I am going to start home brewing, I just became a member of this forum but have been reading/ browsing it for about a month or so. I have a few questions before I get started. I apologize if this is posted in the wrong place on the forum.
I will be extract brewing. Are there any good recommendations for a good first beer? I have gathered that ales are good to start with and am a big fan of IPA’s, and would like to try one but also don’t want to screw it up either.
When I buy an ingredient kit what else do I need? I think I also need to buy yeast and priming sugar. Or should I buy the ingredients separately instead of a kit?
Is there an advantage to dry malt extract or liquid?
What are the advantages of secondary fermentation? The kit I plan on getting will have the extra 5 gallon carboy, I think I could have 2 batches going after I move the first batch to the 5 gallon carboy. Would this work?
If you like IPA’s, I say go with an IPA. A lot of people start out with Pale Ales, but I think they are harder to do for your first, since there’s not a lot to cover up any off flavors you may get. Start with a kit, get your process down and learn the ingredients. Later you can start to develop your own recipes or get your ingredients seperately.
Dry or Liquid doesn’t really matter as long as they are fresh.
I personally do not do secondaries. I feel the potential danger of exposing it to oxygen or bacteria doesn’t warrant it. Some things you should do secondary on, like adding fruit or longer fermentations. I dry hop right in the primary with no adverse affects. I went the same route as this kit and have 2 5 gallon better bottles that I never use. I now wish I had just got another 6 gallon better bottle.
Thanks for the replies. I talked to my local homebrew shop, they can hook me up with what I need. Their expertise is in winemaking but they still seem to know more about beer than me. ;D
Brian
Dry extract is supposed to be more “fermentable” than liquid, and stays fresher longer.
Unless you’re doing an actual secondary fermentation, like adding fruit then primary fermentation for 3-8 days is more than adequate. Once expected final gravity has been reached you can bottle.
I say brew an Amber ale with a good hop schedule. Straight amber extract no steeping grain. This way you get your feet wet and a baseline for all your future brews. And it isn’t complicated.
Thanks again. I have been reading how to brew online while I’m at work ;D. I have also ordered The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian(something to read at home). It will keep me occupied until Santa can bring me my kit
I recommend the Basic Brewing DVDs. If you don’t have other homebrewers to guide you, a DVD is very useful for seeing the process in work, and the Basic Brewing videos are well-made. They recently updated their beginners’ DVD:
I would brew what you like. I recommend a kit with thorough instructions, or study the section on extract brewing on the how to brew website that was posted earlier. Main thing for your first batch is to use good sanitary practices and be careful, but don’t worry if the brew doesn’t go exactly as planned.
If the kit I buy comes with yeast, the one mention above recommends using Wyeast 1056 American Ale, will one package be sufficient? If I understand correctly I need to activate the yeast a few days before I brew right? I have also read about steeping and have gathered that steeping small and boiling big is the way to go. Does that mean steep the specialty grains in a small amount of water for the required time, then add more water to meet the required amount, bring to a boil and add the extract? I know these questions are probably annoying and you have heard them before, but I am trying to find out as much as I can before I post.
Basically, no. In some special (very low gravity) cases, one package by itself might be Ok but, in general, you should always make a starter. Check out this earlier post for a little more info…
+1 to this. While you may only watch the DVD’s a few times I found them invaluable since I’m a very visual learner. You may find them online, or something close, but the comfort feeling for me when I brewed my first batch of being able to run to the computer and re-watch the next step was amazing!
As for any other helpful hints, never forget that this is supposed to be fun! I bet you’ll love it and welcome to the community!
My first batch was a sort of Belgian Wheat type beer with raspberries. I made it with Muntons German style “lightly Pre-hopped” wheat extract. Then I added about ten lbs of raspberries to the primary.
It was real easy and it was very good. I still make it every now and again. Mostly for the wife, she likes it cause it is “Champagne-y”.
Other than that I just make extract ESA. Boring me.
Thanks for the replies. After more reading and research I am going to make a yeast starter. Everytime I think I am ready to start brewing I find out something else I need to do.
What’s this preparation stuff?! I say throw some grains in a cooler, drain it off, boil the heck outta it, pitch some yeast and see what comes out the end. If it’s tasty, THEN figure out what you just made, not before ;D
