Newbie talks!

[suitjacketrock]

So, I'm entirely new to this. I just put my first batch together today, and it was from a can that came in a kit. Mr. Beer to be precise. I've wanted to do this for a while, but I had no idea where to start. It was by a lucky happenstance, my sister got a kit for me this past Christmas. I know I did something wrong when I put it all together today, but I won't find out what until it's done, haha.

A few things I'd like to note. I love to cook, and have an intensely creative palate. I've been on a quest to recreate Salem Brewworks Rosemary IPA. I only know what hops and malts look like, and know next to nothing about yeasts except what they do. I need some help.

Maybe I should be posting this somewhere else, but so far you all seem pretty helpful, so maybe you could point me in a right direction!!

Thanks ya'll!

 

[Alcoholica]

Hi,
I'm new too. I wouldn't be in a hurry to try and recreate my favorite beer just yet.. Like cooking we have to learn the flavor and strength of our ingredients first.. Like salt.. you know how much to use because you are already familiar with it..The same goes for different yeast and different hops..

I would stick to ale yeast for now because it works close to room temperature ranges, Keep it simple.. Saf 04 and Saf 05 are great for mr beer kits and ales. 04 is English ale yeast and 05 is U.S. ale yeast...I just used all my Mr. Beer yeast for nutrients a because it's old and used those Saf yeast and I like them a lot. I've used a half a pack per LBK Store them in the fridge airtight and use ASAP..

Take baby steps and get the Mr.beer kit right first before you move up a notch..Then get away from it a little bit at a time.. I just did my first brew to have no Mr. Beer Ingredients..
Start reading just getting familiar with simple all extract recipes..If it is a 5 gallon recipie then cut it in half to fit in your LBK..The quart mark is 2.5 gallons on a LBK.., learning how to use a software like Q-brew and getting familiar with a hop from your favorite beer one at a time.. Buy a set of scales for hops ..Get prepared for your recipe gradually and keep it simple.. No moving ahead until you get the stage that your in done correctly first.. Then reward yourself with a new technique to practice on.. Remember that mistakes are costly. Time wise and money wise

Welcome to the world of brewing,I Love it..It's a lot of work ! I Hate it, I really enjoy it!

 

[suitjacketrock]

I'm in no hurry to recreate that brew just yet, I don't know enough. It took me 10 years to get where I am with my culinary skills, so I can respect the patience there. How did your first solo brew come out?!

That all sounds like a lot of good tips and knowledge, so thank you. How much does adding little things for flavor (i.e. Rosemary, Coriander, Sage), throw off the balance of the fermentation and/or carbonation processes? Those don't have many sugars in them, that's why I ask. I would imagine that things like fruits and other grains would change the game entirely, based on their sugar content.

What's the best one you've brewed so far?

 

[Alcoholica]

I'm in no hurry to recreate that brew just yet, I don't know enough. It took me 10 years to get where I am with my culinary skills, so I can respect the patience there. How did your first solo brew come out?!

That all sounds like a lot of good tips and knowledge, so thank you. How much does adding little things for flavor (i.e. Rosemary, Coriander, Sage), throw off the balance of the fermentation and/or carbonation processes? Those don't have many sugars in them, that's why I ask. I would imagine that things like fruits and other grains would change the game entirely, based on their sugar content.

What's the best one you've brewed so far?

Good tips yes agreed, Knowledge ,ehh it's getting there..
I think you're right about the dried ingredients like Coriander ,Ginger or Orange zest . Don't see how that will be any different than bittering or dry hopping..IBU's would probably be affected before the adjunct ratio..

There is a bunch of malt to adjunct guides online and software to help consider the fermentable ingredients to be factored in. The adjunct contributing to the to the ABV Should be considered too, Stuff I'm still learning about is fruits for sure..
pumpkin and apple Both have peaked my interest considerably as I've been bookmarking them and getting prepared.. There is a lot good looking recipes with good reviews.
I want to do a Pumpkin ale by next fall, And a Bavarian apple wheat by spring.. But obviously I'm not ready to take on those recipes as of just yet . I Still have some amber and pale ales to do beforehand.And the ingredients I have staged out doesn't need to sit forever.. I'll finally be steeping grains on those next ale brews. Or next anything for that matter.

As far as my favorite, It's on the way I know now the bitterness will be in range thank God...But I have enjoyed everything I brewed from Mr. Beer and plan on using the gear for a long time.. I don't see what all the negative fuss is about. Maybe they didn't read up on brewing before they messed up, IDK. And I realize Mr. beer is not the local all grain mash house special.. But it was still good, or mine was anyways.. I wasn't mad with anyone as I chugged it all down.

 

[harrke]

Welcome. I've learned a lot by "listening" on HBT. I'm still fairly new. I brew 1-gallon beers-extract or Brew-in-a-bag (BIAB) so far. Some kits from Northern Brewer, Austin Homebrew, and Brew Crate. Also, two Marris Otter/Cascade SMaSH brews. You can use the Mr. Beer equipment for all the things I've brewed so far.

Good Luck!

 

[Alcoholica]

http://beersmith.com/beersmith-2-overview-video/

 

[Alcoholica]

Welcome. I've learned a lot by "listening" on HBT. I'm still fairly new. I brew 1-gallon beers-extract or Brew-in-a-bag (BIAB) so far. Some kits from Northern Brewer, Austin Homebrew, and Brew Crate. Also, two Marris Otter/Cascade SMaSH brews. You can use the Mr. Beer equipment for all the things I've brewed so far.

Good Luck!

I've been looking at some of those, The shipping can get really high for beer ingredients. But the LHBS Is letting the beer brewing stuff run out.I may have no choice to check some kits out.. I Never heard of a Cascade smash ,but it sounds like a brew I should look into..