[drunkenpuff]

WOOT! My loving wife wants to purchase the bare essentials to delve into AG for me at Xmax! She asked me a question i cannot quite answer. " What would you want to brew as your first AG?" Hmmmm.... That's a hard one to answer! So I pose this question to all... What was your very first AG brew... and why? Recipes are ALWAYS welcome of course!

[jaybeerman]

Porter, because it's awesome.  Seriously though, welcome to AG, enjoy it.

oh yeah porter can be a forgiving first batch too, covers over some of those first-time oops

[gisbrewmaster]

Brew what you like! Its basically the same process.  If you really want my opinion I say a nice IPA "because it's awesome". To quote jaybeerman.

[svejk]

My first AG beer was a very basic pale ale. It didn't turn out very well, but fortunately I was hooked by the process and followed that first batch with a porter. By the time my sub-par pale was ready to drink, the porter was also just about done. That porter took second best-of-show in the first competition I ever entered and the hook was set for good.  My advice is to brew a style that you really like, and remember that the hardest beers to brew are those with the lightest and most delicate flavors (light lagers, etc).  Stick with a beer that has about 5% ABV and a big, bold flavor.  Have fun!

[tschmidlin]

My first three AG batches were blonde ales.  I had to brew it three times to get it right, it was important because it was for a buddy's wedding - the same guy whose wedding ceremony I did earlier this month, but not the same girl 

The first batch tasted like the garden hose I used to fill the HLT.

The second batch was grainy and astringent, because I oversparged.

The third batch was just right

Brew whatever style you like, but I recommend a single infusion for your first batch.

[brushvalleybrewer]

My first all grain brew was Mike McDole’s Tasty American IPA. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is a favorite of my wife and mine. I figured an award winning clone recipe was a good place to start, because at least then the recipe wasn’t in question and I could reduce any problems with the final product to technique.

[barliman]

Ordinary Bitter for me because it was inexpensive and the time between brewday and drinking was short.

J

[tubercle]

Brew the same thing that is your best extract beer. That way you will have something to compare.

 You will be wishing you had done it a long time ago

[stlaleman]

Mine was an American Barleywine. Never was one to start something timidly!
It was awesome, too.

[punatic]

Munich helles.  I love the flavor/aroma of Hallertauer hops!

[punatic]

My first three AG batches were blonde ales...

The first batch tasted like the garden hose I used to fill the HLT.

The second batch was grainy and astringent, because I oversparged.

The third batch was just right

Goldie Locks!

[corkybstewart]

I can't remember what my first AG was, but I'd go with Tubercle's advice to be able to make a valid comparison. 
I brewed for 3 years with a ZapPap lauter tun and my kettle did double duty as a mash tun.  I would mash for an hour, transfer the mash to the ZapPap with a saucepan and then I sparged by pouring water over the mash with the saucepan.  Even with this simple and primitive method my AG beers were drastically better than my extract beers.

[bluesman]

My first AG beer was an APA. It's a great recipe to start out with in that it is fairly foolproof...and the recipe is simple.
I can post a good recipe if you would like.
Let us know how you make out. Good Luck!

[jeffy]

I remember trying to make a Continental Lager as my first all grain beer.  I figured if I could do that I could make anything.  First try was Continental Gold from "Winner's Circle" a book of winning recipes from late 1980's and early 1990's NHC.  My notes show good efficiency, but perhaps a sour flavor.
I made this three times and then proceeded to IPA's.

[cheba420]

Doesnt matter what you brew the first time. What matters is that you've come over to the Dark Side! Welcome My first was a Pacific Northwest style Amber and it was delicious! The malt flavor you get from AG is amazing in comparison to extract. Good luck!