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Author Topic: Where to start?  (Read 3576 times)

Offline Wheezy

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Where to start?
« on: July 26, 2014, 06:52:16 pm »
Never done anything besides drink beer.
Searched a few phrases here, but seems most of you guys are way more advanced.

Where is square 1 for learning to brew beer?  (the right way) 

I'm an IPA guy for sure.

Thanks for your time and input.

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2014, 06:58:03 pm »
I always suggest buying How to Brew by John Palmer
There is a freeby version at howtobrew.com

Offline Steve L

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2014, 07:00:14 pm »
I always suggest buying How to Brew by John Palmer
There is a freeby version at howtobrew.com
+1. I would read howtobrew first before buying any equipment and then you can see how advanced you want to go in the beginning.
Corripe Cervisiam

Offline Wheezy

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2014, 07:05:29 pm »
Awesome. Thanks for the info.

I'm pumped on learning about where this delicious nectar actually comes from. You know, like before it actually gets to my kegerator.

Offline jamminbrew

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2014, 07:56:52 pm »
Search out homebrew clubs in your area. Goto a meeting, ask lots of questions. My club has a program where we pair beginners and more experienced guys for brew sessions. Ask lots of questions here. The people on this forum are very well informed, and experienced. Search out videos on the interwebs, there is a wealth of info there, too.
+1 on Palmer's "How To Brew". I first started with Charlie Papazian's "Joy of Homebrewing, 3rd edition" That book is a bit dated, but took the mystery out of it, and gave me a great start.
Again, don't hesitate to ask questions here. This is a great forum.
Welcome to the forum, and welcome to the obsession!
In caelo cerivisiae nil, hic igitur bibimus.

Offline Jeff M

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2014, 08:04:18 pm »
Take a class at a Homebrew store and buy a kit.
Granite Coast Brewing Company.
Building a clone of The Electric Brewery to use as a pilot system for new recipes!

Offline erockrph

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2014, 08:36:34 pm »
If you decide to give it a go you came to the right place. You will get great advice here from many experts. Read "How to Brew", talk to your local homebrew shop, and jump on in. Ask any questions you have here, there are no dumb ones. Welcome!
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline BrewBama

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2014, 09:33:06 pm »
The tutorials on AHA helped me as well as reading. If you can heat water, follow a recipe, clean, and wait... you can brew beer. A bazillion people have done it for a bazillion years.


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Offline Wheezy

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2014, 11:19:16 pm »
Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2014, 06:30:41 am »
Welcome and I agree with the above suggestions.  I would further say that you might want to brew with someone to see what they actually use, before you buy things that are seldom used and for the most part, unnecessary.  You won't know that until you brew with someone.  That person can likely tell you how to minimize from what they use to allow you to get started with the minimum expenditure.  After that, you will know what other items are priorities as additional equipment and avoid the stuff that are in some kits that aren't really needed.

Then you will want to follow the mantra spoken here: sanitization, pitch rate, temperature control....

Good luck and happy brewing!
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2014, 09:32:35 am »
Welcome wheezy. It is a great hobby and the results are far more fun than a little piece of paper with a golf score on it.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline denny

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2014, 09:43:56 am »
Never done anything besides drink beer.
Searched a few phrases here, but seems most of you guys are way more advanced.

Where is square 1 for learning to brew beer?  (the right way) 

I'm an IPA guy for sure.

Thanks for your time and input.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/beginner/how-to-make-beer/ .... some of the best info around.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline duncan

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2014, 02:41:17 pm »
Never done anything besides drink beer.
Searched a few phrases here, but seems most of you guys are way more advanced.

Where is square 1 for learning to brew beer?  (the right way) 

I'm an IPA guy for sure.

Thanks for your time and input.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/beginner/how-to-make-beer/ .... some of the best info around.

I would also suggest checking out the Let's Brew section on HomebrewersAssociation.org. There are step-by-step tutorials for various methods of brewing across different experience levels. I would suggest starting in the Beginner section or with the "Extract w/ specialty grains" tutorial in the intermediate section. Both utilize malt extracts for all the fermentables, but the specialty grains gets your feet wet in using raw grain ingredients without too much more hassle.

Also, check out Zymurgy: An Introduction to Homebrewing. It is free to download and covers the brewing process for beginners.

And, of course, ask us forum-peeps questions, too!

Cheers,
Duncan
American Homebrewers Association / Brewers Association

Offline braufessor

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2014, 06:32:43 pm »
I agree with all of the above.  In particular, seeking out a homebrew club, other experienced brewer, the right brewshop/teacher  is a great way to get going.  There is just no substitute for seeing someone that really knows what they are doing - It can put you lightyears ahead of where you would be trying to feel your way on your own.  What area are you located in? Someone might be able to send you in the right direction depending on where you live.

Offline Wheezy

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Re: Where to start?
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2014, 07:32:03 pm »
Again. Thanks for all the input.

I'm in Orange County. I also have a coworker that I reached out to today who has been brewing for several years.

He's gonna come be my supervisor on batch 1.

I will keep you guys posted.