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new to hobby
hello i just bought a new brewing kit from a local brew shop and i am trying to find the proper first beer to brew.
the reason i ask is because everyone i talk to tells me to start with an american red ale but i really dont like that my friend made this in his house and it wasnt really tasty but that was his first attempt he is now really into this i would like to brew an octoberfest is this too much for a first time brewer
While there isn't really a proper first time beer, I wouldn't suggest an Octoberfest to be your first attempt. These are usually lagers and require serious temperature control. Pick out an ale style that you like and go with that. Ales tend to be more forgiving than lagers and can ferment at room temperature. Lagers ferment a bit cooler and use an extended conditioning phase at cold temperatures (you need a 2nd fridge/freezer). Brewing an ale will allow you to enjoy the fruits of your labors a bit sooner and will be easier for the first time brewer. Just my $.02.
Make the kind you like to drink. Do you have the book joy of homebrewing? There's a recipe called Righteous ale in it. It's simple and tastes good. try something like that.
better yet here's the recipe.
5 lbs DME
1 1/2 oz Cascade hop pellets 45 minutes
1/2 oz goldings or williamette hop pellets 1 minute (finishing)
2 tsp gypsum
1-2 pkg ale yeast
1/2 cup corn sugar for bottling
OG: 1.036
FG: 1.007-1.010
Boil for 45 minutes with 1 1/2 gallons water the malt extract, cascade hops, and gypsum. During the final 1 minute of boiling add the finishing hops, after which immediately transfer to a waiting 3 1/2 gallons of cold water in fermenter.
When temperature has cooled to about 70 degrees add yeast.
After about 10 days you should be able to bottle with the addition of 1/2 cup of corn sugar. Store at room temp until carbonated. Usually takes 1 week to 10 days at 70 degrees.
Reason I suggested this beer is it is ready to dring relativly soon, within a couple weeks. It's a good beer to start with. I used Muntons premium gold dry yeast. Just sprinkle on top of the beer in the fermenter and you're all set.
DC
BTW...Welcome to the hobby, soon it will be an addiction.
I agree with the brew what you like theory but if you are anything like me patients isn't a virtue. A lager will take a lot longer and from what I understand flaws show up a lot easier. So I would recommend an Ale which you can get from start to finish in about 4-5 weeks depending on what brewing schedule you use. In my opinion a pale ale, IPA, amber, or stout would be a better first beer then a lager but its your hobby do what you feel is right for you.
One more tip don't get discourage if your first beer isn't your favorite or doesn't totally work out. It should still be decent if you follow the instructions and sanitize well.
GISBREWMASTER
Most Oktoberfest recipes or kits you'll find as a new brewer will be ales anyway, so no worries about the lager process of brewing.
An oktoberfest is really just a special red ale though...in the Amber catagory.
I say shoot for a malty brown ale then if you don't like the red ale style per se.
Do you prefer hoppy beers or malty beers (non hoppy beers)? Then go from there.
Another thing to consider is look at the Beertools site. you can join free for a basic membership. they have a lot of info on styles and a nice recipe database you can search through. I use it all the time.
DC
thankyou for all the info i will most likely be brewing a brown ale or possibly an amber ale
I would try an american amber , irish stout ,or an ipa you can buy kits with all the directions you need. But make sure you sanatize and read the directions. I get mine from fermentationtrap.
kenny
try www.fermentationtrap.com
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