Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum  

Go Back   Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum > Non Cigar Specialty Forums > Wine, Beer, and Spirits

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-29-2009, 11:28 AM   #1
BeerAdvocate
BeerHunter
 
BeerAdvocate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: Travis
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 1,912
Trading: (45)
VR
BeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura about
Default Getting started with Homebrewing

I am finally going to take the plunge and start homebrewing.
I dont want to use one of the cheapo Mr Beer kits so I have been looking at the kits on midwestsupplies but I am not sure what to go with yet.
What did all you homebrewers get started with? Any tips and advice would be great. thanks!
__________________
I Brew the Beer I Drink
BeerAdvocate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 11:54 AM   #2
Drat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I started with buckets, and a 5 gallon glass carboy for secondary.
Picked up the bench capper right away.
Bought a 5 gallon brew pot but quickly went to a 7 for full boils.
Haven't picked up a chiller yet, still use the bathtub.
A wine thief is a necessity, less intrusion and will allow for the minimum required sampling to get a SG reading.
Autosiphons are a godsend
I'm now up to 2 6-gallon glass carboy for fermentation and 6 5-gallon secondary glass carboys. At any given time, at least 3 are filled (except now, since I'm moving soon and don't want to move full carboys to storage)

Edit for more stuff:
I'm picking up as many of the square plastic milk carton holders as I can. They make moving carboys around so much easier.
Make sure you have a fermentation area that has little/no temperature fluctuation and stays below 75 degrees, preferably below 70. If that's not possible, you might want to look around for a cheap old fridge or chest cooler and a temp override thing. Or you can go ghetto and search for "son of the fermentation chiller" blueprints online. Temp control is the biggest problem most homebrewers face.

Oh yeah, get a nice notebook to keep detailed brewing notes. They are the most helpful thing ever when you want to recreate a phenomenal brew...

Last edited by Drat; 05-29-2009 at 12:00 PM.
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 12:01 PM   #3
kaisersozei
The Homebrew Hammer
 
kaisersozei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Gerard
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 3,183
Trading: (40)
Punch Army (Served With Honor)
kaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to all
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Welcome to the ranks, you will definitely enjoy it!

If you're looking at midwestsupplies, I would start with this kit:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=6874

Gives you everything you need to brew a batch at a time. As you progress and get more adept, you may want to add additional carboys or a wort chiller as Drat suggests. But the kit above is basically what I started with 15 years ago--I've added to it substantially, but it still represents the core of my equipment.

Good luck, and feel free to hit us up if you have any questions--homebrewers love to push people down the sudsy slope!
__________________

kaisersozei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 12:43 PM   #4
BeerAdvocate
BeerHunter
 
BeerAdvocate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: Travis
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 1,912
Trading: (45)
VR
BeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I was thinking about jumping in with this kit!

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=7587

Do you think it is worth the money for all the extras, or should I just start with the kit you recommended?
__________________
I Brew the Beer I Drink
BeerAdvocate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 12:54 PM   #5
ade06
Have My Own Room
 
ade06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
First Name: Ade
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 1,190
Trading: (24)
Trinidad
ade06 will become famous soon enoughade06 will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I would also pick up a bottle washer found here http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...at.aspx?Cat=60.

It makes cleaning bottles a breeze.
ade06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 01:00 PM   #6
LordOfWu
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

It's been a while, you guys are making me want to brew again!

You can certainly find a stainless cooking pot, and keep your empty beer bottles...at least that's what I did...I have a hard time buying empty beer bottles as I'm throwing away perfectly good one's (after they've been cleaned, of course). Just my
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 05:21 PM   #7
kaisersozei
The Homebrew Hammer
 
kaisersozei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Gerard
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 3,183
Trading: (40)
Punch Army (Served With Honor)
kaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to allkaisersozei is a name known to all
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate View Post
I was thinking about jumping in with this kit!

