question for homebrewers: websites worth bookmarking?

[xSauronx]

After talking to my cousin, reading "the joy of homebrewing" and making a trip to a brew store in raleigh, I have my first batch of beer brewing: a german Alt beer

Im excited

Thing is, aside from my rather busy cousin, I dont know anyone around here that brews. Where are some good forums and websites to check in on for advice and recipes and discussion and the like? He left me a few ingredients but Im not really sure what else I need to use (if anything) to go with them and Id like to learn more about this and discussion always seems a good way to go about that

Thanks!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

My own go to site is BrewYourOwnBrew.com

 

[xSauronx]

My own go to site is BrewYourOwnBrew.com

I see they have ingredient kits...this is awesome since im just starting. Have you actually used any of their kits or ordered anything from them?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Austin HomeBrew Supply

Great quality stuff, good selection, prices are decent, and shipping is cheap.

I have been using their products to assist me with making limoncello for many years now.

 

[xSauronx]

let me ask you guys about this because im not sure if i should make a batch with what i have or get some extras to go in it or just forget about it

my cousin let me borrow all of his brewgear, i just took enough to do extract brewing (he has everything for all grain brewing and even cornelius kegs)

he also gave me some ingredients that were sitting around for god knows how long: 2 cans of muntons dark extract (2x3.3lbs), corn sugar, gypsum, and some yeast packets as well as an ounce (i think) of willamette hops

is using extracts only going to give me a pretty good beer? should i find something else to go with it? the first batch i have bottled came with some steeping grains, and i see a lot of other ingredient packs do as well.

he said something about using gypsum and that this stuff should let me wind up with a newcastle brown ale type of beer, which is ok, but he couldnt remember any specifics.