im new to beer

[treydogg]

ok i bought a beer machine, i know from what i have read here that some people really hate that thing. but its my first time and im new either way it seems from what i said that its pretty cheap but i dont know truthfuly anything at all need some help with maby starting a small brew system that i could make at least 5 gallons at a time just dont know what to buy, and im still trying to find out what DME or LME is? But any info like a parts list and retailer would help. im willing to put the same 120 bucks i put into this that i spent on that beer machine I like porters so if that means some other equipment let me know thank you for reading my noob msg

[wortchillergoal]

Welcome to our board. I am pressed for time so I can't answer your questions right at the moment. i would suggest you give us an idea of where your are located. That way there is a good chance the community can come up with a brew shop for you to visit.

[Kyle_Draven]

Dme is Dehydrated malt extract
Lme is liquid malt extract


Check out some of the links from here for suppliers or search the internet for beer making supplies. Like wortchillergoal said give us your area and we can try and find you a local shop.
Here is what a lot of the basic kits contain
(64.95) at my local shop the only other things needed are some reusable bottles, caps, and boiling pot.

6.5 Gallon Primary Fermenter with Lid
6.5 Gallon Bottling Bucket with Bottling Spigot
One Step Cleanser
Airlock
Syphon & Bottling Set-Up
Home Beer Making Book
Hydrometer
Bottle Brush
Twin Lever Capper
Liquid Crystal Therometer
Bucket Clip
Equipment Instructions

[botay]

start with the book, most have a compleat list and why you need such a thing. this will help you decide what to spend more money on and what to do on the cheap. I started with "home brewing for dummies". I still qualify, but am learning as I go, and am making decent beer. good luck.

[Grog]

The above list Kyle gives is a good one and can be had at most HB shops for about that price. I am a big advocate of getting started for least amount of money possible, because you will either be overtaken by the hobby or it will be too much to bother with. All of the early "cheapie" equipment can be used for some other purpose further down the line in your brewing career when you decide to upgrade your equipment.

The Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian is a great beginners' book which you will quickly outgrow but is a great introduction into brewing. How to Brew by John Palmer is also a good intro.

[treydogg]

im in houston texas

[treydogg]

so should i keep the beer machine or should i dump the thing? this is my first day of fermenting in the thing seemed to easy to be good, but I still got it going ill keep up this post and let you know how that turns out Im going to start looking for the items that you said on your shoping list to get started with some real brew. thought the machine would be great since im new but some say it should be cool just to keep going on to a bigger brew system

[SoxyinMO]

Treydogg, do what's right for you.

The bigger & better is definitely worth the investment if you want to keep brewing, but if you want to try a few in the beer machine just to boost your confidence if nothing else, go for it. Or use it for specialty beers later.

Have fun and happy brewing!

[Kyle_Draven]

The stuff that you get out of the machine will be good but the small home kits are better.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Kyle_Draven
Dme is Dehydrated malt extract
Lme is liquid malt extract

DME is actually DRY malt extract.

The LME is also dehydrated (water removed) but not completely.

[Kyle_Draven]

oops I goofed.

[treydogg]

i did my first day of fermentation and my PSI is 15 is that good should it get higher or less what should i do should i try to get it higer or lower. right now I have it in a room thats about 70-75 in temp i can put it upstairs in another room thats about 80 if thats better

[HogieWan]

thats a good temp - lower would actually be better if you can.

[fretlessman71]

I agree with getting the temp lower - remember, fermentation is "exothermic", which, to my pea brain, means that it kind of creates its own heat. So you can expect your fermenting beer to be a few degrees warmer than the surrounding air. Fermenting in a room at 80° would give you all sorts of off flavors that you wouldn't like.

[wortchillergoal]

Forgive us for not responding to the PSI number you posted. That is something that a beer machine measures during fermentation but not those of us using carboys or plastic pails.

The responses to room temp are dead on.

[treydogg]

im still at 15 psi I take it that pressure has nothing to do with the way most of you brew beer. im realy excited about this first home brew of mine been looking into all kinds of new things and I went to a couple of the web sites that were suggested. I would like to eventualy keg some beer maby, I only saw systems that worked with soda pop kegs can you use the normal keg that you get from the stores or do you need to get the small one. of course all thats for later right now im still working on the beer machine gots about 1 inch to 1 1/2 of foam on top cant feel the heat on the side of it but i guess its doing what it do.

ps should i add more co2 and is ozarka ok to use already done but should ask

[HogieWan]

Hoomebrewers normally make 5 gal batches so the soda kegs are a perfect fit. Besides, the equipment to fill sanke kegs (15.5 gal commercial kegs) can be quite expensive.

You don't need to add any more pressure. Most homebrewers allow any pressure to escape through an airlock and carbonate the beer through second round of fermentation in the bottle.

Any bottled water should do great for extract brewing and most all-grain brews.

[treydogg]

ok im at 72 hours the beer head has fell from the 1 1/2 inch to right on the top level i dont know what this means is it time to put it in the fridg the instructions say 3-5 days of outside fermentation the psi has gone to13 1/2 and i can see the condensation on the inside of the tank the heat i guess that was mentioned before must this be. my main question would be should i start clarification?

I tasted it, :eek: it taste like beer I did not think that thing would really make beer but it taste like it not bad (for as far long as it is) im going to let is sit for a little longer and then put it in the fridge unless you think i should let it sit longer have to let me know by 4 sunday cuse its going in there otherwise

[treydogg]

beer great tasteing beer its good i like it. the beer machine makes beer you dont even have to stir the shit. you should if your new and want to get something worth drinking when your done i can say that this is easy very easy to make beer i can recomend the porter that the beer machine web site offers, its good real good. I know that you prob get better beer with the bigger set up but this works so look into it if you intrested in makeing beer. i would suggest you get extra co2 bulbs for each batch the three you get will go fast.

NOTE: the continuous brewing process sucks clean that thing!