Newbie brewer after advice on ale recipes

[furstyjaymar13]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have had one attempt at brewing go very well and now I have got the bug to do it again. And better! My first attempt used a pre made extract, which I heated within the can it was in and added it to water, then added ordinary granulated sugar, then pitched the dry packet of yeast and left for two weeks in a fermenter before siphoning to a keg with a tap, added more sugar to carbonise it. The result was a decent (beginner standards!) drinkable ale. Although it was a bit sweet. I guess I overdid it with the sugar!

Now however I want to give up cheating and make and boil from a recipe, so that I am a part of the whole process. I have started getting more equipment and will shortly be buying a boiling pot and making an immersion cooler.

So here's what I'm after.... I think I'll need a book that I can refer to (any suggestions?) but mainly I'm in need of help with making the unfermented batch of ale. Can anyone recommend an ale recipe that might suit a beginner? I had a look on the recipes section of this forum and didn't really know where to look!
In terms of the making of the batch process. I understand it involves the boiling of water, hops, and barley malt. And that's where my little knowledge comes to an end! So I guess I'm after the method and recipe for a dark or light ale -and any tips, advice, no matter how small will greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[Natethebrewer]

If you move into extract plus steeped grains recipes you can boil your wort in a 20 QT stock pot on the stove.
I'd look at any ale recipe that calls for approximations of the following
6 LBS liquid malt extract (or better yet 5LBS dry)
1/2 LB Caramel Malt 40L
1/2 LB carapils Malt
4 OZ Flaked wheat
and hops to taste.

Randy Moser has a book "Radical Brewing" that outlines everything you'll need.
Also check with your LHBS they should be able to recommend a good recipe.

 

[stratslinger]

Another really good book to go by is "How to Brew" by John Palmer. Most folks agree its more or less the bible for beginning brewers - it starts off with a simple recipe and walk through a brew day, then gets more into the extract process from there, then into different fermentation profiles, and then even has good discussions on all grain for if and when you're ready for that, and a bunch more recipes.

There's even a free version online at howtobrew.com, but it's the first edition of the book - some key advice in that book is a bit dated, so it can be a good idea to pick up a hard copy of the current edition, but the online copy is enough to get you started.

 

[billl]

What type of beer do you like to drink?

 

[MikeinCT]

There is a lot of show-and-tell on youtube. - good luck, Mike

 

[ncbrewer]

A kit with extract + steeping grains could be good for your next brewing phase. The only step you'd be skipping is weighing out the individual steeping grains, because they would be pre-weighed in the kit. The Northern Brewer kits come with pretty good instructions. Nice thing about a kit is that you don't end up with left-over grains to store.

 

[furstyjaymar13]

wow brilliant responses, thanks very much for the support and apologies i haven't had the chance to get back on the forum since then.

to natethebrewer, stratslinger -the john palmer guide keeps coming up everywhere in my research too so i've went ahead and purchased a copy which should be arriving soon. and i'll have to check out randy moser's book too.

to ncbrewer - i think you've got the wisest method there for a beginner so im going to look into the northern brewer kits, but not before at least starting to read the guide book ive got on order, i think i need go back to basics to be confident of what im doing first before diving head first in (im much the ignorant-enthusiast at the moment!)

to bill - im most interested in making dark ales, but i like to try all sorts of drinks so im sure (success pending) that i'll move to other ales, ciders and lagers.

thanks for the wise suggestions everyone

 

[Bithead]

Kits are a good way to get started learning the process and good sanitation practices. Also have a look at Orfy's Mild for a good dark ale recipe. There are AG and extract versions.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I also agree that kits are excellent at your experience level. Just find an extract kit of a style you like/want to try and go from there. The only inhibiting factor is if you don't have a way to control temperatures to lager you'll need to stick to ales but it seems you already know that.

 

[billl]

"im most interested in making dark ales, but i like to try all sorts of drinks so im sure (success pending) that i'll move to other ales, ciders and lagers."

There are a wide range of "dark ales" that would make a great first brew. Pick a kit and give it a try. Any regular porter, stout, brown, mild, amber etc would be a good start. The only thing I would avoid is anything with "Imperial", "strong", "double" etc in the name. Higher gravity beers are less forgiving of fermentation mistakes.

 

[lewishowardm3]

I'm recently new to brewing and I found YouTube a very good place learn. Craigtube has some good videos on adding hop teas and steeping grains as a partial extract. Steeping pre weighed grains and adding LME is my next step. Good luck.

 

[furstyjaymar13]

"im most interested in making dark ales, but i like to try all sorts of drinks so im sure (success pending) that i'll move to other ales, ciders and lagers."

There are a wide range of "dark ales" that would make a great first brew. Pick a kit and give it a try. Any regular porter, stout, brown, mild, amber etc would be a good start. The only thing I would avoid is anything with "Imperial", "strong", "double" etc in the name. Higher gravity beers are less forgiving of fermentation mistakes.

thanks for the tips, im going to scour the web in te next few days and go down the extract route and keep it simpler by going for an ale first off.

thanks to all for the support and guidance

 

[unionrdr]

I have a recipe for a simple dark ale that I added bourbon soaked oak to for my Whiskely ale. Without the oak,it tastes rather like a dark cream ale. I may have to post that one in recipes. I noticed the site no longer has the "my recipes" thing on profile page. Made access easier.
**Ok,I listed the recipe for the dark ale under English Brown Ale as moonwind dark ale. See what you think of that recipe for a dark ale. Tasty & very sessionable.

 

[Natethebrewer]

I'd recommend midwest supplies kit of the month, it might be a good way to gain some skill brewing many different styles of beer. everything you need delivered monthly- keeps my pipeline going.