Looking to brew my own beer, where are some good places to start?

[spyordie007]

I imagine I will want to start with a kit and "work my way up" from there. I've never made my own beer before but I would like to, anyone else had any experience creating their own brew?

Links to websites with information and also places to buy would be much appreciated.

-Spy

 

[Adul]

http://hbd.org/brewery/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=home+brewing&btnG=Google+Search
google is your friend

 

[OutHouse]

I buy all my home brew stuff from this site.


I have been wanting to do a mead for a long time. never had one and the receipe calls for 15 pounds of raw honey.

 

[Zebo]

biological and chemical aspects it's very interesting. Me too.

a couple university in ca offer MS and PhD's in this field...Imagine the fun

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

there is a book, The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing, that is an excellent resource with general procedures and recipes, ranging from simple to complex.

Its a great book.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
there is a book, The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing, that is an excellent resource with general procedures and recipes, ranging from simple to complex.

Its a great book.

I'll second that. Very good resource.

Also, talk to the guys running the local homebrew supply places (if there are any). These guys are typically avid homebrewers and can offer your tips and tricks that are only learned through experience. Anyone can make beer, but it's somewhat challenging to make really good beer.

 

[spyordie007]

the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

Does it cost more in the long run than just buying a case of newcastle every week? Not saying if it does it is'nt worth it for the hobby and learning aspects, just curious ?

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Links to websites with information and also places to buy would be much appreciated.

"Listen, rummy, I'm going to say it plain and simple: where'd you pinch the hooch? Is some blind tiger jerking suds on the side?"

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

Does it cost more in the long run than just buying a case of newcastle every week? Not saying if it does it is'nt worth it for the hobby and learning aspects, just curious ?

Once you get all the stuff...it's about the same or slightly cheaper as just buying beer. The difference is that you can make beer that's exactly what you want and can experiment with all kinds of stuff.

 

[Haircut]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

Does it cost more in the long run than just buying a case of newcastle every week? Not saying if it does it is'nt worth it for the hobby and learning aspects, just curious ?

No, we made quite a bit of home brew at university and once we had all of the gear it worked out to cost around £5 ($8) to make 40 pints of beer. That's English pints too, so I think that's 50 US pints.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

Does it cost more in the long run than just buying a case of newcastle every week? Not saying if it does it is'nt worth it for the hobby and learning aspects, just curious ?

for the cost of 2 cases of newcastle (approx. $45) you can easily brew 2 cases (about the yield of a 5 gallon batch) very good beer. In fact you can brew a good batch of beer for much less if you are motivated.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Haircut

Originally posted by: Carbonyl

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: spyordie007
the book sounds great, and williamsbrewing.com looks like they also have some great resources, kids, and supplies. Thanks guys!

-Spy

Have fun! It's a highly addictive (no pun intended) hobby.

Does it cost more in the long run than just buying a case of newcastle every week? Not saying if it does it is'nt worth it for the hobby and learning aspects, just curious ?

No, we made quite a bit of home brew at university and once we had all of the gear it worked out to cost around £5 ($8) to make 40 pints of beer. That's English pints too, so I think that's 50 US pints.

Depends on what kind of stuff you brew with, of course. Basic malt extract and hops is a lot cheaper than specialtly grains and more exotic hops.

Hehe...this is how my roomate and I got around the US's age limit on alcohol while in college. You don't have to be 21 to buy the materials and we bought off our dorm's Resident Director (a brit ) by "anonymously" leaving a 6-pack of each batch on his doorstep in a paper bag.

 

[Scarpozzi]

After you buy all your materials and get everything done, you're looking at approximately $.65 per bottle. You can reuse the bottles too to save money. Just keep in mind that it takes over 4 hours per batch to cook everything down and do it right. I get all my numbers from my friend Mark. He makes one of the best Oatmeal Stouts that I've ever tasted in my life....it's very much comparable to Samuel Smith's.

Remember to use the most sterile equipment possible. The key to a good brew is to prevent bacteria from growing while it's fermenting.

 

[Liviathan]

I made some Mr. Beer a few years back....and it tasted like crap!

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Liviathan
I made some Mr. Beer a few years back....and it tasted like crap!

Well, duh. Kit beer is NOT the way to go.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

I use these flip top bottles (like grolsch, but brown and sturdier)... makes the bottling stage much easier.

 

[Zebo]

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
I use these flip top bottles (like grolsch, but brown and sturdier)... makes the bottling stage much easier.

Oh yeah? I autoclave my bottles at work to sterilize them. Top that!

 

[Zebo]

Faust so what "kit" would you assemle for prefection. If it's too detailed say go reading I had to.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

i wish i could autoclave em... i hate sterilizing my stuff.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Liviathan
I made some Mr. Beer a few years back....and it tasted like crap!

Well, duh. Kit beer is NOT the way to go.

Yes, every resource that I've been to has discoraged their usage.

Good news everyone! I knew that there was not a "complete brew-supply store" here in portland (although as I hear there are a few places you can go to get what you need) so I did some searching and found a fairly large supply-store across the river in Vancouver, Washington here I come!

-Spy

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Liviathan
I made some Mr. Beer a few years back....and it tasted like crap!

Well, duh. Kit beer is NOT the way to go.

Yes, every resource that I've been to has discoraged their usage.

Good news everyone! I knew that there was not a "complete brew-supply store" here in portland (although as I hear there are a few places you can go to get what you need) so I did some searching and found a fairly large supply-store across the river in Vancouver, Washington here I come!

-Spy

I find that incredible.... even here in madison (200,000 people) we have a homebrewers store...

 

[spyordie007]

this sounds like the best place in my area to go.

-Spy