wanting to get away from kits
- Thread starter JAYMACK58
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smokinj
Well-Known Member
Get some brewing software. Beersmith is all I have ever used, and I love it. There are some other good options available, though. There are lots of different books that will help you, as well. I find myself referring to 'Designing Great Beers' by Ray Daniels pretty regularly. And, of course, HBT is one of the best resources out there.
I also recommend "Brewing Classic Styles". while it does contain lots of recipes I find that they are good starting points and Jamil has great insights into each style.
I also agree that BeerSmith and Designing Great Beers are must haves. Be sure to understand you BU/GU ratios for the style you are targeting. Make a batch trying to hit your gravity, bitterness, and color then adjust as needed once you taste it.
I also agree that BeerSmith and Designing Great Beers are must haves. Be sure to understand you BU/GU ratios for the style you are targeting. Make a batch trying to hit your gravity, bitterness, and color then adjust as needed once you taste it.
beergolf
Well-Known Member
Like the above posters said.
Get some brew software. They all offer a 30 day free trial, so you can try them for free.
Designing Great Beers is a good book to read.
Also you have a great resource right here in this forum. The Recipe database.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f82/
Lots of good recipes in there that are tried and true. Look at them to get a good feel what a recipe for. certain style looks like. Even make a few and then you can begin tweaking them to your taste.
Get some brew software. They all offer a 30 day free trial, so you can try them for free.
Designing Great Beers is a good book to read.
Also you have a great resource right here in this forum. The Recipe database.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f82/
Lots of good recipes in there that are tried and true. Look at them to get a good feel what a recipe for. certain style looks like. Even make a few and then you can begin tweaking them to your taste.
If ya don't have the $$$ for brew software you can download brew mate its a free program that works well. In the future as money comes available you can always purchase another brew program that may be more to your liking.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
On top of the software recommendation (got BeerSmith, its great) and already listed books there are some more that focus on certain styles.
Decide what you want to brew and also learn about the ingredients. Different malts give the brew different things. Just as hops will give you different things depending on how much you use and where in the boil. Also learn about the different yeasts available. Those can have more influence than you probably thjnk.
Above all else you'll need to figure out what YOU want in the brew. Then build a recipe around that concept. Brew more so that you can make changes to see what impact they have.
Decide what you want to brew and also learn about the ingredients. Different malts give the brew different things. Just as hops will give you different things depending on how much you use and where in the boil. Also learn about the different yeasts available. Those can have more influence than you probably thjnk.
Above all else you'll need to figure out what YOU want in the brew. Then build a recipe around that concept. Brew more so that you can make changes to see what impact they have.
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rico567
Well-Known Member
I brewed extract kits for the first 18 months. When I switched to AG, I did a couple of kits, but then decided I wanted to give myself more options. So (as mentioned in an earlier post) I started using the recipe database right here on HBT. It's got some great beers in it. So, nearly 4 years after going AG, I just find a recipe I like, or tweak one I already have, and just buy the ingredients and put them together.
