Tips for a started

[mrtrav]

I am planning on heading down to MoreBeer this weekend to get some stuff to brew my own beer. Any tips or suggestions for someone just getting into brewing their own beer?

[Mad Scientist]

They guys at morebeer will be able to help you there, but go ahead and go to morebeer.com

Click on the new to brewing link on the left, and go from there. I would recommend a kit like their Deluxe Starter System. you also need a larger pot ot boil in, but you may be able to find one at a better deal elsewhere, like at bed bath and beyond or Kohls.
Afgter that, you'll need ingredients for your first batch of brew. I would recommend that you brew what you like to drink, but yet again, if you are going ot morebeer, they guys will help you there.

FYI, I do no tknwo if you are making a special trip there, or how far it is from you, but giventhe price of gas, I owuld take adavantage of their free shipping over $59.00. In Califonia, I'd bet that ground shipping is overnight for you.

[mrtrav]

They are not too far from my place, so that isn't a problem. I definately am looking forward to heading and chatting them up about which direction to take for my beer making journey

[dparsons]

I'll 2nd the "deluxe" kit that comes with a glass carboy instead of just a bucket. Getting a 7+ gallon boiling pot with a valve mounted on the side is also a good investment.

[mrtrav]

Right on, I picked up the deluxe kit, the valve mounted kettle, and a couple other goodies. Just waiting on the wort chiller to come in thursday. Should be brewing by this weekend :)

[corkybstewart]

Conventional wisdom is that you should read howtobrew.com(the online version) by John Palmer before you start. I've never read it so I can't comment but I would definitely recommend reading it or at least buying a homebrewing book(John Palmer's How to Brew is supposed to be a good buy but there are lots of good books out there) before you get started. The directions that come with a beginner kit are generally so vague that they are worthless. Back in the day homebrewing was a cheap hobby and you could afford to screw up a batch or two before you got it figured out, but times have changed.

I wish you the best with your first batch. This forum is probably the best that I visit-there almost no put-downs allowed here, we all seem anxious to help each other, especially the new brewers.

[mrtrav]

Awesome, that book was one of the extra goodies I picked up. Can't wait to start down this path.

[corkybstewart]

Awesome, that book was one of the extra goodies I picked up. Can't wait to start down this path.
Talk to my wife. She started me down this path 15 years ago. Now 2/3 of the garage is dedicated to homebrewing, I have fermenters going in the spare bathroom, my kids rooms(they don't live here) are used for storing beer, we base our vacation on where the good beer is. Be careful when you embark on this path-it can come to rule your life.
OTOH my wife loves where my homebrewing has taken us. I brew 90% of the beer we drink, we have big homebrewing parties, we make a lot of our food from scratch( a direct result of homebrewing), and we never have any reason to go into town to drink.

[JayShaw91]

The only word of warning on Palmer's book is that it can be VERY in-depth. He's a chemical engineer, so he's torn the brewing process to the bone. If you're anal or have an engineering mind - or worry about everything - you'll have more questions than answers after reading that book. I thought I'd never be able to make good beer after reading it.

That said, it has EVERYTHING you'll want to know about beer chemistry.

I knkow I'm making it sound like a bad book, but it is far from bad. Do read the book, but focus on processes and cleanliness more than minute details like the exact make-up of your water. Go back and re-read the book after you've been brewing for a few months. At that point start adding in the more "advanced" concepts if you feel you want to.

I can't recommend that book enough.

[Vienna Lager]

I also think the John Palmer book "How to Brew" is in-depth and refer to it in the on-line form whenever I stymied with a brewing question.

It is by far the cheapest resource since it is 'on-line' and also quite easy to use, just click to the section you have a question on and it comes up on your screen. No need to fumble through pages looking for an answer when you are in the middle of a brew day.

If you can't wait for the chiller get one of those galvanized wash tubs that are sold at implement or Farm and Fleet stores. At the end of the boil place your kettle into the tub that is filled with water from your garden hose. Leave the hose in there to add more cold water and the warm water will run over the top edge being replaced with cold water below. The average well or city water is about 45-48 degrees and can chill your wort to 75-80 degrees in about 15 mins. in summer and about 10 mins. in winter with the addition of snow to the tub to make it a 'slush tub'.

Good luck and good brewing.

[Mad Scientist]

I don't think think mrtrav has snow in the bay area.

[mrtrav]

I don't think think mrtrav has snow in the bay area.

That is pretty much accurate. I actually haven't even seen rain since march.

[Vienna Lager]

What you say 'no snow'!? That's a travesty having to brew in the winter without the benefit of snow, ice and cold winds blowing.

How would you be able to hold a 'Polar Brew' in Feb. if it weren't for SNOW?

[mrtrav]

Shoot, 60 degrees is cold for us. :)

[corkybstewart]

Shoot, 60 degrees is cold for us. :)
In that case you're going to need to control fermenting temps if you rally want great beer. Decent beer can be brewed at room temp, but temp control is crucial for improving the drinkability of your beer.

[mrtrav]

Yeah, i think the first step is getting something that won't poison us. After that we will start having to drop the gouda on more equipment to regulate a consistent output of quality brew.