[majorvices]

Looking through my first brew journal and found the first good AG recipe I brewed (several other recipes proceeded it - some with alarming notes such as "pitched at 80-90 degrees - hope that wasn't too warm"  ). The following was written in September 1995. Funny thing is, that's a full nine months after I had started brewing. So it took me nine full months to start brewing what I considered good beer. I always thought it was only after a couple of months. Anyway, this was with my trusty copy of "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" as my only source of brewing wisdom. How much faster my progression would have been had there been access to great forums and brewing gurus like we have here today.

There's no OG or FG notes, no IBUs or alpha acids and it would have been ~5 gallons. I'm planning on brewing it again as is but skipping the acid rest. Most likely the "London Ale" was Wyeast 1028 since White Labs wasn't around yet (least not serving homebrewers).

Ye ol' Mellow Brown Ale

7 lbs 2-row
1 lb Wheat
1 lb crystal
1/2 lb Munich
3/4 lb Vienna
1/4 lb Chocolate

1 oz Kent Golding (Boil)
1/2 oz Kent Golding (Flavor)
1/2 oz kent Golding (finish)
1/2 oz Kent Golding (Dry)

London Ale Yeast

Protein rest @ 125 for 20 min. Mash @ 154 for 60 min.

[thirsty]

Yeah, I've only been brewing about eight years, but going through my first few notes is pretty funny.

"...odd vegetable smell...."

[jmsetzler]

Looks like we started brewing about the same time but I was brewing extract recipes up until about 2004.