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First Time Home Brewer
So, to be completely honest, I am an extremely young home brewer but I am sincerely intrigued by the whole process along with the history behind brewing beer. I want to enjoy the wonderful smells of actually making the beer along with the satisfaction of the taste that I may soon create. I've watched just about every video ever made on YouTube and it has completely caught my heart
Any way...I have A LOT of questions about everything involved in brewing beer such as the vocabulary, tools, differences between tools and ingredients, what certain ingredients will do to your taste, how to distinguish tastes, etc......
For starters...is there any kind of way I should make my beer(such as extract, all grain, etc...) as a first timer, and if so, what specific flavor should I aim for...
And also...are beers made seasonally, and if so, what kind of beers are made during which seasons?
Another reason I am intrigued in this is because I would like to pursue a career in brewing beer such as a brewery or other things related to that.
Thank you sincerely for taking your time to read this and thank you ahead of time for any answer you may present to me
First, I would get a book called "The Joy of home Brewing". It's an excellent source for homebrewing, has recipes, and is excellent for beginners. it will go over what you need to get started, simple recipes, even onto advances techniques and recipes. I still have my origional copy from over 10 years ago.
Then you can either brew a kit beer, or make one of the recipes in the book. Beer Tools is a good web site to find recipes, learn about styles, and develope your own recipes.
Minimum you will need a boil pot, 5 gallons stainless steel is a good start. A fermentation vessel, either a plastic bucket or glass or plastic carboy. A second bucket or carboy for transfering the beer into to prepare it for bottling. You'll need bottles, 53 bottles will take care of a 5 gallon batch, a capper, glasses to drink the beer, and lots of friends to help you drink it.
First get the book, and welcome to the obsession.
DC
I'd say best advice for a total newbie...first get a starter equipment kit. They will include most of what you need to brew for the first time. A large boiling pot is needed, at least 2-3 gallons. Extract is the way to go for beginners, as All Grain is a much more detailed process. What state are you in? There's quite a few online stores with good reps, and maybe one near your house. Also, if your equipment kit doesn't come with it, you should pick up a copy of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, by Charlie Papazian. It's a great book, easy to read, and very informative. Charlie is one of the most respected people in homebrewing. There's a few other good books, but start with basic knowledge first. Learn as you brew, and advance in process when you are ready. There is no timetable. I know people who have been brewing for over 7 years, and they still do only extract. It's about preference, and of course enjoying your final product.
Check out morebeer.com, northernbrewer.com, and midwestsupplies.com for kits. Those are a few of the bigger online names....
And something you'll have to learn, other than patience....RDWHAHB!
Cheers!
(read the book, and you'll figure it out)
Definately get yourself a copy of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by papazian.
Secondly, if you can find someone in your area who brews I'd try and hook up with them for a batch or two.
Welcome to the hobby and the board. Ask as many questions as you like.
You can make most any style beer you want for your first batch. Just ask yourself what your favortie commercial craft beer is, then go to you local homebrew shop and tell them that's what you want to make.
They'll hook you up with a good starter equipment kit and the ingredients for the first batch.
You can start very easily with a 2.5 gallon stock pot and your stove. Worry about getting started before you worry about moving up in equipment too much. The "complete Joy...." book really focus on what we call partial boil to get started, so I'd say go with that for now. After a couple batches if you are into it, we can talk you up to the next step.
Here is a link to the free on-line version of John Palmer's book How to Brew. This is another infomative book that's great for beginers. He covers everything from your first extract batch all the way to your first all grain batch. The current paper back version has more updated info, but this site helped to give me my start. He even starts off with a walkthrough of your first extract batch, start to finish, to help get you going right off the bat. I highly recommend this book. One thing to note though, the on-line book tells you to "proof" dry yeast. That's not a good idea anymore, just rehydrate.
www.howtobrew.com
As a very new brewer myself i completly agree with all of the other comments above. the biggest help in brewing for me was The complete joy of home brewing by Charlie Papazian. he will explain everything you need to know in great detail. and by the time you finish the book you will want to brew so bad you will be able to smell the wort boiling! if there is anything in the book that you don't quite understand this site is the next best information source i have found. welcome to the craft and i hope the brew bug bites you like it has me!!