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=7587

Do you think it is worth the money for all the extras, or should I just start with the kit you recommended?
Hmm. You're paying $80 for a 5 gallon brewkettle, 2 cases of bottles and a beer kit. The beer kit alone probably runs about $30. As LordOfWu recommends, you can do better getting a pot locally: I have 5 gallon and 7 gallon enameled pots, I think I bought one of them at a garage sale. And you might have luck picking up empties from a bar for just the price of the bottle deposit/refund. Or, start saving the non-twist cap bottles you're drinking from right now--it will take a couple weeks after your first brewing day until you bottle anyway, so you got time.
__________________

kaisersozei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2009, 07:48 PM   #8
HawkEye19
Still Watching My Back
 
HawkEye19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Jason
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 81
Trading: (6)
HawkEye19 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Get yourself a turkey fryer with a 7 or 8 gallon pot. You'll have the prefect place to do your boils and a full size pot to do them in.

If you're going to use glass carboys, get yourself one of these:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=6028

Every homebrewer has heard a horror story about a dropped glass carboy.
HawkEye19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2009, 06:56 PM   #9
Drat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkEye19 View Post
Get yourself a turkey fryer with a 7 or 8 gallon pot. You'll have the prefect place to do your boils and a full size pot to do them in.

If you're going to use glass carboys, get yourself one of these:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/produ...px?ProdID=6028

Every homebrewer has heard a horror story about a dropped glass carboy.
That's why I'm picking up square plastic milk carton holders. No dragging the bottles around to get a grip either
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2009, 03:14 PM   #10
BeerAdvocate
BeerHunter
 
BeerAdvocate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: Travis
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 1,912
Trading: (45)
VR
BeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I ordered the kit with Two glass carboys. Now I just need to decide what kit I am going to get to make my 1st brew. I want something easy that will be ready in a month or so, that most everyone would enjoy. Im thinking some type of wheat, Red Ale or Amber Ale.
__________________
I Brew the Beer I Drink
BeerAdvocate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2009, 03:34 PM   #11
lightning9191
I think I'm normal...
 
lightning9191's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Kevin
Posts: 1,007
Trading: (8)
lightning9191 has disabled reputation
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate View Post
I ordered the kit with Two glass carboys. Now I just need to decide what kit I am going to get to make my 1st brew. I want something easy that will be ready in a month or so, that most everyone would enjoy. Im thinking some type of wheat, Red Ale or Amber Ale.
I'd go with a pale ale. Good summertime beer that is hard to screw up.
__________________
I eat gummy bears by tearing them limb from limb and eating their heads last.
lightning9191 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2009, 06:56 PM   #12
Drat
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by lightning9191 View Post
I'd go with a pale ale. Good summertime beer that is hard to screw up.
Or an IPA, nobody minds if it's hazy/unfiltered and you can pick up some extra DME to boost up the abv without really affecting the balance...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2009, 12:08 PM   #13
BrotherOfTheLeaf
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I got started brewing with a kit from Coopers. It had much of the simplicity of a mr beer, but makes better beer, and makes transitioning into "real" brewing easier.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2009, 06:48 PM   #14
kenstogie
following the whiterabbit
 
kenstogie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 1,325
Trading: (3)
Army (Active)
kenstogie will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

I would try a Hefenweizen or at least consider it. THey brew really quick, taste great and can be cloudy. There pretty easy too. Do an all extract kit for your first time it's tooo easy!!! Remember one thing "Cleanliness is next to Godliness!"
kenstogie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2009, 01:44 AM   #15
Azpostal
Feeling at Home
 
Azpostal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
First Name: Don
Location: Arizona
Posts: 511
Trading: (9)
Army (Served With Honor)
Azpostal is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by kenstogie View Post
I would try a Hefenweizen or at least consider it. THey brew really quick, taste great and can be cloudy. There pretty easy too. Do an all extract kit for your first time it's tooo easy!!! Remember one thing "Cleanliness is next to Godliness!"
I agee 100% Ken. This was my fist and I still make it at least twice a year.
Azpostal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2009, 05:54 AM   #16
BeerAdvocate
BeerHunter
 
BeerAdvocate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: Travis
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 1,912
Trading: (45)
VR
BeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura aboutBeerAdvocate has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: Getting started with Homebrewing

Quote:
Originally Posted by kenstogie View Post
I would try a Hefenweizen or at least consider it. THey brew really quick, taste great and can be cloudy. There pretty easy too. Do an all extract kit for your first time it's tooo easy!!! Remember one thing "Cleanliness is next to Godliness!"
I have this in Primary right now as my 2nd brew.
__________________
I Brew the Beer I Drink
BeerAdvocate is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
All content is copyrighted jointly by Cigar Asylum and the content provider.