pride doing this completely myself, from scratch.

 

[MalFet]

So anyway, would I be able to make a good setup myself using things from the local hardwear store? I would take a lot more pride doing this completely myself, from scratch.

Probably. Mostly, you just need a pot and a bucket. Pick up a book like "How to Brew", or visit the website. Basic equipment requirements are pretty minimal.

 

[ryandlf]

I think a lot of us started with a kit from a local brew shop (or a website if you don't have a local shop near you). Typically they come stocked with a bottling bucket/fermentation vessel, sanitizer, bottles, caps, a capper, a racking cane and siphon, brew pot, and of course an extract kit to start brewing. Otherwise just follow the directions as best you can and remember to keep everything sanitized.

Of course within a month or two you will have a whole new set of equipment and the addiction will just continue to get worse from there.

 

[brewmeone2]

Hahaha true that.... i can already see the demon starting too emerge!

But thanks a lot you guys ill post up here once i get some supplies and let you know how its going


oh and... stay trew to the brew!

 

[pavs]

For the price you should just get a starter kit, it really comes with everything you need. I would also recommend a beer recepe kit from northern brewer. All their beer kits come with very detailed instructions and all the ones I've brewed were delicious! Two good books are How to Brew and the Joy of Homebrewing.

 

[evanos]

Yes, this website is legit. Too legit to quit.

 

[Seanwallner]

Agree with the kit posts. I recommend Williams brewing. They were the best priced kit that included a ball valve on the kettles and the buckets. I'm on batch three and have already built a mlt and bought kegs to convert. My wife caught me buying a regulator the other day and said " I've created a monster" she bought me the kit for Christmas but now wishes she would have got me socks hahaha. Cheers. Have fun with it. Read alot. Especially this forum

 

[ThePearsonFam]

Yes, this website is legit. Too legit to quit.

Do you have some parachute pants I can borrow?

 

[Revvy]

Yes, this website is legit. Too legit to quit.

I was tempted to go there, but I didn't want to show my age or my possible nerdiness. ;

We look legit, I love it. :fro:

 

[evanos]

Haha! Sorry guys, my only knowledge of that saying comes from Hot Rod. But it's true, HBT is the place to learn and learn and learn so you can do do do.

 

[OldManHouston]

I would recommend reading The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian and/or How To Brew by John Palmer. I believe a vast majority of home-brewers you talk to will have read at least one of those two to learn some of the proper techniques. Those two got me started 4 years ago and this forum has become an obsession and has answered just about every question since.