I want to add something about How to Brew by Palmer.
I like his book. But I think he gets a little over techincal for the beginner at times.
I think his book is good to read after you've done 5 batches or so.
I have listened to him live as well and while he is knowledgable, he isn't the best at explaining things sometimes.
Ok rant from "a science-guy that can teach" is over.
+1 on Papazian. I have my copy here at work and thumb thru it when times are slow (waiting for something to compile or load, like right now for instance).
I would strongly suggest making your first brew a kit, the kind that comes in a can with some yeast under the lid. Maybe a bitter or brown ale. It's cheap and so easy, it's like making a cup of tea, and they usually make good beers. That way you have a solid, amazing batch of beer behind you so you know it can be done, before you move onto extracts with hops, then extract and grain and so on. The satisfaction of that first batch is very important, so I say make it an easy, no-brainer. You'll be amazed and even more eager to find out what's possible with more control of the ingredients and process.
Go thru the forums on this board and read everything that seems interesting. When I first came here I must have spent ten hours or more just reading what was already here. Answers to most of your questions will be found easily, and this board has the best, most helpful and knowlegeable brewers of any I've visited, and I've been all over.
Welcome to the board and the obsession ... I mean hobby.
Thank you all for responding to my questions.
I honestly dont know how to convey my thanks to all of you.
You all consider this either an obsession or a hobby of some sort and I've never really thought of it as an obsession but now that I look at my feelings about brewing, I must say, I'm absolutely obsessed...and I haven't even drank a batch of homebrewed beer let alone made it or been around it being made
Anyway, thank you all very much...I will take everything into consideration and I'll be keeping everyone posted on my homebrewing adventures
Young Brewer wrote:
Thank you all for responding to my questions.
I honestly dont know how to convey my thanks to all of you.
You all consider this either an obsession or a hobby of some sort and I've never really thought of it as an obsession but now that I look at my feelings about brewing, I must say, I'm absolutely obsessed...and I haven't even drank a batch of homebrewed beer let alone made it or been around it being made
Anyway, thank you all very much...I will take everything into consideration and I'll be keeping everyone posted on my homebrewing adventures
Where do you live?
DC
Young Brewer wrote:
.............And also...are beers made seasonally, and if so, what kind of beers are made during which seasons?.....
Regarding the question of seasons-- Unless your brewing area has a well-controlled year-round temperature, you may find that the higher temps. in summer and lower temps. in winter may affect the fermentation process a bit. Most yeasts seem to work best at temps. somewhat lower than room temperature, and in summer, your work/brewing area, be it home, kitchen, garage, etc., may have higher temps. than the yeast really likes, for example.
For that reason, especially in our case, since we have wood-fired heat in winter, and little air conditioning in summer, I try to schedule my fermenting during times when the workroom averages about 65 degrees F.
Insofar as TYPES of beer are concerned, here I am not sure other than to say that traditionally, in the Chicagoland area, years ago, Bock beers were available only during a short time I believe in the Fall. Not sure why that was, as commercially made dark beers are now around all the time. imp
Welcome to the obsession!
My best advice? Ask questions, read posts and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
P.S. Did I meet your dad in DC this week?
Jen wrote:
P.S. Did I meet your dad in DC this week?
Uhh, that's a really strange kind of question
Where might you have met my dad?
I was at a class in Washington DC this week and I was talking to a classmate who mentioned he had a son who was very interested in brewing and I provided him with the name of this website. The class ended on the 10th and I noticed that that was when you registered.
LOL sorry, didnt mean to freak you out!
it's ok...just totally caught me off guard
what class was it, if you dont mind me asking?
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