South Alabama

[jeepin]

Hi I am a noob from S Alabama. I have been lurking here a couple week and have been reading Papazian's book(Joy Of HB). Can't wait to brew my first very soon. Getting ready to order a kit and starter kit.

 

[bottlebomber]

Welcome! What kinda of equipment do you have to work with?

 

[jeepin]

Nothing yet. I am looking at northerns kits. I have no local hb store.

 

[bottlebomber]

If there's any way you can do this, I really recommend finding a 10 gallon pot, and installing a valve and thermometer in it, and investing in a propane burner. If you shop Ebay you could probably get those things for about $150. The reason I say this is because this hobby really has a way of getting out of control, and if you start with the bare minimum such as a 3 gallon pot for partial boils, etc you are soon going to be unsatisfied with your equipment, and will wish you had started with better stuff. Also with the large pot, when you want to make the move from extract kits (which I definitely recommend starting off with) to all grain brewing, you will already have the kettle you need.

 

[jeepin]

Thanks. Yes i am starting off with extract and. One day going to ag. Right now I have a 5 gallon pot and will do partial boils for now. I do plan on getting a turkey cookery with stainless pot around thanksgiving. I am hoping that will be fine. For now i am looking ay doing northern brewing dead ringer ipa(2hearted clone). Hopefully not to ambitious to start with.

 

[bottlebomber]

Nah start big! My first beer was NBs 115th dream. It came in at 10%abv If there was only one other piece of advice I could give you it would be to buy an extra bag of DME with your order and make a nice healthy yeast starter. Ill bet 30% of the problems people have on here is with underpitching yeast, and that even includes more experienced brewers

 

[jeepin]

Thanks. The yeast is exactly what I was researching now. Wasn't sure which way to go with yeast as well as starter or no starter. I was ordering yesterday but backed out until I could research yeast.

 

[bottlebomber]

You don't really need the flask, the stirplate etc. Just a sanitized 1 quart mason jar with the lid on loose will be plenty to get you started. As a new brewer, its especially nice to see your beer actively fermenting within 8 hours, and with a healthy starter that's what you usually get